The Urban Dictionary defines “New Skool” as anything fresh and new that threatens the established way of thinking or doing. It’s the opposite of “Old School,” and can apply to your writing as much as how you dance, dress, or the music you enjoy.
I’m not talking about gettin’-jiggy-wit-da-homeboys language, but about a fresh style of writing that works best in modern business.
A quick guide to “New Skool”
NO: Long, complex sentences YES: Simple and concise
NO: “Big word” syndrome YES: Plain English
NO: It’s all about you (the writer) YES: It’s all about them (the reader)
NO: Intro to conclusion YES: Conclusion first, then fill in the the gaps
NO: Write to demonstrate intellect YES: Write to solve a reader’s problem
Like to change your habits? Consider our public or in-house writing masterclasses.
3 thoughts on “Is your writing “Old Style” or “New Skool”?”
I am interested in learning more about ‘conclusion first’. I wondered if you would be kind enough to give some examples. Thanks.
Good question, Louise.
This is such an important point about quality business writing that I’ll do a separate e-zine on it soon.
But in a nutshell, we’re talking about the difference between writing a story, with the “big news” last, or writing like journalists, who put it first (in news stories).
Here’s an example.
Story approach
“Dear Mr Smith,
I refer to your previous email in which you asked us to accept your hand-drawn picture in lieu of payment. Unfortunately we cannot accept drawings as payment. We accept only credit card or cheque. Your account is now three months overdue, so please pay your account within seven days, or your power may be cut off.”
Since a busy or careless reader may miss that vital nugget right at the end, this inverted-pyramid version would be better:
Big News First
“Dear Mr Smith,
Please pay your account within seven days, or your power may be cut off. Your account is now three months overdue. Unfortunately we cannot accept drawings as payment. We accept only credit card or cheque.”
By all means write your story first, if that’s easier (try bullet points), then restructure it to move the big news to the top.
Your readers will love you for it.
P.S. Someone did recently offer a drawing as payment for a bill!
Great article and a timely one.
There certainly is a new way of writing these days -the extreme would be Twitter – the microblogging tool (writing in 140 characters or less certainly hones your skills!).
Cheers
Jenni Beattie
http://digitaldemocracy.com.au/