Writing hacks

Today I want to write about writing. Specifically I want to write about writing hacks I’ve discovered that will make your writing more thorough and clear. These hacks might even make the process of writing enjoyable for you. The writing hacks I want to discuss are: internal dialogue, KISS (keep it simple, stupid) and headings.

History

I was terrible at writing in high school. I remember, in grade 12, memorising a couple of essays I had written on books I was studying in English. The essays were quite general and could be adapted for a range of questions. I did this because I was terrified by the thought of writing an essay from scratch in an exam. I was worried I’d be able to write a couple of paragraphs only while the other boys would be able to write pages and pages. So my solution was to memorise a couple of very general essays on the books I was studying. I figured a multi-page essay that kind of answered the question would be better than a multi-paragraph essay I wrote on the spot. I wish I knew back then what I know today about writing.

Internal dialogue

When I write there is always an internal dialogue. For example, the first sentence in the paragraph above is “I was terrible at writing in high school.” At the end of writing that sentence my internal dialogue would have been asking questions, such as “Could you go into more detail?” and “Why were you terrible at writing in high school?”. The subsequent sentence or sentences will try to answer these questions my internal dialogue came up with. Yes, these new sentences may lead to more questions from my internal dialogue, which in turn may lead to more new sentences. It’s a chain reaction of sorts and the end result is usually a very thorough piece of writing.

KISS (Keep it simple, stupid)

I love the KISS principle. I apply it when writing code. I apply it when managing my investment portfolio. I apply it when doing DIY at home. I apply the principle wherever and whenever I can. And yes, I apply it when writing. Use words in your writing that you understand. Don’t use words that you kind of understand. We write because we want to express what’s in our heads; because we want to be understood. But how can you be understood by others if your writing can’t even be understood by you? So use the KISS principle in your writing for word selection. You can also use the KISS principle for sentence construction. Applying KISS to sentences results in sentences that are short and succinct that practically anyone can understand. And this is the goal, writing sentences and paragraphs that anyone can understand.

Headings

Use headings in your writing. I like to think about what I intend to write before I press a single key on the keyboard, identifying in my head the major sections or headings. For example, when I began writing this post I thought about the tools I use to help me write (internal dialogue, KISS and headings) and then went and created a heading for each. By doing this you’re creating a customised template for your writing piece. All you need to do next is fill in the blanks using the internal dialogue and KISS strategies I discussed above.