Wednesday, June 10, 2015

Simply Write: The Art of Simple Writing


As a writer, are you aware that there are a lot of people that have trouble with reading?

In 2003, the International Adult Literacy Skills Survey indicated that millions of people have trouble reading what most "non emphatic" information is trying to convey. As writers, this is where we can help. By changing the way we write, we can help increase our audience of readers. How can we do this? By simplifying our writing.

Simplifying our writing can help make it easier for the following groups of people to understand what our message is in our writing:
  • those who do not read well
  • those whose first language is not English
  • those who have a short attention span
  • those who are impatient
Why do many writers, not include the above groups?
  • they are not aware
  • they do not understand how to "dummy it down" for us
  • they think that they will not be respected as a good writer
  • they have a need to be a pretentious know it all 
How can writers simplify their writing?
  • choosing fewer words to convey your message
  • avoid using jargon and acronyms that are not universal
  • use an active voice; don't change verbs into nouns
  • this list goes on

Hone the craft of writing
  • High quality writing is about conveying a message in a way that the writer is able to easily visualize what you are saying. 
  • People think with pictures, not words
  • Portray your message in the least amount of words.
  • this list goes on
This is just an introduction to authors on the art of being a good writer.

Can you add to this list, as a writer or reader?




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