Clear communication Write clearly without being patronizing: assume an "intelligent, good-hearted, energetic reader who is busy, confused, and knows little about the topic." (Writing to Change the World, Mary Pipher) Many writers race ahead of society's level of development and their words are unappreciated (see William Blake); others repeat conventional wisdoms and do not effect positive social change. There are lots of wisdoms out there and timing determines how they will be received; effective social writing looks at what wisdoms the readers will be ready for. Plan to keep people's attention Try to anticipate when people will get bored. Even if the material is fascinating, there are times when people just aren't as interested. For example, don't plan a 3-hour sit-down meeting in comfortable chairs in a dark room just after lunch. Disagreements Deflecting arguments is often more effective than winning them. Proving a point at an another's expense takes a lot of energy, lowers group morale and unity, and can cause resentment for those who felt aligned with the "defeated" point. Usually there are ways to prove your point while showing how it does not contradict another's perspective. Writing articles Write for an audience that may or may not have time to read my entire article. Start each section by outlining its purpose and main assertions. The body of each section should be there for in-depth reading if desired; but this should not be compulsory. When writing, order thoughts by importance. List the main points first, then expand on those down below, then have a section for misc. notes. Label each clearly. If people just want to browse, better to let them just browse than to deter their readership. Dumbing down You don't need to "dumb down" for the public. It's been said many times before that you should assume an intelligent, capable reader. But you do need to be able to clean up jargon at a moment's notice - that's not the same thing as "dumbing down". Dumbing down is the work of slimy politicians and the sign of a charlatan. If you dumb down your message for the public, you're being condescending and you're appealing to their stupidity (encouraging them to earn that condescension). On the other hand, you do need to be able to remove the jargon and give clear summaries and clear descriptions in your message. If you can't present the importance of your case without resorting to fancy jargon, you should ask yourself if your interest has any social benefit at all. |