What Is Smart Brevity? Do You Need to Master This Before Writing?
Have you ever wondered why some people seem to get away with saying less than they should? Or maybe you've had trouble keeping your message concise without sounding too wordy or boring.
Smart Brevity is a simple technique that helps you say more with fewer words. The idea behind it is to cut out unnecessary details and focus only on the important points.
You don't always need to go into great detail to convey your point. In fact, sometimes less is more. Smart Brevity allows you to communicate effectively without being overly verbose.
How Does Smart Brevity Work?
The first step in using this technique is to identify what information you want to share. Then, you can determine which details are necessary for your audience to understand your message. Next, you'll have to decide how much time you have available to deliver your message. Finally, you'll need to choose the best way to present your ideas.
1. Identify Your Audience: Who Are You Talking To?
Before you start writing, think about who you're talking to. What do they care about? What's their problem? What would make them happy? Once you know who you're speaking to, you can tailor your message accordingly. For example, if you're trying to sell something to someone who doesn't like to read, you might not include as many facts and figures as you would if you were selling to someone who loves numbers.
2. Determine Which Details Are Necessary: What Do They Need to Know?
Once you know who you're talking to, you can figure out which details are necessary to help them understand your message. This means deciding whether certain information is relevant to your target audience. If it isn't, then you probably shouldn't be including it.
3. Decide How Much Time You Have: How Long Should Each Point Be?
Once you've determined which details are necessary, you need to decide how long each one needs to be. Some things just take longer to explain than others. For instance, if you're explaining a new product, you may need to spend more time describing its features and benefits than you would if you were discussing an old friend.
4. Choose the Best Way to Present Your Ideas: How Can You Say More With Fewer Words?
Now that you've figured out how much time you have and which details are necessary, it's time to choose the best way of presenting your ideas. There are several ways to use Smart Brevity. Here are three examples:
• Shorten the length of sentences by cutting out unnecessary phrases.
• Cut out unnecessary details when possible.
• Focus on the most important points.
5. Write Out Your Message: Start Writing!
Now that you've identified all the details you need to include, it's time to write down your message. Don't worry about grammar or spelling at this stage. Just get your thoughts down on paper. If you find yourself getting stuck, ask yourself these questions: "Is there anything I'm forgetting?" "Does my message seem too short?" "Am I repeating myself?" "Do I sound boring?"
6. Read Over Your Message: Check Your Grammar & Spelling
After you've written your message, you should check your grammar and spelling. Make sure everything makes sense and that no words are misspelled. If you notice any mistakes, fix them before moving on to the next step.
7. Proofread Your Work: Get Someone Else's Opinion
After you've finished writing, it's time to proofread your work. Ask someone else to look over your message and give you feedback. If you don't feel comfortable asking anyone else for advice, try reading through your message aloud. Doing so will let you hear any awkward phrasing or grammatical errors.
8. Edit Your Message: Fix Any Mistakes
If you still find mistakes after you've reviewed your message with another person, go back and edit your text. Try to remove any unnecessary words or phrases. Remember, brevity is key.
9. Re-Write Your Message: Revise Until Perfection
Even though you've edited your message to perfection, it's always good practice to re-write it again. After all, you never know what changes you'll come up with in the future.
10. Publish Your Message: Share Your Thoughts
Finally, once you're satisfied with your message, it's time to share it with the world. Post it online, send it via email, or print it off and hand it to people. The only thing left to do now is sitting back and wait for the compliments to roll in.
PS: I would love to hear your thoughts on Smart Brevity, and is it important before you star writing content for your Blogs?
David
Recent Comments
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I agree that being brief can have some benefits. However, I also think it is a learned skill.
Good points you make, and I appreciate the share of a different way to do things, of being brief on purpose.
Sami
I struggle with this for a while but one of Kyle's posts is what caught my attention. Being brief on our points is what makes the message, even if it means being focused on the message that we are going to share.