Experts tell us that when we speak to one another, 55% of our meaning is expressed by body language, 38% by the tone of our voice, and only 7% by the words. Which is why the lyrics don’t matter in rock songs.

So, what does that mean for us writers, who have only the words to communicate? Fortunately, we have developed some techniques to help make up for the lack of body language and tone of voice. We can SHOUT. We can emphasize some words. We can exclaim! Is it possible for us to also ask questions? And sometimes tone of voice can be communicated in other ways.

Handwritten letters can be printed in:

Humorous stories can be printed in a

Very serious ideas can be printed in a.

White space, —, *****, and … convey pauses. If necessary, we can even include photos, line drawings, maps, etc.

There is also an axiom among writers that we should “show, not tell.” Instead of saying that a character named Mary was angry, we say, “She slammed the door in his face” or “on his fingers.” Instead of saying that Peter was in danger, we say that “An eerie, moaning wind swept across the moors.”

Writers need to be highly skilled to communicate in their chosen medium. It is like dancing ballet in work boots, and only a very skilled writer can do it successfully.