From Evernote: |
Clear and Simple |
To write simply and clearly is perhaps the most difficult thing. First and foremost reason to write is to convey an idea. Before beginning to write it, the idea must be clear in the mind. Then one chooses the words to express that idea as simply as possible. Clarity therefore precedes simplicity.
The first requirement is to organize one's thought around the idea. Thoughts often pop up unexpectedly and without direct bearing on the idea one wants to convey. One thought leads to another and before long one is led far away from the idea. It is necessary therefore to rein in the thoughts and stick to those that directly concern the idea on hand. It is as much important to discard thoughts that move away from the idea as it is to pursue those that help develop it.
In the beginning the idea is vague. It is like the butterfly struggling to come out of the caterpillar. The very struggle is the beginning of the idea. Allow the idea the space and the time it needs to form. Remain with the idea for as long as it takes to develop. The idea must produce the thoughts. Any thought that is not born of this idea is a distraction, a movement away from the idea.
Working on the thoughts produced by the idea is a means of developing it. The idea grows in content. As more material is gathered around the idea, it begins to take a form. As the form improves one begins to see the structure. The thoughts then organize themselves according to the structure. The thoughts are the content of the idea, while its structure is their organization.
The construction of an idea is different from its expression. They are two separate and independent activities. Construction precedes expression. Construction has content and form, in that order. Construction is necessarily limited in time and space. The idea therefore must have a boundary, without which its expression becomes impossible.
Who is the idea intended for? This question begs a boundary for the idea. By boundary is implied both the breadth and depth in its scope. A broad sweep must necessarily be shallow and a narrow one runs quite deep. The content gathered around the idea will dictate the decision. The intended readers will dictate the mass of the content. If the idea must reach a large base of readers then it must cover several aspects of the idea. Each idea is treated in brief, revealing only its essentials. However, when the idea is intended for a special class of readers, then the aspects will be definitely limited in number. And each aspect is laboured over in depth. The example of breadth is the idea of God because it touches everyone, even an atheist. And the example of depth is the idea of a blackhole, which only an astrophysicist or a sci-fi writer may be interested in.
While gathering the data for the idea it is important to keep notes. Thoughts that bubble around the idea are in the beginning weak and unsure of themselves. They tend to lose themselves or easily pushed over by more powerful thoughts. A notebook serves to store them for later use. A properly tagged and indexed notes are the best companions while expressing the idea. A notebook also helps develop the structure for the idea. The notes are now the content and their grouping forms the structure of the idea. It is also easy to tag the notes according to breadth and depth of the idea.
Gathering of data means researching into the idea. Research may involve thinking about it based on one's experiences or knowledge about it. It may also mean looking up books or articles that others have written on the subject of the idea. But the most important activity during research is to take a break. A time of no work. To move away from the work is very important. Gathering data is a laborious work. One is exposed to a mass of detail that one must group according to its usefulness. Especially in terms of one's decision about the content discussed in the previous paragraphs. One tires after some time and it is therefore necessary to take a break. Whether physically sifting through the mass of available data or mentally working on the idea, the research works best after an interruption.
Research helps the idea to develop. The construction of the idea stands on the foundation of research. The material for research comes from everyday experiences of oneself or the others. It is important to keep the idea anchored on actual experiences. All research must must serve this purpose. Merely lifting thoughts and conclusions of others is not only unethical, but also speaks of laziness. It guarantees shallow work, inspires none. The idea develops through honesty and hard work.
One is never sure when the idea is completely developed. The struggle of the butterfly ends in its release from the body of the caterpillar. However, in the case of ideas, it is difficult to arrive at such a stage. The boundary one has drawn around the idea begins to stretch, making it difficult to stop. When the boundary starts moving, it is time to stop and consolidate. This is also the time to begin to express the idea. There is no clear line between construction and expression. One see-saws between the two states until construction stops and expression flows unhindered.
Now the idea is clear in the mind. It needs to be expressed. To a writer words are the only means of expression. Words therefore are terribly important. Ideas to be expressed in depth need special words. Words used to describe a blackhole belong to a science dictionary. However, in a broad subject like God, one must necessarily use everyday words of the language. Even here, it is possible to use words of a particular culture, but then one runs the risk of a limited audience. Unless, of course, it is intended that way from the beginning. For the idea to be conveyed simply, it is therefore necesssary to use words that don't require a dictionary. No special vocabulary is expected from the reader.
To be simple it is essential to be very clear about the idea one wants to convey. Simplicity therefore follows clarity. In being simple in expression, it also has the effect of being direct. If the idea is conveyed without the aid of other ideas, then it stands on its own. It stands alone, like when there is only one painting in a room. Therefore, its impact is direct and profound. Simplicity is not to be confused with over-simplification, or avoiding complexity. Simple, in the sense of showing one thing at a time, in familiar words, with examples from the daily life. Simple, as the very essence of clarity.
The format of the expression may vary depending on the idea or the skill of one who is expressing. It may be an article, a short story, a play or a novel. The skill in expressing it is the format one chooses. There is also a style associated with the expression. Each writer has a style that comes out of much writing. It shows no matter which format the writer chooses to express the idea.
