topic: [[Writing]] people: #people/loraleilingard created: 2024-07-09 *How does the best writer allow the reader to navigate the difficulty of the reading process?* ##### what is it? - Lexical coherence: for your main characters - don't change their name - repetition of key words is one of the ways readers follow the writing - if writing about an area with inconsistency, take a definitional moment - structural coherence - headings, subheadings, openers and closers to signpost - look for ways to lighten your openers - look for a closer or two, help the readers transition - metadiscursive moves - comments about your writing - consider adding these as just-in-time need to deal with limitations ![[CleanShot 2024-07-09 at 14.28.35.jpg]] ##### why does it matter? The writer has ideas that always make sense to the writer, but it can be hard to follow the logic without support as the reader. The reader has assumptions, and "listens" with so many other thoughts, that [[coherence]] supports them in the process of understanding. ##### This reminds me of [[signposting]] as a speaker or [[learning leader]] is the same idea. The teller helps the receiver by making moves that explicitly help them create a [[shared mental model]]. This also reminds me of how [[communication accommodation theory]] describes moving purposefully away from or towards sharing the interaction situation. ![[revised model of communication accommodation theory.png]] I am also reminded of the challenge of communication described in the [[Four Sides Model]] of communication ![[four-sides-model.png]] ##### What would the opposite argument be? The writer must actively manage [[the attention beam]], but sometimes surprise can work to jostle the reader: use surprise thoughtfully. The act of writing is a one sided relationship, flowing from the author to the reader, without the feedback loops of in-person communication. So maybe these ideas do not resonate in the writing space. tags: #note/idea | #on/writing | #on/writing/process | #on/communication ##### Sources: Lingard, L., & Watling, C. (2021). _Story, Not Study: 30 Brief Lessons to Inspire Health Researchers as Writers_ (Vol. 19). Springer International Publishing. [https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-71363-8](https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-71363-8) Chapter 18