3 Parts of Effective Writing
Perception
Effective writing is essentially good thinking and good thinking derives from the ability to perceive critically, to discriminate between important details and unimportant details, to be sensitive to subtleties, to recognize relationships. Perception, seeing the truth of a subject, is the beginning of almost every writing project.
We perceive through our senses. Because we learn about the world through sight and sound, to make our writing effective we must use language that communicates directly as possible to the eye and ear. The more sensory details, the more likely readers are to get involved, intellectually, emotionally and even physically.
Sensory detail adds a human element to your writing. A human element makes your writing interesting, even vital to your readers, who are, after all, human.
To use sensory experience as part of your writing you must first train yourself to perceive more clearly and fully. As adults we lose the ability to be dazzled by our senses. We become dulled to what our senses are telling us about our surrounding world. With effort and practice you can bring your senses back to life, become more conscious of the world around you, begin to see more clearly.
When you begin to see more clearly you will begin to write more effectively.
Language
Perception is best when it is in the form of specific, concrete, particular details that SHOW your readers what you are thinking about. Concrete, specific language stimulates sensory pictures in your readers' minds.
Concrete, specific words name things or describe sensory details, objects, emotions, and facts in such a way that readers can actually experience with their own imagination the thing you are writing about.
Concrete, specific words suggest or name something we can see, feel, touch, smell, taste. Trout, French bread, daffodils, and silk.
General, abstract words identify classes, qualities, groupings, or ideas like fish, nutrition, vegetation, and clothing.
Using general, abstract words and phrases (generalization) in your writing is lazy. By using generalizations you fail to allow yourself to stretch your senses, your perception. You fail to look for the real and immediate level of experience in whatever you are writing about, and of course, you fail to share anything of significance for your readers.
Using concrete, specific words, especially sensory words that SHOW something to your readers eye and ear, creates images, a sensory picture in the mind. Your reader can see what you are writing about.
Twenty people came into my shop. versus Twenty Hells Angels came into my shop.
Good writing attempts to SHOW the reader what the writer is thinking about, rather than telling.
Telling is vague ---> I hurt my finger.
SHOWING is specific ---> I poked a needle through my finger.
Telling communicates an idea or concept ---> Downtown traffic was heavy.
SHOWING demonstrates an idea or concept ---> City buses coughed black smoke; taxis honked at a stalled delivery truck. Even a policeman on a motorcycle couldn't squeeze through the rumble of cars.
Honesty
Don't fall for the trap of thinking that you have to write about how you think you are supposed to feel. Have the courage, and be honest enough, to write about what you really feel. See what is actually there, not what you think you are supposed to see. Be honest with your experience. Ask yourself questions:
- "Is my experience real or am I feeling what I think I am supposed to feel?"
- "Am I hearing or seeing this in a new way or am I hearing or seeing it as I have always heard it before?"