Hooked.
Attention spans are short. Time is limited. People have better things to do. If you want to catch someone’s attention, especially in writing, you have to hook them immediately. If you don’t, they’ll move on, quickly. Engaging the reader from the start is essential. Writing with enthusiasm ensures that your words leave an impact.
“Capture the reader immediately and force him to keep reading.” (Zinsser 51)
Take The Lead
The first sentence sets the tone and guides the reader into the piece. Every paragraph should build on the last, ensuring smooth progression. Choosing simple, uncluttered language keeps readers engaged. Storytelling is a powerful tool for keeping engagement:
Following a logical order of the storyline
Keeping paragraphs short yet interesting
Using casual language to make the writing more relatable
Offering a “behind the scenes” glimpse into your world
“It [The writing] must cajole him with freshness, or novelty, or paradox, or humor, or surprise, or with an unusual idea, or an interesting fact, or a question. Anything will do, as long as it nudges his curiosity and tugs at his sleeve.” (Zinsser 51)
Writing How You Want to be Heard
Writers don’t just write to be read, they write to be heard. Successful writing uses key elements to create a seamless user experience. A polished structure and consistent tone make a piece engaging and effective. Techniques such as alliteration, repetition, and contractions add rhythm and personality to the piece. Strong writing immerses the reader, invoking experience, creating engagement and entertainment.
The importance of rewriting still applies–the best writing is refined and reworked multiple times. Structured writing follows three key principles:
Accuracy – Providing precise information to ensure credibility
Brevity – Maintaining a casual tone while delivering big-picture ideas
Clarity – Using short, straightforward sentences
“Most rewriting consists of reshaping and tightening and refining the raw material you wrote on your first try. Much of it consists of making sure you’ve given the reader a narrative flow he can follow with no trouble from beginning to end. Keep putting yourself in the reader’s place.” (Zinsser 76)
King, Donnell. (n.d.). Writing for the ear. Writing-World.com. https://www.writing-world.com/grammar/ear.shtml
Swenson, J. (2017, March 18). Writing for the ear instead of the eye. Swenson Book Development. https://swensonbookdevelopment.com/blog/2017/writing-for-the-ear-instead-of-the-eye/
Zinsser, William. On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction. HarperCollins, 2006.
Hey, I’m Ashley!
I am a graphic & interactive designer passionate about creating purposeful, fun, and engaging design. Whether it’s a brand identity, a responsive website, or a social media campaign, I love connecting ideas with strategy to make work that’s not only beautiful, but effective.