Just Write it! Five Tips Tell All. How to Get Away with Writing Like You Talk.

Smart phon says: Do You Write Like You Talk?Should You Write Like You Talk?

Do you write like you talk? With video, social media, WIFI, TV, VOIP, texting, emoticons, and the third hand (smart phones); communications options and preferences are nearly unlimited.

For example, I do not like to text (fingers are clumsy). I love to talk; my daughter prefers Skype but I have WhatsApp. She refuses (can you blame her?) to download one more program and prefers texting to talking. We have settled on chatting through Skype. Amazingly, I can leave a video message on Skype or an audio message on Whats App. Communication systems are taking our languages for a ride—and each is undergoing a transformation.

Texting and emoticons have created a new language of its own,  so when writing professionally, does that make it okay to write like you talk?


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Write Like You Talk

As a writing and publishing coach, I nearly always encourage my clients to write like they talk. On a basic level, writing for publishing is a three-part process. Writing, editing, and proofreading. Ideally, the editor and proofreader are hired, since editing, and proofreading need a different skill set, as well as a fresh pairs of eyes.

The most important aspect of writing is having something to say and saying it passionately. This means the story takes priority over spelling, grammar, formatting, and all that “nonsense” we learned in college or high school English. That is not what real writing is about. That is the craft of writing, but the art of writing is telling your story. I have created a video for my students to understand this concept. Read my article about the art and craft of writing entitled,  Are You Writing from Your Heart?

Many new writers are intimidated by the thought of writing perfectly—or some concept of what they were taught that perfect writing is. The problem with this is that the craft of writing can stifle the art of writing. So when I help writers make the journey from writer to published author, the first step is finding their art; and I always tell them to Write like you talk, just to get the story flowing! The craft comes later, and can actually be done by a hired hand.

I Stand Corrected

Should you write like you talk? There is always the exception to the rule. Here comes Oscar (name changed); a former client who recently returned as a private client. He is highly creative and shoots out thoughts like lightning bolts in a sky clouded by his multiple streams of consciousness. Therefore, his writing requires a fair amount of editing to make his meaning clear to the reader. Today, in our session, I nearly said it: “Oscar, just write like you talk!” But I bit my tongue; as Oscar is the exception to the rule.

Oscar is a highly intelligent CEO with limited time; therefore, editing is required in order for him to meet writing deadlines. This is not a bad thing. Busy people with a story to tell with no time to tell it, hire ghost writers. They may speak their story into a recording device, which is translated into words and rewritten by an expert writer. Many great books have been “written” and published this way.

For the next phase in teaching Oscar to write, we will work on the aspect of his writing as a tool for communicating important and profound ideas. This means eliminating his stream of consciousness writing, which will need a focused mindset; along with some rules to translate flow of talking into basic writing protocol. Here are some basic rules to make your writing easy to reach out to the general reader. Do not use contractions such as don’t, won’t, isn’t, didn’t, doesn’t, etc. These are OK to use when talking, and when quoting someone, you may use them.

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Publishing a Book Yourself STEP 1Do not use contractions such as don’t, won’t, isn’t, didn’t, doesn’t, etc. These are OK to use when talking, and when quoting someone, you may use them.

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AlwayNumber 2 - Write Like You Talks use complete sentences. A complete sentence includes a verb and a noun or pronoun with a period at the end.
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Number 3; Write Like You TalkAvoid slang. Do not use words such as “freaked out,” “hot chick” “freakin”; local dialects, such as “ended up,” aint, or y’all; or cuss words unless quoting someone. Use these in quotes only if needed to create a character or personality; as these do not come across as good writing.

Number 4: Write Like You TalkThe uses of em dashes—and dot, dot, dot … are mental shortcuts and make the reader feel dizzy. Observe how this next sentence makes you feel. Think the thought through and clearly communicate what you want to say using a complete thought–not broken up by dashes—a shortcut which does not clearly communicate what you mean. Write in clear, cohesive sentences.

Number 5: Write Like You TalkEliminate the word “it” whenever you can. Sometimes you will find it difficult to write without the word “it” but when you can drop this word in most cases, your writing will improve at least 50% on the spot! “It” is an overused pronoun, and is handy when talking, but when writing can be confusing. Most of the time, although the writer knows what “it” means, the reader will not easily follow what “it” is.

If following these rules seems to shut your writing down, then break the rules; and simply write like you talk! Then, after you write your piece, go through and quickly clean it up by using these basic guidelines.


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Becoming a Published Author-Get a Raise!

Becoming a Published Author-Creating Author Authority

By Deborah S. Nelson

Make a Book using Print on Demand: Becoming a Published Author

Becoming a Published Author Builds Credibility & Confidence

It is nearly 2015, and some powerful buzz words are hitting the Internet Space–Google Author Verification, Search Engine Optimization, and Online Publishing. What do these terms have in common with becoming a published author? First, let us focus on the one word that dominates this game. That word is “authority.” Domain authority, page authority, and author authority influence the Google Search Engine in ranking your published works. Google ranking of your works translates to exposure and ultimately, sales. “Authority” as defined by Vocabulary.com:

authority 

If you have the authority to do something, you have the right or power to do it. You are the big cheese. In other words, if you know more about a topic than most, you are an authority on that topic.


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The Most Powerful Publishing Platform in History

When personal computers became popularized by the use of e-mail and the World Wide Web, at first none of us knew what it meant. In the beginning, government and educational institutions used e-mail as a communications tool. Once the World Wide Web created a platform for mass communications online, more uses developed over time. Online shopping such as E-Bay, PayPal, and other conveniences came into being. Over time the World Wide Web has evolved. Now in the 21st Century the Web has settled into a reality of its own. What is that reality? With great epiphany I have realized that the World Wide Web is the Publishing Platform of the 21st Century. The PC is the new ink and the Web is the new paper. Everything written is posted and published for the world to see. Understanding that the Web is actually a publishing platform will give you the ability to master the web. The undiscovered secret is understanding that the Internet is the most powerful publishing platform in history.

Authority, Author Ranking, and Publishing

If you want to gain traffic from Google, which translates into economic advantage, building Domain Authority and Page Authority is critical. Google’s goal to keep search engine results relevant to what searchers are seeking is their primary business strategy. This keeps Google advertising (some $19 billion or more each year) viable. What does this mean specifically to you as a business person, or online publisher? It means the ability to get your message to thousands and millions of targeted readers. It means the ability to get your information, services and products in front of readers and buyers. Becoming a published author can increase your authority rank with Google and get your message in front of people who want and need your products or services.

Becoming a Published Author and Giving Yourself a Raise

Becoming a published author positions you for an increase in income. With a published book, you may easily offer consulting, give workshops, become a speaker, and increase your fees in a related business.  Becoming a published author on the World Wide Web encompasses many forms of publishing such as the following:

  • Branded Blog Publisher
  • Online Magazine Publication
  • Publish a traditional printed book to sell on Amazon
  • Publish an electronic version of a printed book in Kindle
  • Publish an e-book and sell on platforms such as Smashwords. Kobo or Clickbank

Any of these methods of online or digital publishing can give your wisdom, knowledge, or entertainment venues exposure. Learning how to get your works exposure includes a learning curve, but an important step is to get Google Author Verified.

What is Google Author Verification?

I have written a 3-part series on how to get Google Author verification. This status relates back to the concept of “authority.” Once you become a “known authority” on a subject, Google will send traffic to your published information. However, you must prove to Google that you are that authority. Establishing authority and gaining recognition on the www is most easily done through applying to Google to become a Google Verified Author. Becoming a published author and letting Google know it is important. Once Google accepts you as a verified author, anything you write is cross referenced with your Google Author Profile. To learn more about this you may read my Google Author Verification articles which covers the whys and hows of Google Author Verification. The most important thing to know is, you must protect your original works that you publish online by registering them with your Google Author Profile, and build authority with Google by informing them of what you are writing and publishing online. Becoming a Published author online will give you an economic advantage if you take the steps to protect your works, and let Google know what you are writing about.

RELATED ARTICLE: Frequently Asked Self-Publishing Questions


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