Sometimes, simpler is better. When delivering information to an audience, you want to deliver it as seamlessly as possible to as many people as possible. Although it may be tempting to write your blog with beautiful prose, you run the risk of losing your audience’s attention.
Remember, the reader isn’t here to pick up a novel. They’re trying to learn in a convenient and expedited way. And as an educator, you must remember that you can’t be sure of the age or background of your student.
At Lifted Logic, we want your message to reach all of your readers. We can help your audience understand your blog by writing like a fifth grader.
An Important Mindset
Many copywriters also enjoy writing creatively, and that’s great! But the tools and techniques that creative writers use aren’t always useful here. Long-winded and in-depth prose can turn a short, informative blog into a chore to read.
Additionally, be sure not to bury the lede. You don’t need to keep your readers in suspense. Give them as much information as you can as quickly and neatly as possible.
Your audience’s time and attention is a valuable commodity, and you should treat it as such. You want to give your readers a strong, positive impression of your brand, and you can’t do that if you waste their time.
Junior High Writing Strategies
Middle of the Road
Think about the kinds of books you read in fifth grade. Give yourself some credit; you probably weren’t reading picture books anymore. But you probably hadn’t tackled a Pulitzer Prize winner just yet either. No, the books you read in fifth grade were probably somewhere in between.
What kinds of strategies did those books employ to hold your attention?
First, they probably kept the sentences short. Now, don’t overdo this. A blog composed entirely of simple sentences probably sounds a little stilted. For instance:
“I walked in. I saw my teacher. I said hi. I sat down. I read a book.”
That sounds choppy and boring. But if you go too far in the other direction, you might end up with something like this:
“It wasn’t until after I walked into the classroom, saw my teacher and bid her a good morning that I finally sat down at my desk, opened my bookbag, thumbed through my science book, and began to consume all of the information contained within.”
That’s a wordy, messy sentence. Try to find something in the middle:
“I walked into the classroom, said hi to my teacher, and sat down at my desk to read.”
This delivers all of the information in a cleaner package.
Put Away the Thesaurus
Additionally, you don’t want to use big words when a smaller word can serve the same purpose. Young writers are afraid of clichés, but big words can be confusing, and there’s nothing worse than a clunky word taking you out of a story. I should be engaged, but instead, I’m opening my dictionary.
Which sentence sounds better to you?
- “I jaunted down the thoroughfare and masticated an allotment of mucilaginous confection.”
- “I walked down the street and chewed a piece of gum.”
There’s a good chance you were confused by the first sentence, but they mean pretty much the same thing. And while the first sentence was composed of larger, prettier words, when used together, the sentence loses meaning.
Simpler Is Better
Don’t be afraid to keep things simple. When a sentence is uncomplicated, you can better retain a reader’s attention. Lifted Logic offers several tips on how to build a better website. If you’d like to learn how you can work with us, we’d love to hear from you.