Learn how to write better
What if writing was like sculpting?
Imagine a huge piece of marble in front of you.
And in your hand, a chisel.
How would you sculpt a beautiful nude?
First, you conjure up an image in your mind: a vision of her beauty. Is she sitting or standing? Or dancing? What impression should she make?
Is she voluptuous or lean? Does she have small feet? Large hands? A big nose?
When you set to work, you consider the right proportions first—the length of her legs, arms, torso, neck and head. Then you work on the details—her delicate curves, her nose, eyes, and her hair.
Sculpting your sentences is like making the light dance around the curves of your beautiful nude.
How to sculpt concise sentences
To sculpt your sentences, you eliminate excess words to create a pleasurable reader experience—your message becomes crystal-clear, and your readers dance through your content, feeling light and airy.
Sound good?
To practice your sculpting skills, don’t work on a long piece of text. Instead, work on a headline, an opening, or closing paragraph. Consider writing each sentence on a new line, so focusing your attention on each sentence becomes easier.
This is the process for sculpting concise sentences:
- Read your sentence slowly
- Highlight the most meaningful words
- Rewrite your sentence by focusing on the meaningful words
Shall I show you some examples?
3 examples of clear and concise sentences
When I started my own business, it has given me a whole new perspective to see the bigger picture when it comes to finding a work / life balance.
Meaningful words in bold:
When I started my own business, it has given me a whole new perspective to see the bigger picture when it comes to finding a work / life balance.
Clear and concise version:
Starting my own business has given me a new perspective on work / life balance.
Note:
Many words have some meaning, but aren’t particularly strong. So don’t fret too long whether a word is meaningful or not. Go with your gut feeling; it’s not an exact science.
Also, in the example above, the bigger picture and a new perspective are similar phrases so I chose one and eliminated the other.
I will provide you with suggestions on your performance so you can overcome the challenges you encounter every day while working for a difficult boss, so you can feel less stressed.
Meaningful words in bold:
I will provide you with suggestions on your performance so you can overcome the challenges you encounter every day while working for a difficult boss, so you can feel less stressed.
Clear and concise version:
I help you overcome the daily challenges of working for a difficult boss, so you feel less stressed.
Note:
Verbs like provide, add, and make may seem meaningful, but they’re relatively weak. Where possible, use a stronger verb. For instance:
- To provide comments—to comment
- To add a splash of color—to splash colors
- To make progress—to progress
A stronger verb—like to splash—is preferable to a weak verb + a noun (to add a splash).
Our mastermind group for beginning solo-entrepreneurs will help you fight the solitude related to a solo-business and provide a sounding board to make the right decisions faster, so you can stop dithering and make progress faster.
Meaningful words in bold:
Our mastermind group for beginning solo-entrepreneurs will help you fight the solitude related to a solo-business and it will provide a sounding board to make the right decisions faster, so you can stop dithering and make progress faster.
Clear and concise version:
Our mastermind for beginning solo-entrepreneurs helps you fight solitude. We help each other make decisions, so your business grows faster.
Much clearer, eh?
Writing clearly and concisely is a craft
Focusing on meaningful words helps you understand what your sentence should communicate so your message becomes clearer.
But it can take some practice and require some effort.
Best way to do it?
Approach it as game: Play with different variations, and don’t fuss for too long.
Remember, writing as tightly as possible is not your aim.
Your ultimate aim is to communicate your message with clarity so you can connect with and inspire your audience.
Have fun!
P.S.
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