Which came first, the chicken or the egg? Does it matter?

What does matter is that the egg is a beautiful, simple design. It does it’s job without any added frills or complications.

A piece of writing has a job to do. Writing is meant to impart something particular to the reader. Knowledge, humour, sadness, commiseration, joy, empathy are just a few of the million reasons that inspire people to write. You should be clear from the start what it is you you want the reader to understand from your words.

Flowery description is fine in love letters or flowery poems, but not in business letters or instruction manuals.

In most cases, the more simply you write, the better the text will be received and understood by the reader. In most cases that is the preferred outcome of the writer.

So, spend some time, thinking and planning so that you are completely clear in your mind what it is you are trying to say. You will then find the words come more easily.

I’ll be doing some major work on planning soon, so bookmark this page and keep coming back.

What is that picture ?

You may well ask. Is it roadkill? Is it someone’s brains? Is it the result of a crazy genetic experiment? Would you touch it? Would you eat it? Click the picture to find out.

Context is everything.

Always remember that writing is meant to be read. Unless you are writing a private journal, the chances are that what you write is intended to be read by someone else or read aloud to real people. You should always have your audience – your reader – foremost in your mind.

You need to make your writing clear and understandable for the reader, otherwise you are wasting your time. Your reader just won’t care a fig for all your hard work. (You did know it was the insides of a fig – right?)

A clear, plain, simple title can do wonders. A good title will set the context for everything that follows. It sets the readers mind up for what is to follow.

A good title, or working title, will also help you to focus on what you are writing.

So think about what you want to say and start with a good title that sets the context of your piece of writing.

Dave’s Wedding Speech – My Life as a Rat Catcher – Farming Today – Innovation in Microprocessors.

You know what’s coming when you read titles like these. When you’ve written your first post modern experimental novel, then you can think up a fancy title. Meanwhile whatever you are writing, choose a sensible and simple title. It will keep your mind focussed open the job and in context and give you reader the first clue to be able to decode your text and really get your meaning.