Writing for Busy Readers: Communicate More Effectively in the Real World by Todd Rogers and Jessica Lasky-Fink

The big point here is to know your audience. Writing efforts can suffer from mission creep as the writer adds content beyond the original goal. It helps if the different concepts in a piece are at least related. Separate the easy requests from those that require more effort. Signposting is where you put the purpose of the writing in the first sentence.
Sometimes paper-based communications can be more effective. They don’t get lost in an email inbox that contains hundreds of other messages. They often sit on a desk where they are likely you be seen more often. They also won’t get caught in a spam filter. If you must put links in your work, don’t put it too many and don’t put too many words in a single link. Humor, sarcasm, and emojis are risky as they may be misunderstood. Images can help, but they can also distract.

In some cases you will want to get right to the point. In other cases will be better off starting with a warm, personalized sentence. This can help, but don’t add to much of this sort of writing. The key idea is to give readers what they expect.
Writers who are trying to deceive often use more complex and confusing language. When you run into this sort of writing, be on guard. It may not be dishonest, but it is more likely to be than concise, well written text.

Learning how to write effectively requires an upfront investment of time, but it’s an investment that pays off big. It’s in your self-interests as it will lead to greater success at work and better communication when you leave work. It will make it easier to transfer ideas from your head to the heads of others.
While this book covers most modern media, it doesn’t cover AI much, which has a place making first drafts, polishing final drafts, and helping with writer’s block. Above all, you must always answer the question “How Can I Make This Easier for the Reader?” The final page summarizes the six principles for Writing for Busy Readers. Keep it handy

The authors’ website Writing for Busy Readers contains additional resources, the ability to subscribe for updates, and contacts for speaking engagements. Be sure to check out their 920 Common Phrases and More Succinct Alternatives and AI for busy readers.

Todd is a professor of public policy at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, where he has won teaching awards for the past seven years. He is cofounder of the Analyst Institute and EveryDay Labs. He has written for The New York Times, The Los Angles Times, and Politico among others.
Jessica is the research director at the People Lab, based within Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. Her research focuses on improving the delivery of government programs and services.

Book Summaries