CONNECT to your readers

You’re a writer. Your job is to communicate. Plain and simple. Your medium is the written word, but ultimately your goal is no different than that of a public speaker, actor, director or motivator – to deliver a message. Some writers communicate well: their readers hang on every word, enticed by building suspense and rewarded with a satisfying conclusion. Others not only lack style and substance, they struggle to be understood. If you want to improve your writing, improve your communication skills.

"My aim is to put down on paper what I see and what I feel in the best and simplest way."

~ Ernest Hemingway

One of the most difficult situations in which to communicate is during disagreements. While communication conflicts can’t be avoided (trust me, I’ve tried) they can be defused with effective communication. Frank LaFasto and Carl Larson developed The CONNECT Model in their book, When Teams Work Best, as a tool for dealing with this conflict.

Commit to the Relationship

Optimize Safety

Narrow Down to One Issue

Neutralize Defensiveness

Explain and Echo

Change One Behavior Each

Track It

Each small step is a giant leap for empathetic communication and can be applied to all types of communications. Let’s apply a similar CONNECT Model to communicating with your readers.

Consider your reader as you write. It is a solitary process, yet you should never be alone while writing. Imagine your reader in the room with you, providing gentle guidance and feedback. Ultimately this is the person who will purchase your book, so you should work to please them from the beginning. I can hear the complaints now…”but I write for me. If people can’t accept me for me and appreciate what I have to say, then blah, blah, blah.” If you don’t want any one to read your book, then by all means only write for yourself. Otherwise, know who you are writing for.

Outline for clarity. The clearer you can be when communicating the more likely you are to be understood.

Never use two words if one will suffice. The Oxford English Dictionary, 2^nd edition, contains entries for 171,476 words in current use, and 47,156 obsolete words. It would be safe to assume one of those words will be the perfect word for your needs. The true skill of being a writer is finding that word. Scale back for lean writing.

Narrow down your thoughts. Too many supporting characters and subplots can overshadow your main story. Often very simple stories are the most touching. Concise storytelling may appear simplistic however it is quite difficult to achieve.

Edit, edit, edit. Each edit should bring your message into sharper focus. Once you think the work is polished to near perfection, set it aside for a few days. You might be surprised when you return to it in a few days and find yourself wondering “What was I trying to get at?”

Consistency is crucial. Style consistency is a characteristic of a serious and excellent writer. Use appropriate verb tense, subject-verb agreement and consistent point of views.

Take a cue from your peers and mentors. Model the style of writers you admire, take the best practices and make them your own, while maintaining your individual style.

How to Write in a Recession

A recession can actually create new opportunities for freelance writers; especially as traditional publishing companies cut back on staff and look for less expensive labor and distribution channels. More and more content providers are turning their attention to online audiences. The medium is cheap, fast, global and growing.

To be a successful freelance writer, even in a recession, you must possess the following traits:

Effective - An effective on line writer understands online marketing concepts such as: SEO (Search Engine Optimization), keyword density and page rank. They also write for people, not just search engines. The most effective online writers use plain language, with concise words and simple sentences. Online articles, just like their more traditional counterparts, require a hook. List articles are popular, as are: How-To articles, Reviews and Editorials.

Professional – Present yourself in a professional manner, whether in print, on the phone or in person. If you are working from home and need to make a business call, you should do so only when background noise is minimal. Babies crying, dogs barking or a television blaring in the background will detract from your words and your reputation. It is imperative that you proof read every correspondence sent to clients, whether a query, an introduction, an assignment or a thank you note. You want to make sure your last impression is as good as your first. Don’t get too casual or familiar.

Reliable – Deliver the right goods on time, every time. If you’ve been contracted to write a piece on gardening, don’t deliver an article on the history of farming. If the word count requested was 1000, don’t deliver 750 or 2500. If you have questions about the assignment, ask before the deadline. If you deliver the assignment on time but leave no time to make changes, your client will still be dissatisfied. It’s been shown that an unsatisfied customer will tell at least ten people of their experience. A satisfied customer may only tell one or two people, but those one or two are more likely to use your services based on a positive referral.

Ethical – Writing requires a significant amount of research. Depending on the type of writing assignment you have, you may be asked to use statistics, anecdotes or expert testimony. Give credit where credit is due. Cite your sources, double check facts and never borrow another writer’s work. If you are caught plagiarizing the consequences to your reputation, your career and your finances may be dire.

How to Write in a Recession