Cutting Clutter

Cutting clutter helps you produce clear, crisp writing. The secret of professional writing is to strip every sentence to its cleanest components. Every word that has no function, every long word that could be a short one, every adverb carrying the same meaning already in the verb, every passive construction that leaves the reader unsure of who is doing what—these are among the many shortcomings that weaken the structure of a sentence.

Cut clutter and strip down your writing before building it back up. You are practicing a craft based on principles. If the structure is frail, your writing will collapse. If your verbs are weak and the syntax rickety, your sentences will fail to impart your intended meaning.

Once you have a solid structure, you can add yourself to the writing—your own style—allowing your own unique voice to come through. But it’s only with a solid foundation of writing principles that you will have a professional piece of writing.

The reader wants the person who is talking to sound genuine. Therefore a fundamental rule is: be yourself. But no rule is harder to follow. The writer must relax, and have confidence in who they are and what they have to say. Trust your thoughts and feelings when you write.

Read your work aloud to yourself; this enables you to check for clumsy constructions or repetition. Also, remember the power of details; substituting 'fruit' with 'rotting pomegranate' or 'unripe mango' gives the reader a clearer picture. Once you have mastered the principles of writing, let your unique voice guide you. Everyone else's is already taken.

Writing Techniques

Cutting Clutter to Outside the Box Writing Tips