It’s THE phrase of 2020. Usually said to someone talking on video with their mic switched off, ‘unmute yourself’ is actually excellent advice for anyone whose written or spoken words are going unheard.

Words are wonderful things. But because our non-verbal communication (facial expressions, body language and voice) conveys such a huge part of the message in face to face (or screen to screen) communications, our words need to work damned hard when left to their own devices.

Read the words “you must think I’m stupid” picturing someone apologising for a daft mistake. Then read them again picturing someone accusing you of insulting their intelligence. Same words. Very different interpretations.

That’s why this issue is about stuff I’ve done (or will be doing) to help make your written and spoken words loud and clear. (And, yes, it’s also a way of making up for not having enough time to write a new post this month!)

Stop procrastinating and start writing

When it comes to procrastinating, nobody does it as well as the writer. There’s always an email to reply to, a coffee to make, an urgent task to deal with. Which is fine when you’re working on your ‘maybe one day’ novel, but how do we in PR, comms and marketing write about a subject we know little about, have no personal interest in and would much rather be doing something else?

Read my 5-step technique to get you writing. Or book a place at Copywriting for beginners at Copywriting Conference 2020.

Stop writing the obvious

If procrastinating isn’t your problem, maybe you suffer from the opposite – words tumbling out without much care to originality. It’s impossible for copywriters to avoid clichés and stock phrases altogether, especially when writing short copy. But we should at least challenge ourselves to be original and sincere when we can.

Read my 7 ways to replace clichés with sincerity

Stop editing and proofreading as you write

Maybe you neither procrastinate nor write clichés. Maybe you ponder long and hard over the first paragraph and won’t move on until every sentence, word and punctuation mark is absolutely right. In which case, you want my advice on the difference between drafting, editing and proofreading.

See why the best proofreaders aren’t always the best writers

Stop mumbling or making it up as you go along

With so many of us now spending so much time on the phone and/or in virtual meetings, it’s worth revisiting my earlier post on pitching by phone. You can also watch my ‘maximising your voice’ webinar to get some useful vocal tips.

Here are ten tips to help you pitch and present on the phone more effectively