Summary

The author emphasizes the importance of simplicity in writing to engage readers effectively, suggesting that keeping content "KISS" (Keep It Short and Simple) can lead to higher engagement and broader audience reach.

Abstract

The article discusses the effectiveness of the KISS principle in writing, advocating for simplicity and clarity to maximize reader comprehension and attention. The author, despite not considering themselves an expert, has achieved significant engagement and financial success through this approach. They mention a writing course opportunity but admit to a lack of business acumen to formalize their insights into a course. The KISS principle is supported by research indicating that popular novels are written at a 7th-grade reading level, aligning with the average adult's reading preference for leisure. The author also cites the short attention span of readers, who typically spend less than two minutes on a blog post, to underscore the need for brevity and simplicity in writing. The article concludes with a personal anecdote about the author's preference for straightforward communication over complexity, inviting readers to share their own writing styles in the comments.

Opinions

The author believes that simplicity in writing leads to higher reader engagement and is more effective than using complex language.
They suggest that writers should aim for clarity and brevity, keeping sentences short and to the point.
The author implies that writing at a lower reading level than the average adult's capability is more appealing for recreational reading.
They point out that the average reader's short engagement time with blog posts justifies the use of simple, accessible language.
The author values authenticity and connection in writing over showcasing extensive vocabulary or complex writing styles.
They express a preference for a relaxed, genuine writing style, akin to a casual dinner conversation, as opposed to a formal or pretentious approach.

I Use This 1 Simple Tip to Write Highly Engaging Stories

Why readability statistics matter

Dear reader,

I am by no means an expert and neither do I have much experience in writing but somehow my articles seem to draw consistently high engagement (this one article has earned me close to 💲300)— be it on this platform, or on NewsBreak (12K followers and a completely different audience).

Perhaps this is the perfect opportunity for me to announce my writing course on how to write highly engaging posts for only $199.99 or whatever (no idea) and throw in a discount if you sign up this instant 😉

I wish I were more business-minded and motivated enough to put together some fancy tips to actually make it into a fully-fledged course but I happen to be self-taught and am not at all fancy.

And there you have it — that’s my tip!

Wait — what, you say?

KISS, baby, KISS!!

Nope, nothing to do with an actual 😘 and everything to do with👇

🌸K eep

🌸It

🌸Short and

🌸Simple

According to English language teacher, Leonah, there are 3 reasons why it’s a good idea to keep things short and simple in article writing:

✅Write simply and clearly to maximize reader comprehension and attention.

✅To persuade, use simple and clear language rather than complex erudition. Use words that people will easily understand.

✅Keep sentences short and to the point. Use straightforward sentence construction.

2 more reasons in favor of KISS

1️⃣I get that there are those who would rather not compromise their creativity for the sake of ‘metrics.’

However, for those who are looking to reach a wider audience, here is an interesting question posed by Readable with regards to why readability statistics matter:

“Don’t you want your blog posts to be as compelling as your reader’s well-worn copy of Harry Potter?”

After an in-depth analysis of what reading level best-selling authors write for, George Klare, a key researcher, and writer on the topic of readability arrived at this conclusion: “most popular novels are written at a 7th-grade reading level. The average adult reads at around grade 9. But, for recreation, they enjoy reading a couple of grades under their actual reading grade level.”

2️⃣Boateng Sekyere recently wrote an article that points to a harsh reality that bloggers face: “If you have some advanced metrics to track read-ratio and read-times on your blog posts, you’ll learn more about this harsh reality. Readers only spend between 37 seconds and 96 seconds on a blog post.”

Perhaps this may be due to shorter attention spans or a lack of patience to grab the dictionary while having to get through big words (advanced prose) in order to get to the meat of the matter.

In other words, folks like to read blogs but mostly stuff minus the fluff and extra trimmings.

I don’t see writing as a contest about who knows the biggest words. Neither am I here to wow anybody. I am here to share life experiences, connect, and learn from others.

And so I write in a style I am comfortable with and which helps me process my emotions in a simple, yet clear manner. For example, I have never been comfortable with fancy sit-down dinners and all the many forks, spoons, and whatchamacallits. Instead, I prefer a nice, relaxed dinner and conversation with people I care about and where there is no need to stand on ceremony.

That is how writing on Medium is for me.

How about you? I’d love to hear in the comments!

🌸Want to be a writer for Reciprocal? Then click👉here

I’d like to share some reads from 4 upcoming writers. Do read and encourage them. Thanks!

Saba Malik