Are you looking to improve your writing? Here’s a simple tip that can make a world of difference:
Read your work aloud.
That’s it. Well … not quite. There’s a second part:
Listen as you read.
As you read your writing aloud, pay attention:
You may want to record as you read, then listen to the recording. Or, you may want to have someone read the piece to you. Oftentimes, you can pick up on the above items even more easily by listening to someone else as they read. (And since they’re reading it “cold,” they are more likely to read it as your target audience would.) Notice if they stumble over word choice or sentence structure, pay attention to where they hesitate or if their eyes glaze over, and – of course – ask for their honest feedback as to whether the piece made sense and achieved your goal.
Read aloud and listen. It’s a tip everyone can try – with immediate results!
Author: Paula Marolewski