When choosing verbs let loose your sharpest arrows
27/07/11 20:20 Filed in: Writing
Which one of the two sentences below would you prefer to read or hear spoken?
1. He is not a punctual person.
2. He rarely shows up on time.
Chances are you picked number two because it conveys the idea in a livelier way.
Words are like arrows that carry meaning to readers (and listeners too) says Elizabeth Danziger, author of Get To The Point: Painless Advice for Writing Memos, Letters and E-Mails. And solid, razor sharp arrows are more likely to pierce the target than those that are flimsy and dull.
Verbs are the most dynamic words. They can help readers and listeners “see” the point. They can also add colour and increase the persuasiveness of your message. For all of those reasons, you should aim to use the strongest ones you can. Too often, however, writers make weak choices. Their quivers bulge with the verbs to be, have and do. These are linking verbs that provide general information. By taking a bit more time to rummage through your vocabulary, you can often come up with sharper alternatives.
As you write, get into the habit of asking yourself: can I make more precise word choices? When you finish a draft, read it through just once to check your verbs. Every time you come across a variation of to be, have and do, mark it with a highlighter. Then, see if you can swap in some zestier language.
You won’t be able to eliminate all of the connector verbs in your writing. Nor should you try, because they do serve a useful function. However, by replacing some of them with more dynamic verbs, you will make your writing far more precise and appealing to the final consumer.
Want to learn and practise your writing skills? You’ll get a chance during the writing lab I conduct as part of my workshop Speechwriting: The Basics & Beyond Oct 20, 2011. To take your speechwriting to a higher level, join me for Value Beyond Words: Advanced Speechwriting Techniques Oct 21, 2011.
Sign up for both sessions to get two full days of training and save money too. See details and register at www.echeloncomm.ca
1. He is not a punctual person.
2. He rarely shows up on time.
Chances are you picked number two because it conveys the idea in a livelier way.
Words are like arrows that carry meaning to readers (and listeners too) says Elizabeth Danziger, author of Get To The Point: Painless Advice for Writing Memos, Letters and E-Mails. And solid, razor sharp arrows are more likely to pierce the target than those that are flimsy and dull.
Verbs are the most dynamic words. They can help readers and listeners “see” the point. They can also add colour and increase the persuasiveness of your message. For all of those reasons, you should aim to use the strongest ones you can. Too often, however, writers make weak choices. Their quivers bulge with the verbs to be, have and do. These are linking verbs that provide general information. By taking a bit more time to rummage through your vocabulary, you can often come up with sharper alternatives.
As you write, get into the habit of asking yourself: can I make more precise word choices? When you finish a draft, read it through just once to check your verbs. Every time you come across a variation of to be, have and do, mark it with a highlighter. Then, see if you can swap in some zestier language.
You won’t be able to eliminate all of the connector verbs in your writing. Nor should you try, because they do serve a useful function. However, by replacing some of them with more dynamic verbs, you will make your writing far more precise and appealing to the final consumer.
Want to learn and practise your writing skills? You’ll get a chance during the writing lab I conduct as part of my workshop Speechwriting: The Basics & Beyond Oct 20, 2011. To take your speechwriting to a higher level, join me for Value Beyond Words: Advanced Speechwriting Techniques Oct 21, 2011.
Sign up for both sessions to get two full days of training and save money too. See details and register at www.echeloncomm.ca
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Tips to make your talking points fly high
25/07/11 22:30 Filed in: Speeches
Not every assignment calls for a full blown speech. Sometimes the only thing a speaker needs is a set of talking points.
What's the difference? Well, generally the script for a speech is composed of narrative i.e. full sentences, punctuation and even directions to pause. In contrast, talking points most often consist of headings, bulleted text and, in some cases, a backgrounder that contains more detail.
Talking points are a barebones treatment that call on the speaker to fill in the blanks. For that reason, they are most appropriate to speakers who are confident on the podium and who know the subject well.
The responsibility for a good delivery rests heavily on the speaker's shoulders. However, the writer can help assure success by creating talking points that are easy to expand and deliver.
Here are steps you can take to help the speaker you support wing it with panache.
1. Create a structure
Just because talking points are made up of bullets as opposed to sentences, doesn't give you licence to pull together a random list of facts and stats. Both speaker and audience need guideposts to follow. So, create a structure with a clear beginning, middle and end. Set the scene; say's what's important and why; explain what has to happen or change; than wrap things up by repeating what people should remember, or tell them what you want them to think, believe or do.
2. Make it interesting
Don’t limit your input to just the meat and potatoes of the topic or issue. Help the speaker add some spice. Take a look at the background data. Is there an analogy or comparison the speaker could make to help listeners visualize ideas? People can't hold abstract concepts in mind for a long time. So make abstractions concrete by comparing them to real things people can imagine. And never underestimate the power of surprising people or saying something funny to delight them.
3. Bring stats to life
Another challenge for listeners is making sense of numbers. Numbers are not a substitute for ideas. Tell the story first; then provide numbers to illustrate your point. Your message will be even more powerful if you also make the stats relevant to the audience. Often that means giving big numbers a human scale. Most people find it difficult to imagine a billion of anything. So, express the figure in a way that’s easier for your audience to digest. For example, a billion dollars would buy a Cadillac for each of the 16,000 people who live in the town of Riverview, New Brunswick.
Want to learn more about creating talking points and other speechwriting techniques? Reserve your seat at the workshops
Speechwriting: The Basics & Beyond Oct 20, 2011 and
Value Beyond Words: Advanced Speechwriting Techniques Oct 21, 2011.
Sign up for both sessions to get two full days of training and save money too. See details and register at www.echeloncomm.ca
What's the difference? Well, generally the script for a speech is composed of narrative i.e. full sentences, punctuation and even directions to pause. In contrast, talking points most often consist of headings, bulleted text and, in some cases, a backgrounder that contains more detail.
Talking points are a barebones treatment that call on the speaker to fill in the blanks. For that reason, they are most appropriate to speakers who are confident on the podium and who know the subject well.
The responsibility for a good delivery rests heavily on the speaker's shoulders. However, the writer can help assure success by creating talking points that are easy to expand and deliver.
Here are steps you can take to help the speaker you support wing it with panache.
1. Create a structure
Just because talking points are made up of bullets as opposed to sentences, doesn't give you licence to pull together a random list of facts and stats. Both speaker and audience need guideposts to follow. So, create a structure with a clear beginning, middle and end. Set the scene; say's what's important and why; explain what has to happen or change; than wrap things up by repeating what people should remember, or tell them what you want them to think, believe or do.
2. Make it interesting
Don’t limit your input to just the meat and potatoes of the topic or issue. Help the speaker add some spice. Take a look at the background data. Is there an analogy or comparison the speaker could make to help listeners visualize ideas? People can't hold abstract concepts in mind for a long time. So make abstractions concrete by comparing them to real things people can imagine. And never underestimate the power of surprising people or saying something funny to delight them.
3. Bring stats to life
Another challenge for listeners is making sense of numbers. Numbers are not a substitute for ideas. Tell the story first; then provide numbers to illustrate your point. Your message will be even more powerful if you also make the stats relevant to the audience. Often that means giving big numbers a human scale. Most people find it difficult to imagine a billion of anything. So, express the figure in a way that’s easier for your audience to digest. For example, a billion dollars would buy a Cadillac for each of the 16,000 people who live in the town of Riverview, New Brunswick.
Want to learn more about creating talking points and other speechwriting techniques? Reserve your seat at the workshops
Speechwriting: The Basics & Beyond Oct 20, 2011 and
Value Beyond Words: Advanced Speechwriting Techniques Oct 21, 2011.
Sign up for both sessions to get two full days of training and save money too. See details and register at www.echeloncomm.ca