The Seven Principles of Effective Writing (Part Two)
by Glenn White

The Principle of the Reader

Reading at its finest is an active engagement with your writing. Despite the common mistaken notion by a few critics good reading is not a passive activity. In Part One, the writer is seen as a teacher, in command of the subject matter when writing effectively. Every teacher to be a teacher must have students or learners. Part Two of these effective writing principles discusses the role of the reader as a learner.

The Reader as a Learner

Your reader must give attention and interest to your writing to learn. There is little you can do to force a reader’s attention. You must always write your best, however, and connect with your readers. If any reader is reading then you can plant truth even if it’s only a small seed. Let’s now see how attention functions in the mind of your reader.

Attention is Variable.

There are three types of attention.

Passive Attention

This kind of attention flits around because of other strong stimuli. The reason is that your reader’s mind is tired, lacks self-control, or is playful. Everyone at different times of the day experiences this type of attention. This is particularly seen in small children.

Active Attention

Your reader is determined and willfully pays attention despite other attractions.

Secondary Passive Attention

This type of attention is when your story is entertaining or fascinating and simply carries your reader along. This kind of attention is passive because it demands little effort on the part of your reader. It is also active because it requires some effort and persistence by your reader.
This last type of attention is what you want to cultivate in your reader. It is a pleasant tension between work and play or effort/effortless reading.

Attention follows Interest

Your reader pays attention when your writing is interesting. What creates interest in your reader is when you write and make a powerful appeal to your reader’s physical senses. Write descriptive passages with the senses of sight, smell, touch, hearing, and taste and you will capture your reader’s attention. Write vivid, vibrant, but crisp descriptions and your reader will follow your story because you created interest. You will have the reader’s attention because of interest.

Writing for Children

A child’s interests are more self-centered and concrete than adults. Successful children writers direct a child’s self-interest using tangible images and understandable conclusions. You can use the same technique writing for adults and give your story a child-like quality or feel.

Two Attention Blockers

Two things block your reader’s attention but you can minimize both of them.

Apathy

Apathy happens because your reader simply doesn’t care. You can reduce apathy, however, by writing so your reader feels empathy or sympathy for a character in your story. Boldly appeal to your reader’s emotions through your characters. Create characters your reader can identify with emotionally. For example, take a moment and think about your favorite literary character. Can you identify emotionally with that character? The answer is probably yes. Use empathy and sympathy to break through this attention blocker.

Distraction

Distraction is cause by paying attention to several things at once. Write simply, clearly, and precisely and decrease your reader’s distraction. In our post-modern culture many people are influenced primarily by images and not words. Create lively imagery in your story and your reader is attracted rather distracted. Avoid long story segments that neglect imagery and your reader will stay with your story.

The Effective Writer

You write effectively when you grab and hold your reader’s attention. You do this when you appeal to your reader’s senses with creative imagery and touch your reader’s emotions. God puts a story in your heart to tell your readers so write effectively and you will write to inspire!