When Shakespeare Meets Your Local Barista
Imagine you're cozied up in your favorite café, the aroma of freshly roasted coffee beans tickling your nostrils, and a barista who knows just how you like your cappuccino. This is the mood we're going for when we dive into the world of conversational writing. So sit back, sip your coffee, and let's chat.
Conversational Writing: What's the Big Deal?
Writing, as Laurence Sterne once said, is but a different name for conversation. Now, I’m not claiming to be the Hemingway of our times. But here's the thing: I write as I talk. It's not quite like the Queen's English or a Shakespearean sonnet, but it works for me. And maybe, it could work for you too.
Finding Your "Conversational Writing" Style
The term 'conversational' can be as varied as the humans on this planet. What I find conversational may sound like a thesis on quantum mechanics to you. So, let's break down some ways to find your unique conversational style.
Step 1: Listen to Yourself Talk
Pay attention to how you structure your sentences, the words you use, and whether you follow the Queen’s English or take a more avant-garde approach to grammar.
Step 2: Listen to Others Talk
Eavesdropping: not only for nosy neighbors anymore. Listening to real-life conversations is the best way to get a feel for natural dialogue.
Step 3: Read Good Conversational Writing
Find writers who can pull off this style with ease. Learn from them. Steal from them (ideas, not wallets).
Step 4: Write as if You’re Talking to a Friend
Kurt Vonnegut once said to write with a specific reader in mind. He wrote for his sister. I write for the person who appreciates a good 'Lord of the Rings' reference. Who's your ideal reader?
Step 5: Talk in Your Head as You Write
Yes, it might make you look a bit crazy, but let’s be honest, all writers are a little bit bonkers. Don’t be afraid to break the rules of formal writing. Just don't break your computer keyboard in the process.
The Do's and Dont's of Conversational Writing
While it's all good and well to be informal, remember, there's a fine line between casual and downright sloppy. Casual is wearing jeans to a party; sloppy is showing up in your pajamas.
Maintain a certain level of professionalism. Punctuations are your friends, not your foes, and 'text speak' should remain strictly in your phone's messaging app.
Conversational writing isn't only for your diary entries or that blog you started during lockdown. It's also an essential tool in fiction. You don’t want your characters sounding like they swallowed a thesaurus, do you?
The Joy of Conversational Writing
Writing is a lot like a good conversation. It's about finding that sweet spot between being engaging and being informative, between being friendly and maintaining respect. It's about being true to your voice and style. And most importantly, it's about enjoying the process.
After all, if you're not having fun while writing, then what's the point?
So, the next time you sit down to write, picture your reader across the table, sipping their coffee, and just... talk. You'll be surprised how easy it becomes, and how your readers will appreciate the refreshing change of pace. Remember, writing is a conversation, and in this chat, you're both the speaker and the listener.
It's a Conversation, Not a Monologue
Don't think of writing as a one-way monologue but rather as an engaging dialogue with your reader. The beauty of conversational writing lies in its ability to draw readers in and make them feel like active participants.
Your words are not just words on a page; they are your voice, your personality, your thoughts and emotions coming to life. They invite the reader to step into your world, see things from your perspective, and join in the conversation.
The Beauty of Breaking the Rules
Remember when your English teacher told you never to start a sentence with "and" or "but"? Well, in conversational writing, you can throw that rule out of the window (along with the rule about not ending sentences with prepositions).
It's all about creating a natural, relaxed flow - the kind of flow you'd have in a chat with a close friend over coffee.
And while it's great to break the rules, remember: with great power comes great responsibility (Thanks, Spiderman!). Don't go overboard with the rule-breaking.
A well-placed ellipsis or a casual sentence fragment can work wonders... but don't forget about punctuation altogether. Otherwise, you're just making your reader's life difficult. And we don't want that, do we?
Find Your Voice and Make It Heard!
So, there you have it, folks. The lowdown on conversational writing. It's all about authenticity, personality, and engagement. It's about breaking the rules (within reason) and having fun with your writing.
It's about giving your readers a seat at the table and then getting them involved in the most captivating conversation ever.
So go ahead. Give it a shot. Experiment with your writing style. Play around with words and sentence structures. And remember, as long as you're enjoying the process, you're doing it right. After all, the world needs your unique voice. So why not let it be heard? Happy writing!