Connecting with Readers
One, two, three, eyes on me!
I'm sure this is not the first time you've heard this simple rule. For many years, it has been one of the most effective ways to grab children's attention in a rowdy classroom.
However, even though the rule may seem simple, it's not always easy for children to follow. Since children tend to do what they want, a teacher must understand how to convince the child they'll want to pay attention.
Teachers do this through their tone, volume, pitch and overall expressions. The young students won't listen if the teacher whispers instructions or says them with a lack of enthusiasm. It takes a certain presentation with a real intention to have the children engaged.
All these tricks apply to writing. Readers are like children in a classroom. They have a short attention span and want to make sure what they're looking at is interesting enough to engage in.
This is one of the trickiest roadblocks writers face, especially in digital media. However, there are a few ways they can quickly connect with their audience.
Grabbing a Reader's Attention
According to Amy Schade, one of the most important things to understand when writing is "The Fold Manifesto." The fold is a concept that allows how much a reader can see before scrolling, according to Schade.
This is important for writers to understand since readers intend to read something they find interesting. Since this is the case, writers must beat the reader at their own game. They have to grab the readers' attention from the very beginning.
"The average difference in how users treat info above vs. below the fold is 84%." -Amy Schade
According to William Zinsser of "On Writing Well," writers can grab and maintain a reader's attention through:
- Word Choice
- Keeping it Simple
- Being Themselves
Simple Writing
As mentioned in my previous blog post, writing simply is one of the most crucial techniques a writer must use for readers to relate to the content. Zinsser emphasizes the importance of keeping sentences straight to the point without "fluff." He also mentions using more common words that make a message come across clearly is also important in keeping a reader's attention.
In the digital era, skimming has become the norm in reading. Since readers pay most attention to the beginning of an article or story, concise, easy-to-follow writing is key for readers to stay engaged.
Be Yourself!
Probably the most important rule writers should follow is to be themselves and have fun.
"Now I'm saying you must write for yourself and not be gnawed by worry over whether the reader is tagging along." -Zinsser (pg. 25)
In "The Source of Bad Writing," Steven Pinker emphasizes how the "Curse of Knowledge" can detach the writer from the reader. It is when a writer struggles to imagine how a reader doesn't know what they know. A way he says to work around this is by being themselves.
By writing for yourself and not trying to target a certain audience, the writer will become more relatable and interesting to a reader. According to Zinsser, "every reader is a different person."
Therefore, when it comes to writing, there is no target audience. Writer must convey their thoughts and feelings on a page in a way that's simple and conversational.
Works Cited
Pinker, S. (2014, September 25). The source of bad writing. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved February 5, 2023, from https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-cause-of-bad-writing-1411660188
Schade, A. (2015, February 1). The Fold Manifesto: Why the page fold still matters. Nielsen Norman Group. Retrieved February 5, 2023, from https://www.nngroup.com/articles/page-fold-manifesto/
Zinsser, W. (2013). On writing well. Harper Paperbacks.