5 Ways To Trust In The Power Of Your Words
This week’s audio writing tip is on trusting the power of your words - in a business writing context in particular.
You can play the audio tips here. Just click the play button (arrow) on the screen. It takes 5 minutes to play right through.
It was inspired by an editing job I’ve just completed. It was a piece of writing that contained a lot of intrinsic power but we needed to lose certain words to get that power to shine through: excess words, complex words and borrowed words (other people’s words for what you’re writing about, rather than your own).
When I reflected on the writing lessons I could see 5 things we need to learn to trust. Trust:
- That less is more
- That simplicity works (KISS!)
- In the power of Plain English
- Your own words
- That you’ll make some mistakes…
Because trusting in the power of your words doesn’t mean trusting you won’t make mistakes, or trusting the spellchecker to pick them all up for you (it won’t). For the power to shine through you still need to take responsibility for finishing, editing and polishing your work.
How about you? How have you learned to trust in the power of your words?
I’m still experimenting with the best format for my audio writing tips.
This one is through VoiceThread which is an application I love - very intuitive, easy to use and offers the potential for collaboration and conversation. You do need to have an account with them to leave a comment (typed or audio) but it only takes a moment + e-mail address and a password. You might just find yourself hooked if you do!
I’ve realised you can upload powerpoint slides to form the basis of the thread - and as I tend to use that format as the prompt for my podcasts I decided to experiment with matching them together so you get the visual and audio combined. For me it’s more effective as a medium… although I do appreciate these can’t be downloaded in the way a podcast can.
Anyway, I’m going to keep on experimenting and see what works for me, for you, and for use in some e-courses I’m working on just now too… More on that to follow.
Joanna Young, The Confident Writing Coach
Because our words count
Joanna, you are such a wonderful teacher for us.
How much time did it take you to produce this?
Great simple points here! The one that’s hard for me is learning that “less is more”. I know it’s true but still always feel like I have to explain, explain, explain!
Good question Rosa.
Time to think of the 5 points = when I was out for a walk.
Powerpoint slides = about 20 minutes. I’d been working on improving my powerpoint technique (for the net, not a live presentation) for something I’m working on for Joyful Jubilant Learning, so I’d speeded up by the time I came to this
Recording my commentary = the 5 minutes it takes to play the slides. This is what I love about voice thread compared to podcasting - it frees me from the feeling I need to get it right, and I just record it conversationally, as if I’m talking to you. One take.
There’s no editing after you’ve done the recording - it’s there instantly. Same with uploading photos or powerpoint slides or other documents. It can take most formats.
Once your thread is done you get an embed link (as if copying from youtube) which you cut and paste into the blog post…
Writing the post to host the embed link = about 10 minutes
In total: not long. Less time than it takes me for the podcasts given recording, editing, getting it to the right volume, uploading to gcast, posting here.
And if I’m just speaking to a photo on VoiceThread rather than creating the powerpoint slides - less time again.
You know I’m going to lull you into doing this eventually don’t you?
Joanna
Kathryn, Thanks for taking the time to comment. I’m very pleased to meet you and find your blog.
You’re right, less is more is the hardest one of all - but to my mind also the most important. When you come to believe it, to trust it’s true - the other things all fall into place.
Hope to see you again soon
Joanna
Mahalo Joanna, and yes, I know…
This is an effective format for presentation, Joanna. You’re leading the way again.
Thanks Yvonne - it’s also easy to use, honestly! Well worth a try.
Joanna
Joanna, I have now come back to this several times. You always have such wonderful words of advice. I also appreciated Rosa’s question about voice thread. I’m signed up and used it to comment here. I’ve been keen to give it a try but haven’t yet taken that step. Thank you Joanna for keeping it simple but significant.
Thanks you once again for your feedback Karen. You do have a knack of hitting the nail on the head.
If I could have a watchword for my own writing (and maybe my life) I’d choose something like simple but significant
Joanna