Part 1 in Our Writing For Artists Series

What You Can Do This Minute To Stop Confusing Your Readers

It’s hard for artists to write clear sentences that entice readers.

You’re not crazy if you can’t seem to eke out a 300-word bio or artist’s statement without wanting to call your therapist.

Everyone finds writing difficult.

Even professional writers think writing is excruciating. I know I do.

But about five years ago I had a head slap moment at my desk.

What I figured out that day has allowed me to improve, and on rare occasions, enjoy writing.

Let’s see if my personal writing realization and solution can help you as well.

 

The Big Kahuna of Stumbling Blocks For All Writers

What’s the biggest problem all writers (especially new writers) face?

Writing with clarity.

In my work as an editor, I’ve noticed many artists craft sentences that confuse the heck out of our readers.

 

4 Ways Artists Confuse Readers With Our Sentences

1. We write sentences that are too long.

2. We write sentences that contain three points instead of one.

3.  The 3 points often don’t have a hell of a lot to do with one other.

4.  We include words people outside our specialty may not understand. Writing instructors call such words, “jargon.”

 

What Clogs Up Clarity in the Writing of Artists

Here’s an example sentence a glass fusing* instructor wrote in an advert for their workshop.

I randomly selected this sentence from a workshop advertisement I received and changed the medium and specific techniques mentioned, to ensure the artist’s anonymity.

Here goes:

“The problem solving we implement on cabling or combing, the way we use crizzling and how we implement techniques, and of course the designs – both practical and otherworldly – all are informed by our creative thinking.”

Can you see how trying to communicate 4-5 ideas (albeit luscious ones) in a single sentence, is confusing? Not to mention the use of words or concepts a general audience may not understand.

I used to write like this at times before my stress-induced writing epiphany.

 

Artists, Beware of a Seductive, Deadly Duo; The Comma & Dash

Let’s go back and look at the use of the four dashes and commas in the glass blower’s single sentence. I’ve highlighted them for you:

“The problem solving we implement on cabling or combing, the way we use crizzling and how we implement techniques, and of course the designs – both practical and otherworldly – all are informed by our creative thinking.”

It’s common for artists and beginning writers to use wagon loads of dashes.

The comma and dash usually prove to be a seductive but deadly duo when placed in the same sentence.

Why?

We do so in a misguided attempt to corral a herd of thought-horses into one sentence stall.

My head slap moment was the minute I finally realized my arguments were confusing because my sentences were too crowded.

 

What to Leave Out if You Want to Write With Clarity

I forced myself to only write short sentences.

I allowed myself to write as many sentences as necessary. But they had to be short.

My word count remained the same.

The only difference was, folks finally understood what I was trying to convey.

“A sentence should contain no unnecessary words.” — William F. Strunk.

Writing shorter sentences is not rocket science.

Yet very few non-professional writers do it.

Hemingway was the sultan of short sentences.

Forcing yourself to write short sentences won’t make you Hemingway, but it will foot-bind your brain and get it to learn to write one idea at a time.

Later you can add back in medium size sentences.

Medium and long sentences are actually beautiful things.

They add soul and texture to your prose. They also help a writer control the pace and power of their pieces.

(Here is a great article by a fellow blogger on how to write long, clear sentences.)

But keep long sentences in your hope chest for now. Stay short.

Sentence Makeover for an Artist

Here’s the glass blower’s sentence after its makeover. It’s now re-shaped into 3 short, one idea at a time, type of sentences.

“Want to design and fuse your own mythic glass form? Leave this workshop knowing how to comb, crizzle, and cable glass.  Take home an otherworldly expression of your unique creativity.”

My version is less lyrical but clear. I kept in the artist’s signature words but took out the dashes.  I opted for periods instead.

Periods help you instill order and make the kind of lego piece-like sentences you can click together to form pleasant paragraphs your readers will understand.

Try it with your sentences today.

You will be giving your important, individual ideas the luxury of a room of their own.

 

Further Writing Resources for All Writers

Need more info on how to write clear paragraphs readers will love?

I recommend Henneke’s illustrated writing site, Enchanting Marketing.  Pop on over there to read her clear, example-packed piece on exactly how to prune down unruly sentences and paragraphs.

You can also take a look at my post: 5 Crazy-Good Writing Books I Wish Someone Told Me About Earlier.

Want your writing to receive some personal attention?  Treat yourself to a one on one, Charmed Studio writing coaching session.

I can help you shorten your sentences and find your authentic writing voice.

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Okay, I’ve given you an idea on how to tackle the physical problem of overcrowded sentences.

Check out post 2 in this Writing For Artists series, where I share:

The Surprising Psychological Reason We Write Obscure Sentences in The First Place.

Subscribe (bottom lower left of page) not to miss a post in this series. No spam, no Herbalife, no Ginzu Knife offers- just helpful articles. If you sign up this month and mention this article, I will give a complimentary writing help session on a short piece of your own web copy! Polish up your bio or artist’s statement.

2 minute video version of this article to share with a friend from the Charmed Studio YouTube Channel:

 

This post is dedicated to Kathy Vilim, freelance environmental writer and copy editor.

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Comments, please!

Think you might benefit from one-on-one writing coaching? Check out my packages here.

Also if you relate to anything in this post, please be brave and leave your comment below.

Writers love comments, it helps us stay sane and off social media.

I  promise to appreciate, not shorten, a single lovely sentence. 🙂