Write Like a Stream

Writing is a unique art form, it is an essential part of what every human does each day—communicate. In education, work, play, socially or privately, and in whatever quantity, we write. It is difficult to conceive of a situation where writing is not needed: we enter details, leave reviews, update statuses, report, advertise, create. It is so intertwined with our daily lives, that it mirrors the way we speak and absorbs our verbal behaviour.

This can be problematic for the written word, both for the writer and for the reader. When we write, our approach is often, "What do I want to say?" From there, the writing becomes dependent on how you would express your thoughts verbally. Sentences become filled with clichéd phrases, vacuous adjectives or passive constructions like:

"An exciting opportunity has arisen for work on a part-time basis."

"A massive big hole had appeared in the little tiny boat."

"Both these two examples can easily be simplified."

Compared with:

"A part-time job is available."

"There was a big hole in the tiny boat."

"These examples can be simplified."

Instead of starting with, "What do I want to say?", it can be more effective to think, "What do I want to write?" It might take longer to finish, but the result is worth the effort. By separating what we write from how we might say it, we can express our thoughts with clarity and convey our ideas with simplicity.

Imagine your sentences like a clear stream, flowing quickly and carrying your reader like a boat floating on its surface. When a stream becomes blocked with weeds or mud it slows, becomes stagnant, and can no longer carry the boat on its own. The reader is then forced to paddle themselves through your muddy stream of words. If they must do this for too long, they will soon become tired or bored with the effort and might even stop reading your text altogether. If you clear your stream of the mud—the empty adjectives, vogue words, clichéd phrases, and passive constructions—if you make the journey easy and swift, the reader will enjoy where they are being carried.

Of course, there is nothing wrong with making your reader work a little or think about your writing, but that is not the same as puzzling them with poorly crafted sentences. If the printed word is the surface of the stream, its depth is defined by your ideas and imagery. Deep, clear sentence streams will encourage readers to continue exploring, to read on, drawn by their curiosity and what they have discovered in your words. By all means, throw in occasional rocks that will cause waves or dramatic turns, run shallow and fast, deep and slow, but keep the stream flowing and the reader will stay with you—often whether they agree with your ideas or not.