Sharpen Your Writing

Writers sometimes find that the excitement of an idea may not always translate into exciting writing. Writing can fall flat on readers' ears. When this happens, it is usually because the heart of the message was not conveyed well. The writing may be technically perfect, but it doesn't resonate emotionally with readers. To sharpen writing that you suspect may have fallen flat, return to the emotion that you felt when you first conceived the idea (i.e., anger, hope, challenge, etc.). That is the emotion you want readers to feel. After pinning down that emotion, select dramatically charged language that conveys that emotion, relying on tone and slant. You can also sharpen flat writing by using specific detail that readers can connect to instead of general, vague language that keeps readers at a distance. Flat writing can be sharpened by using simple declarative sentences, by using startling or unique facts, and by keeping your writing moving without stalling over lengthy or boring passages. These techniques and others, when employed always with an eye toward the heart of your message, will create energy in your writing that readers will find captivating and anything but flat.