Dec 22, 2024
Most technical writers fail because their documentation lacks readability. Concise writing is key to writing effectively. Exercise included.
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Most technical writers fail because their documentation lacks readability. Concise writing is key to writing effectively. Exercise included.
There is a tangible difference between reading:
“The floor seemed to tilt, and I tried to catch myself on the table to stop my fall.”
vs
“The floor tilted and I reached out my hand to catch the table and stop my fall.”
That little adjustment made the same base sentence so much more powerful.
More examples:
“I tried to scoot away from my attacker, but his hand on the chain connected to my ankles kept me from moving.”
vs
“I kicked at the dirt floor, putting as much space between myself and my attacker as I could. His hand on the chain binding my ankles kept me from getting very far.”
It’s the same core concept but the writing in the second example is much more vivid.
“As I sunk down to the bottom of the lake, I realized I only had two options: get back to the surface or die trying.”
vs
“As I sunk down to the bottom of the lake, I was tempted to give up. But when my survival instinct kicked in, I only had two options: get back to the surface or die trying.”
Removing “I realized” from that example created space for other, much more important character thoughts which allow the reader to sink into deeper character POV, which in the long run creates a far more vivid reading experience.
Concise writing is superior to inflated writing, especially on college application essays. Make each word count. 💪🏻
Understanding Conciseness In a world overflowing with information, the ability to communicate effectively and succinctly has never been mor
Concise writing
Get to the point. Cut out verbose and redundant words.
If only I had more time I'd write shorter posts.
Context vs. Concision in Creative Writing
"Honey, it's time to face the facts and accept the truth. Our baby is… unusual."
"But I already bought these, and they're so cute!"
"I know."
"Plus, they were on sale. Do you know how difficult it will be to find another pair of this quality at that price?"
"Yes, dear. I know."
"Are you sure they don't fit?"
"They definitely do not fit. It's time to admit: our child has freakishly large feet."
"Oh, all right…. I'll type up an advertisement for the paper. Someone should get some use out of these shoes."
For Sale: Baby shoes. Never worn. Too small.
An epigram compresses insight into a few exact words. Originating as stone inscriptions, it became a literary form where wit precision and a final turn create lasting meaning proving brevity can preserve truth.
Writing Group: Mini-Saga
One of the things that we’ve really been working on at writing club is writing concisely. This week’s prompt was a mini-saga, a 50 word short story. My plan was to write flash fiction and then shorten that over time. I have done this but plenty of people have written something new for each of these prompts. These short pieces are meant to challenge the writer. They challenge me for sure. What do…
