Writing Books for Readers Beyond Academe |The Writer’s Perspective: Luke Menand | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Academic writers should consider incorporating human stories, narratives, and personal touches to make their content more appealing to a general audience.

Transcript

LUKE MENAND: That was great. Dan Gilbert is an incredibly talented writer. A lot of the hard part is, as he says, finding the voice, who you are on the page. That's what readers want to encounter. Mainly, I'm going to make some comments that merely repeat and underline what has already been said because this is all excellent advice. One thing that ... Read More

Key Insights

• 🤔 Readers respond better to stories about people, so it is important to think about ideas and material in the context of human beings.
• ✍️ Incorporating narratives into academic writing can make it more engaging and easier to follow.
• 🪜 Adding personal touches and showcasing your personality as a writer can help readers connect with your content.
• 🥅 The goal is to reach intelligent and educated readers who may not be familiar with your subject matter.
• 🏑 Writing for a non-academic audience requires explaining things that may be obvious to experts in your field.
• ❓ It is important to make readers feel intelligent while explaining concepts that may be unfamiliar to them.
• 💨 Writing in a way that doesn't talk down to readers is crucial for engaging a general audience.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why is it important to think about the ideas and material in the context of human beings when writing for a general audience?

By incorporating human stories and experiences into your writing, readers can better relate to and engage with the content. It adds a personal touch and makes it more interesting.

Q: Should academic writers focus on incorporating narratives into their writing?

Yes, even though scholarly writing is different, using a narrative approach can help capture readers' attention and make it easier for them to follow the content. Stories are engaging and memorable.

Q: Why is it important for readers to get to know the writer's personality?

Personalizing your writing by adding bits of your personality can make readers more invested in your work. It creates a connection and makes them want to read more of your content.

Q: Do trade books provide significant financial gain for writers?

Trade books often do not make a significant amount of money for writers. Most authors write them to reach a wider audience and share their ideas, rather than for monetary purposes.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• It is important to think about ideas and subjects in the context of human beings because readers respond better to stories about people.

• Turning academic writing into a narrative can make it more engaging and easier for readers to follow.

• Adding personal touches and showcasing your personality as a writer can help readers connect with your content.