We all spend a lot of time communicating in writing.
Whether it’s through briefs and reports or emails, tweets and Facebook posts, good writing skills help us communicate effectively both at work and in our private lives.
Here are five fast fixes to add flavour to your writing so it is appetising no matter what you’re serving up.
…And she’s buying a stairway to heaven.
Imagine if Robert Plant had written those famous song lyrics in bureaucratic language.
…In addition, the person in question is procuring, after testing the market to ensure value for money, a construction that enables upward movement to a place regarded in various religions as the abode of God (or the gods) and angels and the good after death, traditionally depicted as being in the sky.
Mmmmm. Doesn’t have quite the same ring to it, does it?
If you’re struggling to distil your words into something memorable, try recasting the headline or key words as song lyrics.
I know someone who is terrific at explaining complex issues while we’re chatting. But when it’s time to express the ideas in writing, their words often end up ‘wound around the axle’.
Do you freeze up when trying to express your point in writing? Try recording yourself talking about it and then transcribe the recording.
Comparing concepts to concrete examples helps your readers visualise and understand what you are writing about.
You can use metaphors and similes to explain your ideas or reinforce key points. Or they can act as a magnet to draw in curious readers who want to find out more.
For example, bland headings like ‘how to write good opening sentences’ and ‘how to build good working relationships’ can be replaced with more tasty morsels like: how to write opening sentences that demand attention and why building a good working relationships is like hosting an 8-year-old’s birthday party.
Alliteration (repeating the same sound at the beginning of several words) can add interest, character and rhythm. Take ‘five fast fixes …’, or effective emails: common culprits and cures as examples.
This is one of my favourite devices—maybe because my career started in radio so I still tend to hear the words in my head while writing. This is a slightly poetic device ideally suited to eNews and blog post headings. But it can be equally effective for more serious work.
Take a common saying and tweak it.
An example is Good guides vs bad guides. Lawn turf supplier, Canturf, also uses this approach. The company’s amusing advertising billboards dotted around Canberra feature slogans like ‘Lawn and behold’, ’50 shades of green’ and ‘It’s been nice mowing you’.
Making your readers smile is a good way to create memorable content.
Top tip: Like a dash of salt and pepper, wordplay brings out the flavour in your writing.
| Cinden Lester has more than 25 years’ experience as a professional writer, editor and communications specialist. She worked as a broadcast journalist, in private sector marketing and public relations, and in government communications before establishing her own Canberra-based communications consultancy in 2000.
Contact Cinden if you’d like help with your writing. |
