The Giving Hands

This guest-post is brought to you by Joanna.

Can our words make a difference in the way we look after our environment?

I believe so, and it’s a treat to see word power in action here in the month long campaign leading up to Blog Action Day.

If you’re wondering how to add your voice to the global conversation about the future of the planet, here are 10 simple things that you can do to use the power of your own words:

1. Write like a human being. Although the issue is the environment it’s us humans who inhabit this planet, and it’s our actions and choices that are going to make the difference to its future. The issues can seem so large and impersonal that people switch off, leaving the debate to the big impersonal voices of corporations, governments and lobby groups. Keep your language personal, specific, real, grounded in your experience – and you’ll help others to see where and how they can make a difference too.
2. Keep it simple. The KISS principle applies to most forms of writing but especially here where the issues are so big and people can feel so powerless. Break it down into bite sized chunks. Focus on what can be done.
3. Use plain words. Jargon puts people off in all walks of life and too much jargon or science-speak can make people feel as though the environment is an issue that’s not for them, because they don’t understand the lingo or don’t want to have to learn a new language before they join in. Make it easy and simple for others to talk with you.
4. Make it specific. Link the issues back to your experience, your place, your perspective on the environment. Taking a planet-sized view can make you and your reader feel a little overwhelmed. Making it specific can help you keep it focused, real, grounded, human-sized.
5. Tell stories. Link the issue back to personal experience – what happened, how you felt and you’re more likely to make a lasting connection with your readers.
6. Ask questions. You don’t have to know all the answers – in fact a lot of readers get turned off by ‘experts’ telling them what to do. Asking questions shows that you’re looking for answers – not sterile debate about fixed positions. Asking questions can help you take back some control over the conversation – don’t let the big powerful voices have it all their own way. Ask them how, why, what if…
7. Use the language of possibility. Words like “might”, “can”, “could” help to show your readers what’s possible – without preaching to them about what they ‘should’ do.
8. Connect with others. One voice can get lost in the wilderness – and leave you feeling lost too. Connect up with the words of other people and the whispers turn into a roar.
9. Focus on your positive intention. Sometimes that we feel that our words are not good enough, clever enough, grammatical enough, smart enough, worthy enough to be published – especially on these ‘big’ issues like the future of the planet. Focus on your positive intention – enjoy the feeling that it gives you, steep yourself in it – then write from that state. You might be pleasantly surprised at the end result!

   If you’re not sure what your positive intention is try looking for an idea, a concept or a purpose that’s bigger than your immediate focus, something that makes you feel strong, confident, powerful, motivated. Here’s one that might work for this writing challenge for example:

   “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” (Margaret Mead)

10. Make a choice. At the most basic level you can choose to speak up, to join the debate – or to remain silent. What’s it to be?

Joanna Young writes at the Confident Writing blog where she coaches people to realise the power of their own words. You can subscribe to her blog via this RSS feed. She’s offering some free writing help to bloggers who want to write as part of Blog Action Day but can’t find the hook to get started. Let her know either here or on her own blog that you’re interested (but stuck) and she’ll send you a suggestion or two for an on-topic, in-niche piece on the environment that you could then follow up and write. But you’d better make it quick – Blog Action Day is on the 15th October!