In Wonderland’s mad tea party, the March Hare told Alice she should talk and write with care.
“I do,” Alice said. “At least I mean what I say. That’s the same thing, you know.”
“Not the same at all,” the Mad Hatter said. “Why, you might just as well say, ‘I see what I eat’ is the same thing as ‘I eat what I see.’”
With that insight, Alice had the opportunity to become a better writer. Meaning what she said was not the same as her audience understanding what she meant. To be understood, she had to find the right words for others, not herself. That’s why she really did need to talk and write with care.
Our words reflect what we mean, or we wouldn’t write them. We can review our words and see no need for editing, because they accurately state our message—from our point of view.
Readers don’t have our point of view. They depend entirely upon our words to construct a mental image they assume matches what we meant. Sometimes it doesn’t, and that’s why we must choose our words carefully and edit our manuscripts with only the reader in mind.
In a writer’s group meeting, or even a tea party, you can test your words and discover ways to make your message better understood.
