Sneakiest “Hack” For Writing That Creates Easy Reading

“One should never write down or up to people, but out of yourself.” – Christopher Isherwood, Born Aug. 26, 1904.

Here is a magical shortcut to becoming a good writer.

Learn to dictate. You don't have to use digital dictation tools, but you could. I do sometimes.

What I mean is to simply compose your writing by speaking out loud. Or speak it in your mind. Don't compose on the page, but think about how you would speak whatever it is you want to say. Then write it down like that.

At a minimum, follow the Elmore Leonard advice of re-writing anything that sounds like writing.

You'll rapidly get good at:

Brevity.
Clarity.
Emphasis.
Cohesion.
Authenticity.
Pacing.
Rhythm.
Tone.
Cadence.
Color.
Focus.
Segue.
Rapport.

And literally a million more things. Your writing will just sound good, and will hit your reader just right.

Why is this important?

Most people “hear” the words they read in their mind's ear.

If you write the way you speak, and you try to speak well, your writing will take on a character that pure paper-based composition can't compete with.

Copy that is heavily reliant on complex structures will trigger the suspicious, analytical part of the audience's mind. They start to read it like literature, looking for context clues and layered meanings. They start wondering where the hidden snares and tricks are hiding. The start re-reading and the flow and momentum are ruined.

For example, that previous paragraph probably seemed like a speed bump in the text here. I made it that way to prove my point.

Don't make the reader have to stop and chew your words for too long.

Instead, say what you want to say just as you would speak it aloud to a person beside you.

You don't come across too highbrow and snooty or condescending and dumbed down. You come across normally – like a regular person having a chat.

And conversations are comfortable. Smooth. Even enjoyable. The reader doesn't have to work so hard to catch your drift, and that makes your message come across casually.

Therefore, it's much more likely to be received and accepted.

Try it.

Say it out loud, THEN write it down. It's magical!