On Writing Well

On Writing Well is your guide to becoming a great non-fiction writer that explains why you must learn and practice principles like simplicity, consistency, voice, editing, and enthusiasm if you want to persuade readers and make a difference in their lives.

Of all the lectures I participated in throughout college, one stands out every time I think about great writing. The professor was telling us that you don’t find good writing in fancy magazines like the New York Times and Time.

She told us the reason for this is that most people retain information best when reading at a fifth-grade reading level, and magazines like these are far above that.

In essence, she was saying that complex writing is bad writing.

It’s easy to fall into the trap of over-complicating your words and phrases when you start out. You want to impress, but what you end up doing is making yourself unintelligable. If you’re hoping to have any kind of impact, you don’t want that.

To write clearly, think clearly. Declutter your mind as you write by focusing on what you’re trying to say. When you’re finished, edit each sentence and word by asking if you’ve said what you wanted to.

If anything you’ve got on the page doesn’t contribute to a clear message, delete it. Instead of writing “in order to” just write “to.” Stop saying verbose phrases like “at this juncture” when people will understand and relate to you better if you just say “now.”

As Stephen King famously said:

“Kill your darlings.”

One of my high school teachers was well-known for saying “you never get a second chance to make a good first impression.” The more I thought about it the more I grew to like this piece of wisdom. Especially for how it applies to writing. If your intro is terrible, nobody will keep reading no matter how brilliant, interesting, or thought-provoking the rest of the piece is. You might as well be a person wearing a fedora in their Tinder profile picture! Try making the first sentence something that makes people stop and think. Some of my favorite writers like to use statements that contradict widely-held beliefs. Alternatively, you can craft a persuasive story, personal or otherwise, to hook readers. No matter how you do it, the introduction must show people what’s in it for them. Put yourself in their shoes and consider what would appeal to them the most. What would you want to read? Give them a taste of that right from the start. Also, make sure to end each paragraph with something interesting to make the reader want to continue. Think of it like the end of an episode of your favorite…