Readers Are People, Too

When you write a blog that’s read by both your colleagues and other people who just happen across it on the Internet, it can be hard to walk the balance beam that separates clever and witty from trite or insulting. The bigger and more diverse your audience, the bigger challenge it is to reach your readers in a way that’s relevant, compelling and respectful. One man’s hardee-har-har, after all, is another’s “I’m calling HR to complain.” I'm reminded of this occasionally – Word Wise started as an internal e-mail to a couple dozen colleagues in my office in Chicago and over the years it has evolved into a public-facing blog read by a couple of thousand people every week. Readers can be awfully touchy!   This has gotten me thinking about the risk writers take every day, whether writing a blog, a magazine article, or writing on behalf of our clients.   That blank page on your screen waiting to be filled with words presents you with a chance to tell the world what you think – not because you’re giving your opinion necessarily but because there’s endless choice in how you phrase information; how you express ideas, facts, and numbers; how you tell the story; what words you choose; what asides, references and even jokes you occasionally make that brighten your document; how you use and manipulate the rules of grammar; and how you show respect for your readers’ intelligence. Writing is a constant stream of decision making. And that means in some people’s eyes you’ll make the wrong decision. It happens. It doesn’t mean your readers are jerks – it just means that, like you, they’re individuals with their own expectations and life experiences.   Keep in mind as words flow from your brain to your fingertips to the page that you’re putting yourself out there, so to speak, taking a risk with every word. Think about who your readers are, what your ultimate goal is, and do your best. More often than not you’ll please most of the people most of the time. And that’s about as good as it gets.