Every content writer’s job requirement has a line that says, ‘ability to present complex concepts simply and clearly.’ You need to have the skill to explain hard things easily. You could be someone with amazing research skills, excellent grammar and punctuation knowledge, and top-notch editing skills, but if you struggle to break complicated things into manageable chunks, then you have a problem. Writing simply is one of the hardest things to do, and it’s because we make it hard for ourselves.
Usually, there are two reasons why we do this.
You Want To Look Clever
Oh, don’t we all? Our good old friend, the Imposter Syndrome. No matter how good we are at what we do, most of the time we doubt our abilities. We feel like a fraud or phoney, and we fear that any minute the world will see this. We try to cover something up that we didn’t lack in the first place. We use a sophisticated, almost elitist language to look smart. We use big words, choose technical phrases, go over the top with the formal style, and cover the content with a heavy, sugary coat that makes it look impossible to read.
Why do we do that? Because we want to impress. You want to prove your worth. You want to be accepted. You want to be taken seriously. But people can only appreciate you when they understand what you are saying. When you use simple language, you open the doors of your content to everyone. Your work will not look less important or serious when you explain it in a simple way. On the contrary, it will be valued more.
Maya Angelou once said, “Each time I write a book, every time I face that yellow pad, the challenge is so great. I have written eleven books, but each time I think, ‘Uh oh, they’re going to find out now. I’ve run a game on everybody and they’re going to find me out.”
Even the wonderful Maya Angelou had to combat that ugly feeling of self-doubt. Don’t let this feeling stop you from being yourself. Don’t choose the complicated path to look smart. Imposter syndrome can be paralyzing for any writer, but it’s especially challenging for newbies. When you don’t have any “professional” accomplishments, you may feel like you can’t compete with those who do.
Here’s a fact: Whether published or not, if you’re putting words on paper, you can proudly call yourself a writer.
You Actually Don’t Know What You’re Talking About
There was a time when my son was a little boy. I think he was four or five; I can’t remember exactly when. But during that period, all he did was ask the question ‘Why?’ for anything and everything. ‘Why is the moon up in the sky? Why do we have fingernails? Why is the tomato red? Why do dogs bark? Why can’t the trains fly?’ I could continue the list just to give you an idea of how it feels to be questioned nonstop all day like this. But you get the gist of it, I think. It was fun to answer these questions. It made me realize how much I don’t know about the simple things of everyday life. Or it might be better if I say it made me realize how much I pretend to know a lot of things. As Albert Einstein said, “If you can’t explain something to a 6-year-old, then you don’t understand it yourself.” How true is that?
I had to knock on Google’s door when my son asked me ‘Why is the tomato red?’. So I learned that tomatoes contain several colored compounds, with the dominant ones being the green chlorophyll and the red lycopene. As the tomato ripens, the chlorophyll is degraded, and the red colour of the lycopene dominates.
I didn’t think he would appreciate this answer. So I came up with this:
“Well, tomatoes have got two magical colours inside: green and red. They love to soak up all the sunshine, just like we do when we go out to play. And when they’ve had enough sunshine, they change their green colour and turn into a beautiful red colour, just like when your cheeks get rosy after playing in the sun. So, when you see a red tomato, it’s like seeing a happy little tomato that has been playing and soaking up all the sunlight! That’s why tomatoes are red and so yummy to eat!”
The trick is, first, we need to understand what we are talking about. That’s why writing simply requires a lot of effort. You need to know exactly what it’s all about. Only then will we be able to describe it in our own words, whether for a five-year-old or a room full of adults.
Read what you have written out loud. It should be easily readable and sound like you. If your content is like a confusing maze, it is because you haven’t really mastered the topic, so you’re just making things up. Or perhaps you’re tossing in too much info without getting to the main point. Keep it simple, like telling a joke without the extra stuff.
Writing simply might feel like solving a puzzle, but trust me, it’s the way to go. It takes some extra brainpower, sure, but the result? Well, it’s just better. So, whether you’re answering your child’s ‘Why?’ or explaining the science behind a red tomato or a nuclear power plant, remember that simplicity not only captivates but also leaves a lasting impact. I think the secret to being a good content writer is to learn the ability to translate any information into concrete, vivid, and meaningful messages that are clear to everyone.