Read Lovely Books
Words and sounds are intertwined, and over the years, each language has built a bank of practices
This is true whether you are writing punchy ad copy, informative articles, or epic fantasy novels
“When I’m writing, I’m more conscious of the sound, actually, than the meaning
I know what the rhythm of the sentence is going to be before I know what the
Learning to employ sonic writing techniques at the optimal time can create magic — drawing attention, creating a
But all of us must consider sound as we put one word after another
Nobody wants to read that! Writers should learn to avoid machine gun sentences
Avoiding long, academic-sounding words can be a benefit, but watch out for too many single-syllable words in
Have a look at this example: ❌ This text tries to show you how to make your words
Takeaway point: vary the length of the words in your sentences
When we speak, we can arrange sounds and amend the speed of our reading to include regular
However, in writing, we can think more carefully about the most pleasing order of sounds
I wandered lonely as a cloud (oOoOoOoO) That floats on high o’er vales and hills (oOoOoOoO)
I was quite lonely, like a cloud in the sky — OoOOoOoOooO That floats high above the hills
Of course, using an even rhythm throughout a piece of writing will seem strange to the reader
It’s best to keep stress patterns varied and draw attention to particular points through the use
Occasionally, you may need to add short words which are not essential to the meaning of the
This can contrast with shorter, more impactful statements or more intense sections with tightly-packed stress patterns
Takeaway point: Read writing aloud to catch any awkward rhythms and consider choosing cadences to match the
However, they also enjoy slower, more thoughtful passages, which allow them to ponder the meaning of what
This means using shorter sentences at the beginning and end of paragraphs, and longer sentences in the
It’s best to add heavier details in the middle before concluding with impact
❌ This report will outline the findings from our author questionnaire
The survey was sent to our top-earning international clients
There are recommendations included for next year’s author-relation policies
The aim of this annual report is to gauge the satisfaction of our top-earning international clients and
The data has been broken into five sections and includes recommendations on possible changes to client management
And don’t forget about the other major speed control for your writing — punctuation
Consider that each punctuation mark affects reading speed in a different way
Including sensory information is one of the easiest ways to transform flat text into an engaging read
Allowing the listener to ‘hear’ the words on the page makes writing come alive
When using words like these, consider pairing them with something unexpected
One way to employ this sonic writing technique is to use consonance (similar-sounding consonants in close proximity)
Alternatively, use dissonance (contrasting sound palettes) to reflect contrasts in the narrative, to disrupt the flow, or
This technique can even liven up business emails and add urgency to sales copy
Of course, I would warn against stuffing your text with these sound techniques
Takeaway point: before using these techniques, identify key areas of the text where you need to draw
These are the instances where readers ‘trip over’ phrases which are tricky to pronounce or include unintended
Unless you want to draw attention to the deeper meaning of the sentence, sound techniques become a
❌ There are multiple methods for maintaining military records
❌ Applying for training funding can lead to frustration and exhaustion
Takeaway point: check your texts carefully for unintentional sound techniques and awkward pairings