There are countless “rules” for writing. Paragraphs are supposed to flow a certain way, sentences should have a set structure, numbers should be written “6” sometimes and “six” others, commas should be used in particular ways, etc.
Generally, it’s a good idea to follow the rules. They were developed to create a standardized method of communication and they typically do that pretty well.
But simply following the rules isn’t enough. There are plenty of highly-regarded writers out there who create material that is technically sound and full of clever literary devices, yet completely unreadable. Despite the fact that they follow all of the formal rules, they forget the most important one: writing should be easy to read.
It doesn’t need to be clever. It doesn’t need to impress your high school English teacher. It needs to get your point across.
That’s why we write – to covey a message to the end reader.
If you’ve read much of my writing, you might notice that it’s far from perfect technically. Capitalization isn’t consistent, paragraph structure varies, word choice is sloppy, and sentences aren’t always properly formed. But that’s fine with me as long as it’s readable.
When I first started writing, I spent a lot of time worrying about whether I was doing it right. Now my approach is a lot simpler.
I put down my thoughts and ask myself if the end reader will be able to make sense of it.
If it passes that test, then I press “send” and move on.
-Brandon
Brandon – I have to agree. I think that many people can get swept up in impressive words, using the right click synonyms, etc. I like to approach my writing, which is typically emails in a professional sense, as if I was the end reader and ask myself, “Do I have any questions after reading that? Is this clearly asking something of me? Any actionable steps need to take place?” If I can read my email and answer those three (or 3, not sure) I feel that my writing should be understandable. Good topic!
Agreed, and thanks!