Writing can be quite a challenge. It is especially true for newbie writers. This is because they have yet to discover their writing styles and the process can get confusing. But if there is one advice that you can use throughout your writing career, it is to simplify your writing. By simplifying your writing style, you can make your writing more coherent and straightforward.
Sadly though, it is not that easy to simplify your writing. Some authors tend to write overly long sentences that seems to go nowhere. This is because these authors believe that the more words they use the better their writing sounds. Which is a misconception. In truth, it is better to use a minimum amount of words and still get your message through. Rather than to use a myriad of words and still not get your message through.
So before you think of writing a book or take up any long term project, you should learn how to simplify your writing first.
Here are 7 effective and efficient ways to simplify your writing style:
- Make your sentences short and concise
One way to simplify your writing is to make your sentences short and concise. As it was stated earlier, some writers tend to write overly long sentences.
And what’s worse a majority of the words used in these sentences don’t add anything to the content. It merely makes the wordplay sound cumbersome and clunky.
So if you want to write as simply as possible, make your sentences short and concise. This will allow you to get to the heart of the matter. It will also help you avoid getting lost in the dialogue and losing your reader’s attention.
- Cut out unnecessary words
A good number of writers tend to use unnecessary words in their sentences. And even worse, some writers use jargon, despite not knowing what they mean.
This is a very bad practice because unnecessary words tend to make your writing unwieldy. Even worse, using unnecessary words can totally change the tone of your writing. All in all, you should be careful which words you use. You should also be a hundred percent sure of their definition and usage.
- Be straight to the point
Yet another tip on how to develop a simple writing style is to be straightforward in your writing. Some writers tend to overly complicate their writing styles. And readers tend to get confused because of this. It could be the way you write, how you use a phrase or how you set the pace of your writing.
So it is more advisable that you use a more active and forceful tone in your writing. Try to use less filler words and go straight to the point. Your readers will thank you for it.
- Read your work aloud
Some writers never know what their writing sounds like until they read it aloud. This is why after every writing session, you should always make it a habit to read your work aloud. This enables you to hear how your wordplay really sounds.
This will also allow you to catch the nuances in your writing and rectify any badly written sentences you might have missed. It will also help you to spot any misused or missing words in your sentences. All in all, reading your work aloud will help make your writing more smooth and cohesive.
- Have your work critiqued by other writers
Aside from reading your work aloud, it is also a good idea to have your work critiqued by fellow writers. No matter how good a writer you may think you are, there are always areas in your writing that needs work. Which is why having your work critiqued is always a good idea.
Your critiques should give you an honest and comprehensive review of your work. They should not leave any stone unturned through the process. And don’t get insulted should your work get unfavorable remarks. Remember, this is all for your improvement as a writer.
- Save the editing for later
It is always a good idea to edit your work. Proper editing is a must if you want your work, whether it is a book or a short article to do well. But you should remember to leave the editing for later and focus on the writing process first. Some writers tend to write and edit their work at the same time. Which is a bad idea because you won’t be able to fully focus on either task. Instead, it is better that you focus first on the writing process. Then, once you have finished with the writing process, you can get started on the editing process. This will not only make both tasks easier, but more efficient as well.
- Have a focused mindset
As it was stated earlier, it is important that you stay focused. The writing process is full of potential traps that can derail your writing sessions. A lack of focus can also make your writing incomprehensible and ultimately confuse your readers. Which is why, throughout the writing process, it is important that you stay focused no matter what. Having this mindset will not only help simplify your writing style. It will also help enhance it.