1) I visualize that I am talking to a friend across the table at a coffee shop. In this perspective, my messages come out as conversations. I avoid the lingo and just write out how I would talk to my friends and family. Isn't our conversations very simple and easy to understand in that kind of atmosphere?

2) I also think as if I am writing to an person I haven't seen in years. Think about someone you were really close to. You have some news you want to tell them or just update them on how things are. That type of writing is more emotion based, simple and easy to read as well. The bonus to this is it can also get very descriptive and full of detail. After all, you don't wanna leave any information out if it's important for that friend to know, right?

Hopes this adds to the topic. Later everyone.

1) I visualize that I am talking to a friend across the table at a coffee shop. In this perspective, my messages come out as conversations. I avoid the lingo and just write out how I would talk to my friends and family. Isn't our conversations very simple and easy to understand in that kind of atmosphere?

2) I also think as if I am writing to an person I haven't seen in years. Think about someone you were really close to. You have some news you want to tell them or just update them on how things are. That type of writing is more emotion based, simple and easy to read as well. The bonus to this is it can also get very descriptive and full of detail. After all, you don't wanna leave any information out if it's important for that friend to know, right?

Hopes this adds to the topic. Later everyone.

I intentionally try to write as plainly as he did. If you read My Life in Advertising or Scientific Advertising, you'll see what I mean. Good style to emulate.

Ryan

Otherwise, you might want to deliberately read authors that appeal to a very big audience. You might want to read Hemmingway or Stephen King. I'm not a big fan of either (probably has something to do with their choice of subjects), but, generally, you will find their style of writing to be very down-to-earth and plain-spoken. I will say that I do very much like King's “On Writing.” I have the unabridged audio, and that gives you a nice feel for how plain writing (or speaking) can sound and feel. I will pre-warn you about the language in the book, though. It's in there. Not for the kiddies.

Ryan – Great post, as usual, and a great reminder about what our jobs are. :-)