Please Talk to Me!
Dawud, I listen to you talk about your friendship with Adam and I hear the respect you have for him and the work he does. So I know that when you say you helped him, you did more than just give him pointers. You showed up with all you are. I hear it in how you tell the story.
Then you ask me (and the folks reading)
What tips can you offer for writing quality, conversational blog posts and website copy?
Did you know that writing conversationally gets brains to tune in more closely than writing formally? It’s true. Our brains know that in conversation sooner or later they are expected to have a response or an answer. So even if what we’re reading isn’t something that is our favorite subject, we pay more attention when the writer writes in a style that is more like conversation.
The most conversational word form is a contraction. If I did not use contractions, my writing would begin to sound stilted and jerky. People do not avoid contractions when we talk. I will not be avoiding them after I finish this sentence.
Great grammar and good spelling are, of course, important too. Yet, they only make for technical quality. For truly compelling, you have to put yourself into what you’re writing. Here’s how to do that.
- Write a clear message first. Let the words come from your mind through your fingers, don’t stop them in your brain on the way out. You can edit them later. Get the message out first.
- Write with authenticity. Use your real voice. Use the voice that you think with, not the voice that you talk with. The voice that you think with is closer to your heart.
- Tell your own truth, exactly as you know it. Do second guess what other folks might think of it. Trying to read the minds of your readers will only dilute and unravel the power of what you’re saying. Readers who come in good faith will be able to find the place where your experience meets with their own. People are more alike than different. The genuine truth of any story resonates with humanity.
- Write for one reader who is a lot like you, but who hasn’t heard your story. Talk to that reader the way you would talk to a person you respect and value. Share your information with sincerity and transparency.
- Read aloud what you write. Listen to how it sounds. Change out any words that don’t sound like you. You know your voice and the words that you use. Keep reading it aloud until it sounds exactly like you might have said it — only better.
It’s not the most important thing to have every comma and period perfect. What makes compelling conversation is a truly interested writer who’s engaged and curious. Show up every thought and every word as important to you because someone you care about is going to read it. Your readers will know that you did.
It shows. No one can hide how much you cared or didn’t. Caring is compelling.
I leave you with this question for next week.
When you go around the Internet, what mistake do you see most often?
If you’re reading this, I’d love to hear your answer in the comment box below.
–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!!
One2One is a cross-blog conversation. Find the answer at dawud miracle on Monday. You can see the entire One-2-One Conversation series on the Successful Series page.
In Case You Missed It: Writing 06-13-07
I’ve heard that same assertion about conversational style. I’m pretty sure there’s a study to back that up somewhere. Do you have a link?
Ooh, here we go. Kathy Sierra cites it in her article on this subject:
http://urltea.com/18nh
Oh Teresa!
You’re so good! You beat me to it! Darn that phone call I was on!! 🙂
Hi, Liz!
I really like this, and hadn’t thought of it the way you put it: “Use the voice that you think with, not the voice that you talk with. The voice that you think with is closer to your heart.”
I want to be closer to the heart, so I’m going to pay more attention to that when I write.
On mistakes, I notice a lot of typos, but the message is why I’m there, so I don’t worry about the typos.
The biggest mistake I notice (IMHO) is when others post nothing but paragraph after paragraph of text. It goes on and on and on… page after page.
If I take time to read it, I’ll get behind in my own work. So I leave empty handed, so to speak. Maybe there’s a reason for it, but I try to avoid reading those types of pages anymore.
Hi Liz, this is a fantastic summary, thank you. I think I’ll pin it up next to my machine.
I loved this bit.
“Readers who come in good faith will be able to find the place where your experience meets with their own”
It reminded me of your post on meeting your readers for a coffee in the morning 🙂
The mistakes I see people making?
People who are still finding their voice – writing way too much.
People who’ve gotten carried away with their reputation – not getting down off their podium, not explaining “how to”, not being around for the conversation and chat, not stopping by to say hello to others.
There are many wonderful shining exceptions of course, and you all know who you are 🙂
Joanna
Hi Dar!
I made myself a promise to call you and before I could I find you here! YEA!!
You have a lovely writing voice. It comes through so clearly. Your heart is there. Just keep on saying what you mean and people will hear you. 🙂
Hi Joanna!
That bit that you point out is one I discover over and over. The more I tell my individual story, the more people are able to relate their own. When I try to tell the story of the world, I think it’s just too general for anyone to find something to hold onto.
People do get self-conscious when they first start writing or when we don’t know the subject that we’re writing about. I know I do that. Then I write on and on.
Those folks who pound the podium singing their own praises, well . . . 🙂
Hi Liz,
I have to agree with Dar. In my experiences about the Internet, it’s the posts that just go on and on without really saying anything at all and read the same way. It ends up sounding like corporate meeting where a miffed manager takes 15 minutes just to say no. Okay, I realize that there are a few folks out in blogger-land who can write 12 paragraphs on a trip to the local gas station and make it interesting simply because the author is a natural born story teller. They’re out there alright but they’re not in the majority.
To me, if you wish to make you blog a conversational type then you need to allow the conversation to happen and in my opinion, one does not hold a proper conversation by doing all the talking.
Like in this comment for instance. 😛
I’m also as guilty as the next guy/gal when it comes to “finishing” a post and not leaving it open for others to have their say.
Hi again
I know that we can all use words as camouflage when we’re not so sure of ourselves. It’s so amazing though when people start to cut it back, and cut it back, and have the courage to cut it back some more to reveal the truth-telling, confident, awe-inspiring unique stories at the heart of their writing…
Joanna
By the way, is it just me or have your smileys disappeared?
Did you turn off your smilies? 😀
Hi Kirk!
Great point about leaving the post open so that other folks can have room to talk. Why didn’t I think to say that? I guess I was off on some tangent on the way to a gas station of my own. 🙂
I’ve heard myself say that, but for some reason I didn’t remember to now. I’m grateful that you did.
Who knows what’s going on with the smilies? They’re misbehaving for sure — I didn’t turn them off, but I can’t seem to turn them on.
Hi Joanna!
You sure said it!
It’s so amazing though when people start to cut it back, and cut it back, and have the courage to cut it back some more to reveal the truth-telling, confident, awe-inspiring unique stories at the heart of their writing…
Very interesting post. It will help me. I am always very concerned about how polished my writing is. I also like the reminder to let the words come from you first and go back and edit later. Good Stuff!!
Also, it has been a while since I have visited your blog. I like the new look!!
Hi Darlene!
Welcome back to the blog! Glad you like it!
This conversation that Dawud and I are having from blog to blog is proving popular and we’re both enjoying it. The questions are some that we might never have explored. . ..
Thanks for coming back!
What a beautiful post! I’ve been reading your blog for a while now but lurking in the background. This I had to comment on. I’m throwing myself into a freelance career and I’m in the middle of a particularly tough assignment. I was JUST thinking that I might have to go back and turn it down when I read your words. Cleared me right up!
Thank you so much!
Hi Naomi,
Welcome. Nice to meet you!
Man, those tough ones sure can make us reconsider, can’t they? 🙂
I’m delighted you came here first. Every great writer is half ego and half self-doubt. It couldn’t work any other way. 🙂
I have just started a blog and have written and re-written numerous times. After stumbling on your blog and reading a few of your articles I am much more confident now….hopefully no more re-writes!!
This is my favorite and least favorite part 🙂 I believe in the authentic, I am cautious about being misunderstood.
Things that I see that irk me the most reside not so much in the post as it does in the comments. Driveby comments that harass a poster based on a preconceived notion are frustrating. I am all for disagreement if there is differing opinion, but if you are going to light someone up, you should at least have the consideration to come back to check the status of the firestorm you created. The written word leaves a lot of room for miscommunication – it is the posters responsibility to be as clear as possible and the readers job to disagree responsibly.
Hi April,
The more I know you, the more I want to know. . . .
I so agree with your sense of justice — Is that the right word? — and wonderful phrasing, “disagree responsibly.” Though the misbehavior you describe rarely happens here, it’s such a distraction anywhere it happens. Rudeness is just rudeness. End of story. 🙂
The biggest mistake I see bloggers write on the internet is talking one-down, like a guru who’s better than me.
I want to listen and talk with someone who’s standing with me side by side on the same path, not a drill sergeant commanding me in a parade march.
“Who knows what’s going on with the smilies? They’re misbehaving for sure — I didn’t turn them off, but I can’t seem to turn them on.”
Oh but you do, always and all ways 🙂
Joanna
Hi Alvin!
I agree that is so much a mistake. The sad part is that we’re only doing what we learned in school. If more teachers learned to guide rather than instruct, more of us would be able to do the same. 🙂
Joanna,
You are wonderful!
@ Comment#17
Hi Michael!
Welcome!
Sorry you had to wait in moderation. . . .
Gosh, I’m glad you found some confidence here. We all need a little more of that. 🙂