You're writing a magazine feature on someone and feel really good about the interview. You met in person, asked the right questions, and made it a point to listen and have fun. You even recorded the hour-long conversation so that you didn't miss a thing they said. All that's left is to write a great story, and I'm sure you will! But if I may, here's one writing tip that might help:
Manually transcribe that entire voice recording.
I know. I know.
Who in their right mind still does that?
There are countless quality transcription software available to help you transcribe recordings within a matter of minutes.
Why would you sit down, push the play button on your device, and go through the painstaking process of typing out that entire dialogue?
I'll tell you why! It's because this writing tip will transform your storytelling skills overnight.
Writing Tip: Relying On Transcription Software Can Hinder Quality Storytelling.
Transcription software is helpful if you want to get your interview recordings in front of you quickly so that you can write. And there is certainly a time and place for doing so. That said ... and hear me out here ... manually transcribing your interviews forces you to slow down and really listen to every word, nuance, and emotion from that conversation.
For me, it places me right back in that coffee shop, boardroom, or office. And as I'm sitting there retyping the conversation, it's like I'm hearing it over again for the first time.
I pick up on subtle things I might not have heard the first time.
I can connect ideas naturally vs. re-reading a transcript.
I relive the emotions and context behind the interviewer's words.
I can have a deeper connection and understanding of the interviewee.
I actively process and make mental notes of key points and potential narrative directions.
It allows me to group related parts of the conversation quickly.
I can ensure every detail and word choice is accurate.
It's a great way to hone my active listening skills.
As a result, I significantly enhance my storytelling ability.
See! There's a method to the madness of this writing tip after all!
Is manually transcribing your interview recordings time-consuming? Absolutely. That said, it's a powerful exercise and writing tip that helps you catch subtle details and add depth and richness to your future story that might get lost in automated transcription.
As you type everything out, you become more connected to the subject, and it helps you uncover story threads or inspire new story angles you may not have considered before.
Regardless of whether you're a novelist, blogger, freelance writer, journalist, business owner, or wordsmith somewhere in between, you should crave every opportunity to go beyond stringing a few words together and tell an authentic and compelling story people want to read and can't find it in their hearts to put down.
So go ahead ... press play, re-immerse yourself in that conversation you loved so much, and start typing. You may be surprised by how quickly you transform your storytelling skills.
Here's Another Writing Tip: Call Edit This® in Denton, TX, for All Your Writing and Editing Needs.
If you want Edit This® to handle your company's content writing and editing needs, call us today! We like to say we handle anything involving the written word—from newsletters and website copy to book editing, ghostwriting, blog writing, and everything in between.
If it involves the written word and quality storytelling, we've probably worked with it.
Whether you need us to write content from scratch or improve something you've written, Edit This is the local writing and editing partner everyone needs. The last thing you want is mistakes in grammar or an important message that comes across differently than you hoped.
Our writing and editing services cover clients nationwide but are local to anyone in Denton, Corinth, Lake Dallas, Shady Shores, Hickory Creek, Lewisville, Flower Mound, Highland Village, Argyle, and the rest of DFW.
STEVE GAMEL is the President & Owner of Edit This®, a writing and editing services company in Denton, TX. He is also a consultant, writing coach, and the author of Write Like You Mean It: Mastering Your Passion for the Written Word. Steve handles anything involving the written word. Give him a call today to help give your business a clear voice.
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