Have you ever read something so muddled that you had to put it down, go back and read it again, and still not understand it? Yeah, I have too. That’s why William Zinsser’s On Writing Well resonated with me the last two weeks. He was saying something that must be self-evident—but isn’t. Writing must be self-evident, simple, and above all, human.
What was one of his main ideas? Cut the unnecessary words. We all try at some point to be “smart” and utilize big words and complicated sentences, but the truth is—no one has time for that. Whether it is a paper, a Facebook status, or even a text message, if individuals have to struggle to decipher what you are trying to say, they will just stop reading. Being a PR major, I witness this on a daily basis. Brands like to make things complicated when all their audience is looking for is a straight answer. So, Zinsser’s suggestion? State what you mean and be done with it.
Another thing that stuck with me? Voice. Writing must sound like a conversation, not an essay written by a robot. (I’m talking to you, ChatGPT.) Zinsser writes that good writing has personality. I’ve found this to be true in my own writing—when I stop trying to use an unnatural, forced voice and just write how I speak, people engage more. Whether it’s a social media post, a blog, or even a class discussion board (gross), people engage with authenticity.
Now, let’s discuss editing. We actually do it too much. Zinsser essentially says, “Yes, edit. But don’t suck the life out of your writing.” And he’s correct. I’ve rewritten social media posts so many times that by the end, they were stiff and dull. There is a balance—correct the errors, but don’t lose the energy.
At the end of the day, writing has to be readable and actually enjoyable. No one wants to use big words. They want to know what you’re saying. If Zinsser taught me anything, it is this: write like a human being, not a dictionary.
Propersi Perspective 