Editor’s Note: This is the first of a 3-part guest post series by Seattle crisis communications consultant Wiley Brooks on how to improve your writing. Wiley blogs at WileyBrooks.com. He also offers a short online class for PR peopleto help them master writing clearly and concisely. I’ve asked Wiley to write a 3-part series to show us how we can do a better job of getting our messages out, briefly and concisely.
“If I had more time, I would have written you a shorter letter.”
These words were uttered by one of our most respected – and concise – writers: Mark Twain. Mark Twain didn’t live at a time where every day we witness yet another crisis communications blunder. Yet, those words he uttered more than 100 years ago ring true in today’s social media-driven world.
We tend to write too quickly. This urgency to post infects most of us now that social media has become a communications tool of choice for many. Banging on the post button, though, can lead straight to a crisis. Sometimes, we click the post button before we’ve even reread what we just wrote. If Twitter says it’s less than 140 characters, we just rush it out to our followers – and beyond.
Mark Twain was never satisfied with his first draft of anything. He showed us that good writing takes more work than many of us give it.
So, what do you do after you’ve pounded out that draft?
The first step is to look at the words you chose to use. Are they fat and bloated or short and concise? Mark Twain knew that shorter words are always better. Always. Take a look at your first draft entirely from the viewpoint of word choices. Justify to yourself any word with more than 2 syllables.
Press yourself hard on this rule. Go sentence by sentence. It doesn’t matter what the word is. If it has more than 2 syllables give it extra thought. Could you have used a 1- or 2-syllable word instead? If yes, you will find that often you can rewrite the sentence so that it is more concise.
In Part 2 of this 3-part series, we will look at why shorter is sweeter for PR people and anyone else who wants to make sure that his or her key message actually connects.
Editor’s note: Wiley offers a PR Writing Class that he created to help PR professionals write more clearly and concisely. He offers this 2-hour online class for $99. However, he has put together a special discount for the fabulous readers and followers of melissaagnescrisismanagement.com! Simply enter in the code Melissa812 at check-out and receive this class for just $79! Enroll in Wiley’s course today!
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