A learning project to write better, faster, and clearer

Photo by andyp_uk

Writing is easy - it's writing well that is difficult. At the end of a recent workshop on blogging, the final discussions showed that participants were still seeking resources to continue to improve and to address the concern, 'How do I get started writing"? As usual, the wise answer was "the best way to become a better writer is to write a lot" and "just start writing - it will get easier with time". Although this is standard advice from many successful writers it didn't seem to be enough to bolster the fragile confidence of the participants about to leave the shelter of the workshop's supportive environment.

Stephen King, in his book On Writing uses the concept of a toolbox to provide more specific advice. Roy Peter Clark, is another author who refers to the writing techniques he shares as tools. Roy is vice-president and senior scholar of the Poynter Institute school for journalists. He is described as "a writer who teaches and a teacher who writes". Roy believes writers need tools, not rules and he generously shares his workbench of fifty specific writing tools in book or online format.

Here's the learning project - try out each of the fifty tools and add the ones you find useful to your own workbench. Because each of the fifty are complete "micro-lessons" you can consume them as snacks or multi-course meals. They are concise. The format of each starts with a clear description of one specific tip illustrated by several examples and followed by a learning activity to build your skill at recognizing and using the technique.

The tools are available in several formats - articles on the web, downloadable podcasts (click on the link to Roy's Writing Tools), or an inexpensive paperback, Writing Tools: 50 Essential Strategies for Every Writer. You can choose the format the fits with your preferred learning style (as described in my previous post What's your learning style - Visual, Auditory or Kinesthetic?)

Whether you are a professional writer, an occasional freelancer or someone who just needs to handle emails, write presentations and fill out forms, wouldn't it be helpful to be able to create clear prose consistently with less effort? I hope you invest some time and give this learning project a try. I'd love to hear your thoughts and suggestions too.

...writing is thinking on paper in which both writer and reader are witnesses to

meaning-in-the-making, a meaning that the writer creates and the reader

attempts to re-create.

V.A. Howard and J.H. Barton, Thinking on Paper

What's your learning style - Visual, Auditory or Kinesthetic?

Illustration by Frits Ahlefeldt-Laurvig

Photo by: HikingArtist.com

We all use a variety of senses when processing information. Our personal set of preferences and strengths make up our individual learning style. Researchers have identified a number of learning style models that help us understand and leverage our own unique style in order to learn more effectively. Also, by recognizing situations where we receive information presented in a way that doesn't match our preferred style we can compensate with strategies to help ourselves overcome the differences.

While there are many learning style models, here are three that focus on how people interact with information as they learn. The main differences are briefly described to give you a sense of the big picture.

1. The Visual-Auditory-Kinesthetic Modalities model (VAK for short) by Barbe-Swassing identifies how we receive and remember information. This post contains details about this model.
2. The Global/Holistic - Analytic/Sequential model by Hermann Witkin identifies how we process and communicate information. This will be addressed in a future post.
3. The Mind Styles model by Anthony Gregorc recognizes how the mind perceives and understands information. This will also be detailed in a future post.

Understanding the VAK model - There are four categories within this model. Keep in mind that the categories are intended to depict preferences - everyone uses each mode to some degree.

Visual (linguistic) learners prefer to receive information through reading and written tasks. They remember best what is written and prefer to write down directions rather than only hearing them.

Visual (spatial) learners prefer charts, drawings and videos to written language. They can easily visualize places and faces and rarely get lost in new surroundings.

Auditory learners prefer to receive information by listening to verbal instructions and they memorize by hearing information and saying it. They may silently mouth the words when reading.

Kinesthetic/Tactile learners learn best by touching objects and moving. They need to put some sort of action to the learning or it won't stick. They may doodle or highlight when listening to lectures. Physical props or activities help them memorize.

Determining your learning style - Although you may have a good idea of your preference as you read the descriptions there are a number of self-assessment tools that you can use. For example, Franklynn Chemin of George Brown College provides one that includes the assessment quiz, detailed explanations and information on how to lead with your strengths. Brad James at University of South Dakota provides one that calculates the results online.

In addition to understanding your own learning style, awareness of other people's preferred style can help you communicate more effectively by adapting to accommodate their learning style. The Swassing Barbe Checklist of Observable Modality Strength Characteristics is useful for understanding the style of others as well as your own.

Compensating when 'their' style is not 'your' style - Once you know your learning style there will still be situations in workplaces and classrooms where the person or media providing the information doesn't use your preferred mode. There are numerous ideas tailored to each style that you can try out and refine available from homeworktips.com:

For Visual learners

For Auditory learners

For Kinesthetic learners

Remember, the VAK model addresses how we receive and remember information. Here are some additional Techniques to Enhance Your Memory.