1. Your Readers are Not Stupid
Your readers are reading your writing because they are curious to learn more about a topic or want to enjoy a topic they are more than likely already familiar with. Understand, your readers are not stupid. There is no need to overexplain. Lastly, they know how to read the words you write, so there is no need to yell at them by making words stand out IN ALL CAPS. Say what needs to be said, then get out of the way.
2. Redundancy Creates Quitters
If you overexplain by saying the same thing three different ways, it creates redundancy. When your reader feels they are reading the same concept over and over again, they will quit reading what you wrote.
3. Boredom Creates Complaints
When your readers grow bored with reading repetitive content within your writing, boredom sets in. When boredom sets in, they walk away from your writing, never to come back. Even more, people love to share negative news. Therefore, when someone ask them how their day is, they will probably talk about how they wasted their time reading your crappy content. Understand, negative news travels fast.
4. Lack of Content Creates Lack of Customers
A common reason why writers repeat their concepts is that they lack material. When material lacks, knowledge lacks. When your readers see that you know very little about your topic, they do not buy from you. Customers want someone smarter than they are to lead them. Show them you are smarter and can lead them by showing all the intellect you possess.
5. Less Writing Means More Enhancements
If you aim to write a five-page chapter, use two to three pages to write–to teach, motivate, and inspire–then use the remaining pages to add written exercises so your readers can immediately apply what you taught them. Also, use the space to add videos utilizing a QRCode.
6. Less Explaining Means More Believing
Have you ever met someone who is always trying to convince people to see the world as though they see it? They keep going on… and on… and on… Well, the same is true when you write. If you feel the need to overexplain, all you are doing is trying to convince your reader to believe what you believe. Say what you believe, then get out of the way.
7. Less Explaining Means More Golden Nuggets
Let’s say you have enough room to fill ten pages and have 50 bullet points of wisdom. If you begin to overexplain, there won’t be enough room to write all 50 bullet points of wisdom–Golden Nuggets. The less you explain, the more wisdom you can share and the more value you give to your readers.
Thank you for this.
You are welcome! Happy to see you stop by to enjoy the Transform blog, Angelique!
Great insight! There was a lot I can still recognize in my writing. Always a process.
Your writing is wonderful! For anyone who wants to read Allyson’s book, visit AllysonBlythe.com/Misunderstood
You surely won’t regret reading it… life changing.
Great stuff. Reminds me of my time at Procter & Gamble where everyone was forced to write a memo or summary in one page or less. Brevity won the game!
Thanks for sharing! Love your line, “Brevity won the game!”
I agree! As I have heard it said, “Good writing is like a woman’s skirt – short enough to retain interest, but long enough to cover the subject” 🙂
That is a great analogy! Thanks for sharing! I will be using it in the future.
Absolutely hit this on the head. So much you should re-read in this. Don’t be boring, don’t be repetitive, use that amazing QRCode! Omg! Well, go read it again. I’m going to. ~Steve
I love it, and I won’t explain why. Being concise is a new personal goal of mine and Elena explains it simply and clearly. I especially like the phrase “then get out of the way!”
Super great, Terry! I am happy you enjoyed this article!
Thanks a bunch! Every point hits home.
Good to hear! Thanks for leaving a comment to let me know this article was helpful to you.