Writing Without Bullshit

1. Treat the reader's time as more valuable than your own

The Iron Imperative: Treat the reader's time as more valuable than your own.

Respect your reader's time. This principle is the foundation of effective writing. By prioritizing the reader's time over your own, you force yourself to be concise, clear, and purposeful in your communication. This approach leads to more engaging and impactful writing.

Eliminate unnecessary content. Before sending any written communication, ask yourself:

• Is this information essential?
• Can I convey this message more concisely?
• Does every word serve a purpose?

Focus on the reader's needs. Tailor your writing to your audience by considering:

• What information do they need?
• What action do you want them to take?
• How can you make it easier for them to understand and act?

2. Write shorter to communicate more effectively

Cut. Cut more. If you can't stand it, get someone else to edit and tell you which parts are weakest.

Brevity enhances clarity. Shorter writing is often more powerful and easier to understand. By condensing your message, you force yourself to focus on the most important points and eliminate unnecessary fluff.

Techniques for writing shorter:

• Set word count limits for different types of communication (e.g., 250 words for emails, 750 for blog posts)
• Use bullet points to organize information
• Eliminate redundant phrases and ideas
• Replace long explanations with concise examples
• Cut weak arguments entirely

Edit ruthlessly. After writing your first draft, challenge yourself to cut at least 10% of the content. This process will help you identify and remove unnecessary words, sentences, or even entire paragraphs that don't contribute to your main message.

3. Front-load your writing with the most important information

Get to the point.

Start with your conclusion. Put your main idea or most important information at the beginning of your writing. This approach ensures that even if readers don't finish the entire piece, they'll still get the key message.

Techniques for front-loading:

• Use clear, descriptive titles and subject lines
• Begin emails with a one-sentence summary of your purpose
• Start reports with an executive summary that captures the key points
• Use subheadings to highlight main ideas throughout longer pieces

Invert the traditional writing structure. Instead of building up to your conclusion, state it upfront and then provide supporting details. This approach respects your reader's time and helps them quickly grasp the main point.

4. Eliminate passive voice to enhance clarity and directness

Fixing passive voice will force you to think about who is acting in the sentences you write.

Active voice creates clarity. By using active voice, you make it clear who is performing the action in your sentences. This clarity helps readers understand your message more easily and often makes your writing more engaging.

Identify and fix passive voice:

1. Look for forms of "to be" (is, was, were, etc.) followed by a past participle
2. Ask yourself, "Who is performing the action?"
3. Rewrite the sentence with the actor as the subject

Benefits of active voice:

• Increases directness and impact
• Improves readability
• Reduces word count
• Forces you to be specific about who is responsible for actions

5. Replace jargon with clear, simple language

If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough.

Jargon creates barriers. Using specialized terminology or industry-specific language can make your writing inaccessible to many readers. By replacing jargon with simple, clear language, you make your message more understandable and relatable to a wider audience.

Strategies for eliminating jargon:

• Define your audience and their level of expertise
• Explain complex concepts using analogies or examples
• Use common words instead of technical terms when possible
• If you must use jargon, define it clearly

Benefits of simple language:

• Increases comprehension
• Broadens your potential audience
• Demonstrates a deep understanding of the subject matter
• Makes your writing more memorable and shareable

6. Remove weasel words to strengthen your message

Weasel words—qualifiers like "very" and "generally"—make you, the writer, feel better at the expense of clarity and boldness. Prune them mercilessly.

Weasel words weaken your message. Qualifiers and vague terms like "very," "many," "some," and "generally" can make your writing sound uncertain or evasive. By removing these words, you create more direct and impactful statements.

Common weasel words to avoid:

• Very, extremely, quite
• Many, several, some
• Generally, usually, typically
• Basically, essentially, fundamentally
• Maybe, possibly, perhaps

Strategies for eliminating weasel words:

• Replace qualifiers with specific numbers or percentages
• Make definitive statements when you have evidence to support them
• If you're unsure, acknowledge the uncertainty directly rather than hedging

7. Use numbers wisely to support your arguments

Words lie. Numbers don't.

Numbers add credibility. When used correctly, statistics and data can provide strong support for your arguments and make your writing more persuasive. However, it's crucial to use numbers ethically and effectively.

Guidelines for using numbers:

• Provide context for all statistics (e.g., compare to industry averages or historical data)
• Use precise numbers when possible, but round off when appropriate
• Cite sources for all data
• Explain the significance of the numbers you present

Common pitfalls to avoid:

• Cherry-picking data to support your argument
• Presenting correlation as causation
• Using outdated or unreliable sources
• Overwhelming readers with too many statistics

8. Reveal structure to make your writing more accessible

Prose sucks.

Structure enhances readability. By breaking up your writing into clear sections with headings, bullet points, and other visual elements, you make it easier for readers to navigate and understand your content.

Techniques for revealing structure:

• Use descriptive headings and subheadings
• Incorporate bullet points and numbered lists
• Include tables to organize complex information
• Add relevant graphics or charts to illustrate key points
• Use white space effectively to separate sections

Benefits of clear structure:

• Allows readers to quickly scan for relevant information
• Makes your writing more visually appealing
• Helps readers understand the relationships between different ideas
• Improves retention of key points

9. Collaborate effectively without compromising quality

It's your document. You're writing it, and your name is probably going to go on it.

Maintain control of your writing. While collaboration can improve your work, it's essential to maintain your vision and voice throughout the process. Learn to incorporate feedback effectively without losing the core of your message.

Strategies for effective collaboration:

• Clearly define roles and responsibilities for all contributors
• Set expectations for the type of feedback you're seeking at each stage
• Use collaborative tools that allow for easy tracking of changes and comments
• Be open to constructive criticism, but don't be afraid to defend your choices

Managing feedback:

• Consider all suggestions, but don't feel obligated to implement every change
• Look for patterns in feedback to identify areas that need improvement
• Use feedback as an opportunity to clarify and strengthen your arguments
• Remember that you are ultimately responsible for the final product

10. Master different writing formats for maximum impact

Writing is writing.

Adapt to different mediums. While the core principles of clear communication apply across all formats, each medium has its own conventions and best practices. By mastering these formats, you can ensure your message is effectively delivered in any context.

Key writing formats to master:

• Emails
• Social media posts
• Blog articles
• Press releases
• Reports and white papers
• Presentations

General tips for all formats:

• Understand your audience and their expectations
• Tailor your tone and style to the medium
• Use appropriate formatting and visual elements
• Include clear calls to action when relevant
• Proofread and edit carefully before publishing or sending

Last updated: November 14, 2024