Editorial Op-Ed | Of Reading and Writing | Continuous Improvement
First, We Read. Next, We Write. Then, We Reimagine How We Can Write
There is no end to continuous improvement. It applies to reading and writing. Writing is a practitioner sport. We have to keep demanding improvements to get improvements. This article is about writing, reimagined.
To read is to engage with our imagination.
To write is to imagine.
To write better is to reimagine a better world.
“Imagination rules the world.”
– Napoleon Bonaparte
Writing is difficult enough. Every writing practitioner understands the obstacles they have to overcome.
The obstacles can be summarized into the following points:
- The difficulty of inserting ideas into the heads in front of them.
- The difficulty of getting others to fully comprehend what is written.
- The difficulty of conveying emotions.
I will focus on how we can overcome the above in this article.
Rule # 1 — Be a Word Thrift
Less is more.
“Our time and our attention are two of our most precious resources. It is selfish to force a reader to spend fifteen minutes reading something you could’ve — and should’ve — communicated in 90 seconds. If you want to earn your reader’s trust, don’t waste their time.”
- 11 Ways to Write Better
Be a Man (Person) of Few Words.
Don’t write the following.
Today is such a beautiful day that it reminds me of our vacation in London where we had the beer-battered fish & chips near Big Ben. Let’s have fish & chips for lunch.
Instead, write to the point.
I miss London. Let’s have fish & chips for lunch.
Even better.
Let’s have fish & chips for lunch.
This is how you can reimagine writing. Have a competitive racing mindset. Aim to finish the sentence as fast as possible.
Therefore:
- Remove all obstacles.
- Commas being one of them.
- Use them, don’t abuse them.
- Work to place a period as soon as you start a sentence.
You will start conveying the core message to your readers without wasting their time.
Rule # 2 — Use Simple Words
We are all writers today.
We are all readers today.
We read from books, from our phones, and from where words present themselves.
But.
We cannot assume all readers have a rich vocabulary bank. There are too many words we don’t know and will never know.
Therefore, the safe bet is to write simply.
“Expand your vocabulary to make your writing more precise. There’s no need to use a ten-dollar word when a ten-cent word will suffice, but having more tools in your toolbox will allow you to select the most appropriate tool for the job.”
- 11 Ways to Write Better
Note: We expand our vocabulary for the precision of writing. We work to express our ideas accurately. We do not expand our vocabulary to flex our diction muscles. When readers find you unrelatable, they abandon you. Period.Yes, expand your vocabulary for writing.
Always find simple words to use.
If you can use 1 simple word to express yourself, then do so.
Chances are, 10 readers will understand that 1 simple word compared to 1 sophisticated word of Shakespearian expression.
Rule # 3 — Use Length of Sentences to Convey Emotions
Some writers write for marathoners.
Some write for sprinters.
Longer sentences convey a sense of harried rhythm. The writer is playing with your breath. We take one breath to finish reading one sentence. If your sentence is long, readers will have to race to the period before losing their breath.
Short sentences convey tension.
It is simple.
Remember Jaws?
2 beats make a villain.
Da-dum.
Da-dum. Da-dum, Da-dum, Da-dum, Da-dum, Da-dum, Da-dum, Da-dum, Da-dum. Ahhh!
Short sentences transit fast.
It ends the current sentence fast. We start reading the next one fast. Before we know it, we are into the next paragraph.
If you write for speed readers, keep sentences short.
Help them breathe.
Help them sprint.
Help them finish.
This is write-pacing, reimagined.
Summary
The transition from reading to writing is not a natural one.
We have to practice.
And at Readers Hope, we want to help you practice.
Send us your work!
If you want feedback from the editors, write a private note in your story.
We can help you grow.
Dr Mehmet Yildiz Liam Ireland Maria Rattray Carol Price Karen Madej Tree Langdon Agnes Laurens Claire Kelly Dr. Preeti Singh Josh Balerite Acol Britni Pepper JS Adam John Cunningham Dew Langrial Noorain Hassan, BMS Geetika Sethi Zen Chan Technology Hits Regi Esther George Kyomi O'Connor The Wordsmith™🏳️🌈🇺🇸
Resources from Previous Editorial Op-Eds:
If you find this editorial op-ed helpful to your writing journey, you may uncover more gems in the previous op-eds written for the benefit of ILLUMINATION’s contributors and readers.
- Illuminating the Editor’s Dilemma: What We (Really) Do and How We Can Do Better
- Illuminating the Way to Overcome the Writer’s Silent Disappointment
- Illuminating A Potential Structure for an Effective Writing Week
- Illuminating the Need for a Writing Downtime
- Inside the Minds of Editors: What We Look Forward to and Look Out for
- The Future of Reading is in Writing
- Illuminating How We Can Find Ourselves (Again) When We are Lost
- To Write is to Build a Skillset You Will Never Regret
- Illuminating the Way to Find Your (Real) Voice.
As a content contributor, I write my observations from daily life and my business exposure. Because our life experience is the bedrock of our unique perspectives.