Writing: Old fashioned but necessary

I always struggled with communication. I find it hard to express myself clearly. Some people understood me, while others don’t.

For a long time, I looked for a way to fix this. One day, I came across a simple sentence.

You can get better at communication by writing more

That sentence stopped me. It led me to build this website.

Who This Is For

I wrote this post for beginners who feel stuck. I understand that feeling well — thinking you’re communicating clearly, yet realizing others don’t understand you at all.

That gap can be frustrating. Over time, it can even affect your confidence.

This post isn’t meant for writers who have already mastered the basics. It focuses on the essentials of clear writing — not fancy words or advanced techniques.

My Journey Begins here!!

I later found an online course on Data Rockie. It focuses on the essentials of writing. The first takeaway I need to got is.

Improved Thinking <—-> Improved Writing

Many people believe that “You must first have a clear idea before you can write clearly”. The opposite is also true. Writing helps shaped ideas that aren’t clear yet.

That insight led me to read “On Writing Well – William Zinsser” and reflect how writing works. Together with this course, I formed a set of principles

My Principles

Writing is about expressing ideas clearly. But how do we have an idea. The answer is simple. We read. So the first stage to writing is to “read”.

Step 1: Read A lot

• Reading generates more ideas
• Reading shaped ideas with more clarity

We don’t read by skimming randomly. We read with intention. We choose books that interest us and hunt for information that helps us think better

Step 2: Simplicity

The rule of thumb is.

Every word, every sentence must serve its purpose

• If something doesn’t serve that purpose, we cut it.
• If it serves something that’s already been covered, we cut it.
• One purpose per one sentence only.

Always remember

clear thinking leads to clear writing and clear writing also sharpens thinking

That’s why as we write, we have to be conscious of “simplicity” at all times

Step 3: Uncover your Style

Good style comes from being your own best version on the page. We don’t search for styles. We uncover them. Keep writing clearly and honestly and only then, your style will emerge naturally.

Some may ask, “Can I imitate other styles”. The answer is yes but that’s only for the beginning. We learn by copying before we learn to sound like ourselves.

Step 4: Focus on Yourself

People always asks this question.

“Who do we write for?”

Ultimately, we write for ourselves – To become the best version of ourselves on the page.

But writing for yourself doesn’t mean ignoring the reader. It means writing honestly, clearly, and with conviction — and then shaping the work so others can follow.

Step 5: Focus on Unity

Keep your voice, tone, perspectives consistent throughout the entire writing. Ask yourself before you start writing

• Who are you writing as?
• What tone do you intend to use?

Once you’ve decided on that, stick to it.

For example, if you are writing as a first person perspective, then your entire writing should be written as person perspective throughout. Shifts in perspectives should be deliberate, not accidental.

Step 6: Shape your Leads and Endings

Your lead should get the reader’s attention. It’s job is to make a promise to the reader. It should

• Invite them in
• Signal what kind of piece this is
• Set a tone
• Be honest and simple

Your ending should “match” your lead. It fulfills the promise you made to the reader. If your lead is personal, the ending should reflect growth.

A good ending doesn’t explain itself. It simply feels finished.

Step 7: Practice a lot

Writing is a skill. Skills improve through repetition. Write a lot. Read through your work. Edit it. This does not happen overnight. Improvement takes time.

Practical Applications

We want to look at the techniques that supports the principles

Use Active Verbs

Active verbs are simple, straight forward and clear. They stated clearly “who is doing what”.

Example (active)

I read this book

This sentence is clear and leaves no ambiguity.

Example (passive)

This book was read

Now the reader has questions

• Who read the book?
• When is the book read?

Passive constructions hide action and weaken clarity. Use them only when the does doesn’t matter

Avoid Adverbs and Adjectives

These introduces clutter. It brings confusion to the table. Don’t try to be smart. Just be simple.

Instead of:

He spoke very clearly

Use:

He explained the idea

Stronger verb reduce the need for decoration. When in doubt, remove the modifier and see if the sentence still works

Prefer Short Sentences

Short sentences:

• Are easier to read
• Reduce confusion
• Create Rhythm

They force you to be precise

Use Mood Changers

Use mood changer when there are shifts in your sentence. Words like:

• “but”
• “however”
• “nevertheless”
• “apparently”

signal change and help the reader process meaning. Transitions are not decoration. They are signposts.

More importantly, the habit carried over into my thinking. I now make decisions deliberately. My ideas feel more structured, and I pause more often before acting.

Mistakes I still make

This post isn’t perfect. There is still much more to learn about writing, and a lot more practice ahead. Learning how to write clearly doesn’t mean the mistakes disappear. It simply means I notice them faster.

One mistake I still make is over-explaining. When I’m unsure about an idea, I tend to explain it from multiple angles instead of trusting one clear statement. I also repeat ideas more than I need to. I do this subconsciously, thinking it will make the point stronger, when in reality it only adds clutter.

These mistakes haven’t gone away. But each time I write, I get better at spotting them — and fixing them.

The process was worth my time

I’ll keep writing