Writing for Busy Readers
Communicate More Effectively in the Real World
By Todd Rogers and Jessica Lasky-Fink
Becoming an effective communicator is even more important today than ever before. Everything from education to business, socializing to healthcare is being done remotely. We all write and receive more communications than ever—and this trend is only going to accelerate.
Writing for Busy Readers is both a practical guide for writing so that busy people read and respond to our communications, and an intellectual adventure through the science of why these strategies work. The book aims to help those in business writing, grant writing, government writing—really, everyone who writes anything—communicate more effectively. From family and friends’ text plans, to C-suite executives and managers emailing their teams, from educators writing to parents to organizers motivating protests, from doctors and lawyers writing to clients to marketers writing to…everyone.
If you’re wondering why this business writing book description wasn’t shorter, it’s because Google dislikes pages with thin content. And because we needed more opportunities to say “business writing book.”
Principles
Less Is More
Design for Easy Navigation
Emphasize Why They Should Care
Make Reading Easy
Use Enough Formatting, But No More
Make Responding Easy
Less Is More
Use fewer words, include fewer ideas, and make fewer requests of your reader.
Design for Easy Navigation
People skim, so: make the purpose immediately clear; organize content; and make separate topics, ideas, and asks visually distinct.
Emphasize Why They Should Care
Make it clear why readers should care about your message.
Make Reading Easy
Use short, familiar words and brief, straightforward sentences. Check readability and aim for a 5th grade reading level or below when possible.
Use Enough Formatting, But No More
Use formatting to draw attention to the most important items. Don’t overuse formatting; remove it from information that is not critical.
Make Responding Easy
Make next steps and action items clear, precise, and easy to follow through on. Provide all information needed and reduce the number of steps required to act.
It’s hard to communicate with busy people.
And everyone is busy.
Book Reviews
Nancy Gibbs
Edward R. Murrow Professor of Practice of Press, Politics and Public Policy, Harvard University, former managing editor TIME, author of The Presidents Club
“However skilled a writer you are, the insights and tools presented here will make you better. The techniques speak to both courtesy and strategy: respect readers’ time, understand their needs and you’ll gain their focus and trust. Grounded in research but designed for impact.”
Katy Milkman
Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, author of How to Change
“Indispensable! This actionable, evidence-based guide will help you unleash the power of effective writing. Witty, well-organized and imminently useful, Writing for Busy Readers is a gem. You’ll never craft a subpar email, text or memo again.”
Cass R. Sunstein
Harvard University, coauthor of Nudge
“Amazing. The best book ever written on effective writing. It will change your life—and make the world a better place.”
Training & Speaking
