Simple Writing, Complex Ideas
For a long time, I was confused about my writing abilities. On one hand, I wanted to convolute my writing, thinking it would prove my expertise. On the other hand, the saner part of me revolted at the idea of not simplifying concepts. The revolt was simple: "What's the point of writing if the reader doesn't enjoy reading?" It took me years to arrive at my version of the truth and be content with it. The goal of writing was to be read. The goal was to simplify ideas for readers who could be brought to the same wavelength of thinking.
Simplifying writing is often misinterpreted as dumbing down for the majority. That's not how it works. Dumbing down involves eliminating the underlying logical train of thought and explaining only the most important points without showing the chain of reasoning. Like explaining economics to a five-year-old – they explain what concepts are, not why they work this way.
While this approach works for introductory concepts, that's not why I write. Simplifying requires eliminating jargon and explaining your thinking process clearly. It's like how Einstein explained gravity using the example of a heavy ball on a tarpaulin.
The challenge lies in choosing between dumbing down your writing and simplifying it. Having a good vocabulary is a blessing, but only if you use it like a precision tool to hit your target rather than to emphasize your social class through impressive words. I have arrived at this understanding through several tormenting phases that reflect in my writing. To a casual reader, it might look like a mere preference, but to my eyes, it represents an evolution.
If you're a writer struggling to find your natural voice, try writing as if you're talking to your older self, explaining things the way your naive self would have preferred. I explain concepts as I wished someone had explained them to me. I write the way I wished others had written. That's what good writing comes down to. The goal is to be read by your target audience. If you have found 100 people to read your work, wouldn't you want them to understand your message clearly, free from unnecessary complexity?
This is why it's imperative that a writer must also be an avid reader. Without exposure to quality writing, you cannot produce something of higher quality. You need reference points for good writing. If you intend to write a good detective novel, you must read the likes of Agatha Christie and Raymond Chandler – they serve as your benchmarks for quality writing.
I've concluded that the kind of writing that impresses me is the kind I want to produce. If I'm not entirely unique in my preferences, there must be many others who would appreciate reading something that doesn't make them feel inadequate.