SAY WHAT

Writing for the ear - it’s different than writing for the eye. 

For one thing, you can toss out punctuation.   And you can play fast and loose with grammar, like I’m doing right now.    It’s fun!

But with these distinct advantages, comes one important restriction - for crying out loud, keep it short!

When you write for the ear - as in radio and telephone scripts - you want your audience to “get” what you’re saying immediately, first time through.      TiVo for radio hasn’t been invented yet!    Despite all the advances in telephone technology, I have yet to hear of a rewind switch for messages on hold.

So, say it briefly.   Say it clearly.   And avoid humungous words that nobody really understands anyway.

You know those “sound bites” newscasters love?    There’s a good reason for their popularity.  They get the message across without forcing the listener to grab a pen.

This is especially handy when the listener is driving.

Leave the detailed explanations to newspapers, magazines and instruction manuals, which can be read and re-read at one’s convenience.

When you write for the ear, you’re talking to someone.    Talk so I can hear you - and maybe even remember some of what you said.