Writers – The Importance of a Conversational Writing Style

Readers like to sit back and relax when they read a book or article in a magazine. And it is easiest for them to do this when the book or article is not only easy to read, but a delight to read. As an author, the best way for you to accomplish this is to use a conversational style when you write. Use devices that make your readers enjoy what they are reading. Make them chuckle every so often, and smile when they have finished your article. Some of the best ways of doing this are:

• Be enthusiastic, and let your enthusiasm show through in your writing.
• Let your feelings in general show through. If you feel strongly about something, tell your reader. If you feel great that day, let them know. But be careful; try not to offend anyone if you feel terrible.
• Use contractions such as “we’ll, I’ll,” and so on, frequently.
• Use personal pronouns such as “You, I, we” and so on. Writers are sometimes reluctant to use “I’, thinking it makes them look egotistic, but this isn’t the case. Many of the best writers use “I” frequently.
• Talk to you readers in the way you would talk to somebody sitting next to you. In short, “write as you talk.”
• Ask questions every so often, and answer them. The best place to ask a question is at the beginning of a paragraph, and the best place to answer it is in the next sentence.
• Use quotes occasionally. Nothing brings an article to life more than a quote, particularly if it is humorous, or significant.
• Use incomplete sentences every so often. This might seem like a no-no, but it’s actually a sign that the writer is a professional. Look through some of the best writing and you’ll see incomplete sentences used frequently.
• Be personal. Be yourself. Don’t be afraid to use an anecdote or short story about yourself, or comment about how you feel about something. If the anecdote is a good one, and definitely makes a point, it will help your article immensely.
• Use humor. Humor is great, and if you’ve got a good sense of humor you’re lucky, so use it. I’ll be the first to admit that it’s not easy to be humorous, so thank your lucky stars if you have the ability. Some of the best books to learn about humor are those by Bill Bryson, and “A Walk in the Woods” is one of his best.

Perhaps the best advice in relation to writing with a conversational style is to relax when you write. Sit back and let yourself go. Write anything that comes into your head. If it turns out to be terrible, you can always take it out when you edit. The important thing is to be a little daring.