Surefire Tip to Improve Your Writing
By Michael StelznerHave you heard the phrase, “Write like you speak?”
Here’s a simple tip to improve your writing—and it involves speaking!
The Tip: Simply read your writing out loud.
Yes, it’s that simple, just talk and see what you think.
For example, I originally wrote the second sentence above as, “Well, I have a little tip that will greatly improve your written words.”
But when I heard myself speak those words, they sounded awkward.
Thus, I changed it to read, “Here’s a simple tip to improve your writing…”
Do you practice this verbal QA check? What do you think?
(2 votes, average: 5 out of 5)
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August 16th, 2007 at 6:38 am
Mike, Yes, I use this tip. It’s a good one. Once I’ve written something, I print it out and then read it aloud while making all kinds of notes. I pace up and down the hall outside my office — I can’t sit and read aloud.
Then I make my edits, print the doc again, and do the process two or three more times.
August 16th, 2007 at 6:51 am
Dianna - It seems so simple, yet it is easy to forget to do this. I should do it more than I do. - Mike
August 16th, 2007 at 10:46 am
You told me this quite awhile ago, and it’s been a tremendous help. The quality of my writing, and better yet, my readers’ responses have both improved as a result. Thanks
August 16th, 2007 at 1:22 pm
Hey Jeff - Glad it helps! I know you love talking
- Mike
August 16th, 2007 at 7:13 pm
Most storytelling comes from an oral tradition. Being able write in a way that is pleasing to the mind’s ear is a big advantage for writers.
And the more difficult the topic is, them ore valuable this skill is.
August 17th, 2007 at 2:17 am
…and don’t forget to read it out loud to another person…
August 17th, 2007 at 6:53 am
As a writer and a writing professor, I use this tip all the time. It is a great way to catch missing words or awkwardly written sentences, and it stops you from writing in a pompous voice.
If you can’t “speak” what you write, how can you expect anyone else to be able to read it?
August 17th, 2007 at 9:07 am
Geoff, Curt and Sean;
Thanks for your comments!!! I need to keep reminding myself to do this.
Glad I am not alone!
Mike
August 18th, 2007 at 2:02 pm
Thats what I do when I talk on AIM and other messaging stuff like Email or social networking or whatever, I speak the same way as I would when talking on the phone or in person.