Reading is for nerds.
Most people don’t like to read – which I admit I cannot understand, down to the very core of my nerdy being. We hear that we’ve got 2 seconds max to get people’s attention in an email. Three seconds to grab a visitor to a web site. And, successful political campaigns have been largely reduced to the candidate who doesn’t intimidate us with their smarts and has the simplest sound bites (lie, truth, whatever, it don’t matter none – as long as it’s simple and – oh yes – grabby).
So, putting aside my rant about the decline and fall of intelligent thought, western civilization and the U.S. political system – what can (should) we do as marketers? Well, cranky optimist that I am – I still think we can somehow combine brevity with value. And, by providing quality (or here’s a radical idea:truth!) in small bites, we can encourage people to want to learn more. But, this takes a lot of thought and work – we can’t just throw stuff out there. As Mark Twain once apologized to a friend, “I didn’t have time to write a short letter, so I wrote a long one instead.”
Me? I’m off to re-read my various writing guides and style manuals – because not only should good writing never go out of style – it’s critical to good thinking, good business and good government.
Read more: for a really good rant, read Literacy limps into the kill zone. over at Wired.
(And, yes, that’s me – girl nerd, lover of Sci-Fi, with a big ol’ crush on both Spock and Kirk.)
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You’re right, on all counts. But I’m a writer, so you knew I’d agree with you, right? And what a great rant that was! Nice way to close out my week.
Mary,
Some of my favorite writing is in David Kelley’s show, Boston Legal. The James Spader character is divine – and ever so pointed, truthful, and brief, and bonus! Captain Kirk is also on the show with a totally over the top character, Denny Crane.
And your picture is adorable.
Aloha Friday,
Rox
Rox,
Boston Legal is also one of my favorites, both for the writing and the characters. And, “Denny Crane!” has won my heart all over again! And, there’s also Candice Bergen AND Joanna Cassidy these days. And, there was the guest shots by Michael J. Fox. All the way around, a winner.
The show isn’t “dumbed down” for the mass audience. They write smart, to the point dialogue, with interesting plots and expect people to get it. Of course, I’m sure the writers sweat blood every week to get to the essence and get the points across in 42 minutes of air time.
(Hmmm. “Adorable nerds” there’s something I’ve not heard before.)
M.