On Writing Well

On Writing Well by William Zinnser

                  I was a bit apprehensive about reading this book as I thought it would be boring and I’d have to fight to get through it. To my surprise, I enjoyed it tremendously. It was such an enthusiastic, but informative read. At the end of it, I really felt like I could write my own books and they wouldn’t suck!

                  Zinnser is very passionate about what he does. He believes that writing is not an easy feat, and there are many caveats to the craft. You write, you rewrite, you rewrite…again. It is all a part of the process. He also emphasized not writing for the reader, but for yourself. By doing this, I can allow for people who resonate to find me and agree with me. This is something I care a great deal about, finding my people

I am going to answer some questions that I found to be appropriate to discuss post read. I would love some feedback here:

Is clear writing a form of psychological safety?

                  I would say that it is. When I read clear writing, I feel like the writer is not trying to confuse me, trick me, or persuade me to think a certain way. I am more open to receiving what is being given to me. When writing is put into layman's terms and uses less jargon, I don’t have to fight so hard to understand where the writer is coming from. That also gives me a perceived sense of safety. I also think stories are more believable when they are clear. Clear thinking gives me what I believe to be confidence, and I enjoy reading from writers who know and believe what they are writing about.

Why do helping professionals sometimes hide behind jargon?

                  Well, for one, to be seen as an intellectual. Heavy jargon gives a sort of superiority in my eyes. It creates a sense of authority that lets readers know that it is a reputable source. Though to me, it feels like the ideas and concepts are not fully understood by the writer. I partly base my intelligence on the application of real-life scenarios. Jargon excuses a writer’s inability to do that. I always challenge myself to, instead of using the technical term, describe what that term looks like in everyday life. Then I’ll maybe throw the word out there just to connect the two.

Writing to Impress versus Writing to be Understood…

                  I write to be understood because I feel like I think weirdly, and I have trouble relating to a lot of people. I have always sought solace in reading and journaling, but I can’t be the only one who understands me? How existential of me to believe that I am the only one with my brain?! Honestly, I’d even consider it a little self-centered, knowing there are billions of people in the world. That’s why I write online now. To connect to the handful of people who see the world the way I do. One blog post at a time. So far, so good. I feel way better knowing my unfiltered opinion exist someone other than the journals on my bookshelf. This used to scare me, but the embrace has felt much better.

Can simpler language make mental health care more accessible?

                  Absolutely. I think simpler language can make everything more accessible. That is the challenge, though. Things aren’t created to be more accessible, but the opposite. I must work really hard for the answers, but the answers are always there. This is another benefit of jargon. The reason law school is so coveted. A language only a few understand. Another form of linguistics. This is why I chose to be a guide, a helper, a counselor, and eventually a psychotherapist.

The psychology of editing:

I hate reading what I write. I still can’t pick up journals from ten years ago, and there is some juicy stuff in there. I think I am afraid of who I used to be. People do not tell you how cringe it is to know your past self. I think journaling saved my life, but that doesn’t mean I still want to know her. When it comes to what I write now, outside of the journal, I do try to reread paragraphs to make sure I don’t sound like I’m rambling or that I’ve lost the plot. Either way, editing does help. When you work up the nerve to do so, don’t wait until the deadline to make it happen.

What do you think? Answer here.