Get People to Enjoy Your Writing, Not Just Your Content
By: Scott Leonardi
Tags: Creative Writing, Personal Development, Content, Self, Creativity

Image from Shutterstock.

I can’t overstate how important it is to not shun away from the unorthodox while still trying to connect with a larger audience.

A lot of writers tone down their naturally elaborated or colorful speech to make better time with getting to the point. Understandable, but as someone who enjoys reading the variety of personal style, not entirely necessary.

You need to understand just how impactful it is to have your voice in your writing.

YOUR voice, not just A voice. Not just a string of words that can recited by any passing word-lancer. How else do you expect to get people to stick around if you don’t make a point to make an impression?

I understand that good content is what people want, but if your content is good and yet could also be mistaken for someone of a similar stride because there’s nothing noticeably different in the tone or syntax that you’re offering up, don’t be surprised when hungry readers don’t come back for second helpings.

If the way in which you write is on the duller side of the pencil point, you may want to consider a few things to stay sharp in the face of memory erasers.

Ask yourself:

What is it about my writing that I know is particular to me and me alone?

What do I do that I don’t see other writers doing?

How can I replicate that in a way that not only doesn’t feel forced, but evolves into something more fine-tuned and natural?

For example, in my case, I know that not everyone likes to use outlandish metaphors to make their point or even embellishes what they’re trying to say very much. Less is more, as the saying goes.

And who could blame the Advocates of the Alliterative Ax for wanting to cut through the bullshit and hack through the jungles of jumbled lettering and tangled knots of tumbleweed sentences? They’re the ones that clear the obstructions and get us to the point of it all. They are the Sherpas in our search for El Dorado. The Chiefs of the Chop chanting All Must Go. Abiding to the principles that you only take what you can carry.

Those of us that don’t naturally don the mantle of Jungle’s Fastest Slasher are leaders of a different sort, nonetheless.

Some people may offer up quick content in a cute little bow, ready and waiting for instantaneous consumption, and this may very well lead you straight into what had led you to click on the article in the first place. Headlines aren’t beartraps, after all. They’re more like You-Are-Here maps with (hopefully) a clear line as to where that path will take you, should you choose to click and go that way.

No, those of us that aren’t a part of that conga line of conclusive crusaders aren’t necessarily fans of the straight shot. We don’t like to check the map unless absolutely necessary. Instead, we prefer the unexplored terrain surrounding the literary vein.

We don’t need someone to explain exactly “How to Increase Productivity in the Morning”, or to tell us about “5 Things We Think are Bad but are Actually Good.” We want more flavor and less filling. We want to enjoy our meal and not just feel stuffed with information.

Anyone can offer up their personal slew of protein and nutrients, everything we would need to keep the body full and healthy, but in what way was the dish memorable? In what way does it stand out when compared to every other Plain Brain capable of waving a ladle? Unless you take the time to develop a signature spice, you’re going to leave a lot of tongues accustomed to the comfortable and bland, instead of sizzling from your unique cattle brand.