Psyche! No, it’s not Tuesday yet. I’ll be posting tomorrow. Until then, here’s Steph with part two in her How To Be Good series! – Deb

Last week we talked about how important it is to be able to edit your own work. The main reason is that good writing attracts dedicated readers. Personally, even if the content is good, I won’t continue to read something if I find the text convoluted, wordy, and/or full of grammatical and spelling mistakes, or if it sounds as though the author thinks too highly of himself. And there are probably readers like me: there are other places we can find the same material. What has to distinguish you from all those others is your accessible and credible writing.

Overwriting
One of the ways to get your audience to read and keep reading is to write shorter sentences and paragraphs. Attention spans aren’t what they used to be, sure, but most importantly, you do not want your medium to detract from your message. As a reader you’ll get a sense of when this is happening. You might think the writing is impressive, but then, what was that idea the writer was trying to convey? You aren’t quite sure, because you were too wrapped up in that incredible vocabulary and the brilliant similes. Contrarily, you might find yourself thinking, “Whoa, the writer is totally trying too hard.”

This kind of writing is generally typical of those new to blogging, particularly if they become overnight sensations, or new to writing in general. It’s a result of what is aptly dubbed overwriting. Defined by Merriam-Webster as writing “in inflated or overly elaborate style,” overwriting happens for several reasons.

Usually, the writer is focused on himself, on being clever and sounding great, rather than on his audience, or else he simply doesn’t know when to reign himself in while writing. Maybe he repeats himself; maybe he uses far too many adjectives because it sounds impressive. Whatever the case, if an author isn’t saying what she wants to say in the most direct and clear way possible, and if she’s not keeping her readers first and foremost in her mind, she stands to lose her audience altogether.

Tips

1. As we mentioned in our last post, step back from your pride in being a writer and put your audience first. Dedicated readers are attracted to authors who don’t let anything get in the way of their message. These writers come across as genuinely concerned about their readers; they are not posting or publishing in anticipation of being told how great their writing is. As soon as you become aware of an author’s ulterior motive in their writing, it spoils the content, doesn’t it? If something seems too purposeful, too forced (you may have noticed this in movies or theatre, too), what is being conveyed is lost. Our attention has been broken.
2. Put away your elementary-school teacher’s advice: you do not need to use all five senses and every adjective and adverb you can think of. Try instead to write like a poet: remove all unnecessary words and choose each word carefully and deliberately to say what you mean. This kind of prose needs no embellishment; simplicity makes it effective. And effectiveness—not flowery writing—creates your audience.
3. Once you’ve taken some time away from your writing and are ready to approach it critically, ask yourself these questions:

• Have I repeated myself anywhere? If so, where can I cut? Why did I repeat myself? Was the first time not effective or clear enough? How can I make the text more direct in order to make myself understood?
• Are all these adjectives and adverbs necessary? Do they help or hinder the reader? If I take this out, will the sentence read better?
• Does anything sound confusing or awkward?
• Do I sound as though I’m trying too hard?
• Am I telling instead of showing?
• Are there any words or sentences or even paragraphs a reader might skip, or is every word essential to the message?
• Am I underestimating my readers’ intelligence?
• Can I ditch these three words and use only one that says the same thing better?
• If there is time, ask someone if they think your writing could be simplified
• Picture a cluttered room. Because of the clutter, there is no focus on any one thing and something of significance may be lost. Our eyes tend to glance over things rather than take them in, in detail. But when that room is purged, or edited, and only the key pieces displayed, each piece has its own adequate space in which to command attention.

Remember, less is more. Why? Because then there’s nothing to distract your reader from your message. Putting yourself and the thrill of writing first only takes away from the reader’s experience, which essentially defeats the purpose of publishing. If you think what you have to say is important, let your reader know by the way you present it.
Next week we talk about five grammar rules that when followed will improve your writing.

Previous

Sirius Sunday: A Solid Kick in the Pants

Next

From Ugly Duckling to Swan: The Narcissist: A User’s Guide

Related posts you might also like:

• 5 Easy Ways to Make Your Writing Better
• How to Be Good: Part 1
• Staying Alive in a Dog-Eat-Dog World
• The Value of Test Readers
• Why Great Graphics Aren’t Always Enough