More often than not, my writing needs a 'haircut and a shave' as a good friend of mine calls it. I have a tendency to embellish and be quite loquacious in my attempt to deliver a communication with impact. My first few drafts read exactly as my mind meanders....kind of like the written version of 'mountain man' on the left above.
Here's a simple three-step tool that I like and have shared with many clients. And, it works equally as well for speeches as it does for written works. It is called the 'Say It So It Matters' method and, as the name implies, it really supports the very essence of why you are saying anything at all...because you want it to matter, right?
So...three steps...and keep in mind, the order is important...it forces the writer to go from objective to relative to personal.
Step 1: Make it Simple
Be as succinct and objective as you possibly can. Make your point immediately, use simple words (it helps to think mono-syllabically). There's an old speech rule of thumb that says: If you can't state your point in 5 words or less...you have no point.
Step 2: Make It Timely
It is YOUR job as writer to frame up the message in a way that allows the reader to easily see why, in the middle of every other communication coming his/her way, to stop and listen/read/look at this. Make it rise the chart of relative importance so that the reader can see exactly why you are communicating this right now.
Step 3: Make it Personal
If you've done the first two steps well, the reader's logical thought pattern goes to these types of questions: So, what does it mean for me? What must I do as a result of this sharing of information? And, so what.....? Tell me what you want me to do. Don't assume or trust that I know. I want to know and I want to hear it from the person who I entrusted with my time and energy.
Give it a try today. Look at something you have written that is important...whether it's an executive summary, a letter to a client, or an email to your boss. See how clearly you've accomplished all three steps above and in what order you've done it.
Then, pull out the sheers and a razor...and, get to work.
