Devolve Your Writing

That picture is a great representation of what I once thought was good writing.  Alternative, more sophisticated words to bring across an idea.  Do the words matter that much?  In my “professional” writing, I’ve always had the mindset that they do.  I’m not talking about correct grammar or spelling.  Those two things are obviously a must.  But the words…

In my blogs, as I’m sure any of you could easily point out, I’m a little more loose, more conversational.  Just recently I’ve come to the realization that everything doesn’t have to come across as a literary masterpiece.  It just has to be interesting.  Verbal acrobatics and vocabulaic acumen don’t need to be present.  A sentence can be one word.  The idea has to be readable.  

I can construct a great sentence.  I have constructed great sentences, sentences that I want to read over and over again because of how great I think they are.  I bet you have too.  But no one cares.  People need that comprehendability.  Simple sentences actually work better.  They don’t bog the reader down.  A long winded exercise in proving my academic excellence only comes across as pretentious.  At best.  It becomes less readable and alienates and frustrates the reader.  

So lately, I’ve devolved my writing.  Trying to write in a sophisticated style is not what people want.  They want good stories.  And that’s good news!  It really takes the pressure off of trying to ‘sound’ like a writer.  Come up with a good story, construct simple, interesting sentences to relay that story, and just write.  Be yourself.  If you do that, people can feel and recognize your genuineness.  It speaks volumes of who you are as a writer.