Unlock the Secret Power of the 4 Cs—Why Mastering Them Could Change How the World Reads You Forever
Word Wise: Practical Writing Tips for Freelancers and Solopreneurs
Master this self-check to guarantee more readers embrace your content
“Why is it so hard to write clearly, and how can I make sure my readers understand what I’m trying to say?” Every week, I get those two questions from folks in my writing groups.
The answer? I use the 4 Cs of writing to write clearly (which I’ll explain in a minute).
But why can it be such a struggle to churn out clear, simple content?
Why is it so hard to write clearly?
I’ve uncovered two main reasons my content comes out as drivel.
1. To write clearly, you must understand your topic thoroughly.
“If you cannot explain it simply,” said Albert Einstein (1879–1955), German-born theoretical physicist and Nobel laureate, “you don’t understand it well enough.” Einstein would know. He was able to explain his Theory of Relativity to mere mortals.
Simple writing requires a thorough grasp of your topic.
The times when I write the most gibberish are when I’ve only taken a surface look at the subject. The topic is complicated. I don’t take the time to process the details or understand the jargon. Or I’m tired and I get lazy and don’t do the hard work of digesting my subject well enough so that I can wrap it in a concise package for my reader.
2. To write clearly, you must dump your pride.
You’ve crafted a beautiful turn of phrase. Or your explanation sounds like you’ve got three doctorates to your name. All well and good … but readers cannot understand you.
The point of writing is to create understanding. If my content is so elevated that a regular reader must consume it with a dictionary at his elbow, then it’s not helpful.
