Do You Listen When You Write?

Every time you write a blog, speech, article, pitch or anything else, do you listen to your audience? 

What I mean by this is: Do you put yourself in the position of being the listener, rather than the writer?  This is one "trick" that helps tremendously when you want people to read something.  Here's why.

Many people turn to writing as a form of communication, because they have a message that they want to convey.  So, they say it in written form.  If this was done orally, it would translate into "speaking" rather than "listening", of course.  But, as a writer, you want to be thinking about your listeners (or readers).  If you were speaking, then you'd guage their response by watching attentive facial expressions (or signs of boredom). 

As a writer, you don't get this kind of feedback, so before you finish writing your piece, it's a really good idea to "listen" to it the way that a reader would.  Does it sound the way that you intend?  Does it hold your attention?  Is it the right length, the proper tone, and so on?

Some writers write and some both write and listen.  The ones that do the latter, tend to reach their intended audience better.