Writing for Reading

Every piece of writing has a reader. Whether it is a novel, a curriculum vitae, an academic paper or a business report, the purpose of writing is to communicate with another person.

Most people simply want to tell their story. Sometimes they have carried it around inside them for years before finally finding the courage to write it down. Maybe they really need this particular job. Perhaps, an entire business plan is relying on those words.

Naturally, their focus is on getting the words onto the page. What they often forget is that someone else has to be able to read them, understand them and know what the writer is trying to say.

Writing is not the same as talking.

Many people write down what is in their head as though they were having a conversation with someone. Unfortunately, conversations do not always translate well to the page.

When we speak, we don't think about spelling, punctuation or sentence structure. We simply say the words and expect the other person to understand us. If they don't, we explain ourselves in a different way. We change our tone of voice, use our hands, our facial expressions or simply choose different words.

Writing doesn't work like that.

Once the words are on the page, they have to do all the work themselves.

The spelling, punctuation, choice of words and the way sentences fit together all help the reader understand what the writer is trying to say.

Every piece of writing has a reader.

This isn't just true of books.

A novel has a reader.
A curriculum vitae has a reader.
A business report has a reader.
A university essay has a reader.
A research paper has a reader.
A website has a reader.

Everything we write is intended for someone else.

When you go for an interview, you can explain what you have done, expand on your experience and answer questions. A CV cannot do that. It simply states where you worked, when you worked there, what your position was and perhaps a few of your responsibilities. Those words have to speak for you.

The same is true of an academic paper. You may know your subject inside out, but the person reading your work may know very little about it. You cannot rely on gestures, enthusiasm or visual demonstrations to explain what you mean. You have to guide the reader clearly through the subject so that they understand it as you do.

Words, written well, can make even the most mundane job, situation or place seem interesting. They can whisk someone away to another world, make grown men cry, or convince a potential employer or professor that you really are the person they are looking for.