Comments on: How To Simplify Your Writing http://www.thewritersmanifesto.com/blog/2009/01/28/how-to-simplify-your-writing/ freelance writing by a freelance writer that works in the freelance writing field Thu, 26 Aug 2010 20:59:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Davina http://www.thewritersmanifesto.com/blog/2009/01/28/how-to-simplify-your-writing/comment-page-1/#comment-11503 Davina Thu, 29 Jan 2009 02:06:46 +0000 http://www.thewritersmanifesto.com/blog/?p=976#comment-11503 Hi Monika. I couldn't agree more! Twitter has been a useful tool to keep words and sentences short -- getting rid of word clutter. This is one of my favourite parts of writing. I love combing through my posts and thinning them out. Hi Monika. I couldn’t agree more! Twitter has been a useful tool to keep words and sentences short — getting rid of word clutter. This is one of my favourite parts of writing. I love combing through my posts and thinning them out.

]]> By: Brett Legree http://www.thewritersmanifesto.com/blog/2009/01/28/how-to-simplify-your-writing/comment-page-1/#comment-11502 Brett Legree Wed, 28 Jan 2009 23:32:16 +0000 http://www.thewritersmanifesto.com/blog/?p=976#comment-11502 My Grade 9 English teacher used to say to us, "bullshit baffles brains" - he literally said that to us in class. I think some people were a bit horrified, but I got exactly what he meant. When I write, I start with a skeleton - point form. Simple words, simple ideas. Build around them - and usually in a plain text program like Q10 or the like. Something new I discovered was a neat tool in Google Docs. If you import your text into Google Docs or write in it, when you do a Word Count, it gives you a Flesch-Kincaid readability index and grade level. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flesch-Kincaid_Readability_Test I guess it is best to have it at a lower level if you're trying to reach a wider audience. I tested it on some of my writing and it seems that most of what I write can be understood by a Grade 7 to Grade 8, without my trying to simplify. I always figured if you can't explains something to a young person, you're trying to hide something :) so I was happy to see I wasn't full of crap! My Grade 9 English teacher used to say to us, “bullshit baffles brains” – he literally said that to us in class.

I think some people were a bit horrified, but I got exactly what he meant.

When I write, I start with a skeleton – point form. Simple words, simple ideas. Build around them – and usually in a plain text program like Q10 or the like.

Something new I discovered was a neat tool in Google Docs. If you import your text into Google Docs or write in it, when you do a Word Count, it gives you a Flesch-Kincaid readability index and grade level.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flesch-Kincaid_Readability_Test

I guess it is best to have it at a lower level if you’re trying to reach a wider audience. I tested it on some of my writing and it seems that most of what I write can be understood by a Grade 7 to Grade 8, without my trying to simplify.

I always figured if you can’t explains something to a young person, you’re trying to hide something :) so I was happy to see I wasn’t full of crap!

]]> By: Lis Sowerbutts http://www.thewritersmanifesto.com/blog/2009/01/28/how-to-simplify-your-writing/comment-page-1/#comment-11501 Lis Sowerbutts Wed, 28 Jan 2009 04:21:26 +0000 http://www.thewritersmanifesto.com/blog/?p=976#comment-11501 I got a freelancing gig about horse racing - the feedback on the previous writer from the client was - no Greek gods or horses are readers are punter not history students LOL. Its not hard to write well if you think about where your audience is coming from, even if you next to nothing about racing! I got a freelancing gig about horse racing – the feedback on the previous writer from the client was – no Greek gods or horses are readers are punter not history students LOL. Its not hard to write well if you think about where your audience is coming from, even if you next to nothing about racing!

]]> By: Jen http://www.thewritersmanifesto.com/blog/2009/01/28/how-to-simplify-your-writing/comment-page-1/#comment-11500 Jen Wed, 28 Jan 2009 00:46:28 +0000 http://www.thewritersmanifesto.com/blog/?p=976#comment-11500 Good writing also blossoms once you start to find your own writing style and are more comfortable putting your thoughts on paper. It is very frustrating to read something that you are trying to learn a concept from and instead you are just trying to understand the words themselves. Good writing also blossoms once you start to find your own writing style and are more comfortable putting your thoughts on paper.

It is very frustrating to read something that you are trying to learn a concept from and instead you are just trying to understand the words themselves.

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