Readability
- J.J. Richardson
- Aug 8, 2018
- 5 min read
Updated: Aug 5
Would you like more readers to enjoy your stories?
People pick up a book and read fiction to get away from work. If reading your story requires work to get through, it will probably fail. I am speaking of commercial fiction (fun stories) and not the literary fiction kind (400-pages about someone going on a walk).
For works of fiction, readability means,
The story is enjoyable and easy to read.
Read each sentence of your story one at a time aloud and ask yourself, “Is this sentence easy to read, and is it enjoyable?”
Every sentence should stand on its own as enjoyable. For example, examine the first few sentences of Edgar Allan Poe's The Tell-Tale Heart:
It's true!
Yes, I have been ill, very ill.
Buy why do you say that I have lost control of my mind, why do you say that I am mad?
Can you see that I have full control of my mind?
Imagine each sentence as a micro-story on its own. The first sentence causes the reader to ask, "What is true?" The second sentence begs the question, "Ill from what?" The third steps right up to the reader's face and asks a probing question. The fourth draws the reader closer by asking, "Come, let me show you."
The character is asking for the reader's trust and sympathy. How could any decent person not want to help this poor fellow?
Some initial tips
It's a compliment to be invited over to someone's house for a party or dinner. Let's do this for our readers and make them comfortable.
Here are two thoughts to help prepare you for having your friends over for your fictional dinner party:
Would you rather have them read an article on ketone formation mechanisms or a story about your irritating neighbor who suddenly and inexplicably disappears? Reading fiction is supposed to be enjoyable. You like being around fun and entertaining people, so give that enjoyment to your readers.
Cause your readers to have burning questions. What happened to that irritating neighbor? Burning questions allow your readers to remain immersed in an unfolding story.
Buster Keaton
Buster Keaton is famously misquoted as saying,
“A successful film must appeal
to the twelve-year-old mind.”
The person who actually made that quote was Buster Keaton’s friend, Roscoe Arbuckle (what a name!). Buster Keaton disagreed with Mr. Arbuckle on that point.
With no disrespect to Buster Keaton, the average reader in the United States is at a seventh-grade reading level (12 years old). I advise you to side with Roscoe Arbuckle on this matter and consider writing to that level of reader.
"All About Steve"
I love the movie All About Steve (2009) even though no one else in the world does. We've shown it to many of our friends, and everyone enjoys it. Yet, the movie critics hated it. This is because movie critics don't know anything.
The main character in All About Steve, Mary Horowitz, is a professional crossword puzzle designer for her local newspaper. One of her messages in the movie is:
"If life is like a crossword puzzle, then its worth, its greatness, should be judged in the same way. Is it solvable? Is it entertaining? Does it sparkle?"
Regarding our fiction, we must ask ourselves, is it readable, is it entertaining, and does it sparkle?
Let’s break down the tasks required for writing readable stories into two lists—one for readability and one for enjoyment:
For readability
Stay on point
Use shorter sentences
Make use of white space
Use simpler, shorter words
Use vigorous, concise writing
Some repetition helps for emphasis
Make each paragraph a cohesive whole
Present similar things in a similar manner
Stay chronological; follow the story trajectory
Use less jargon (sci-fi and fantasy often suffer from this)
Make transitions smooth, except occasionally for dramatic effect
For enjoyment
Include fascinating details
Anticipate readers’ questions
Use fewer adverbs (ly-words)
Make the story and characters relatable
Arouse interest (more burning questions)
Show why items in your story are important
Long sentences increase tension; short sentences drive home a point
Use fewer adjectives (remove "big," "smooth," "happy," "sad"); describe, don't label
Relatability
Embedded in the middle of the second list is the most important criterion of all: relatability. If your readers can relate to your characters, you are on your way to creating a well-written story.
What is relatability? It's when characters act and feel like the reader would act and feel given similar circumstances. When we invite friends over to watch movies, they occasionally say a sentence just before the character on the TV says that same sentence. This does not mean the movie is predictable. It means that,
At that moment, my friends are one with the character.
Readers enjoy being one with your characters!
Watch the following video. You'll know what the final punchline is before it's delivered. If you listen to the audience reaction, you'll know the audience does too. You don't mind the lack of surprise because you want the rude person put in his place. You relate to the other party guests who he treats badly.
If your readers are sucked into your story, a little bit of predictability is okay, if not relished.
For fun and a break from the heaviness, watch this classic video with Dean Martin and Foster Brooks.
Minimize adjectives
Let's go on. Almost as important as relatability is avoiding the overuse of adjectives. Don't write a sentence like the following:
“The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.”
“Now, hold on!” you say. “What's wrong with one of the most iconic sentences ever written in the English language?”
The problem is its overuse of adjectives, namely “quick,” “brown,” and “lazy.” The adjectives serve merely as labels. The author never bothers to explain how the fox is quick, brown, or lazy. Imagine you're in a movie theater, and instead of seeing actors acting happy or sad, you see them holding up signs identifying them as happy or sad. What a terrible movie that would be! That is what adjectives do to your story. It's the author's job is to provide the imagery, not the reader's.
Employ a cold reader
When you believe your short story or novel is ready for the world, have someone read aloud a paragraph randomly chosen from your story. If he or she hesitates or stumbles anywhere in the paragraph, your story isn't ready. Circle the errant words and replace them. Then look through the remainder of your prose for similar awkward phrasing.
Your work should be smoothly readable aloud by an average person on the first try.
One last point
As I researched the subject of “readability” to write this post, I amassed eighty-four pages of notes. Eighty-four! I reduced those eight-four pages to about two without removing a single principle. I promise I've left nothing out.
The people who write professional articles must like the sound of their clicking keyboards. This does not make their work readable.
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