This Is What I Sound Like.
At least, I hope so.
Half an hour ago, I read Paul Graham’s Write Like You Talk, and it was eye-opening. He talked about how most of the time, extravagant words authors use don’t need to be added, and that they give the wrong impression to the audience.
“But perhaps worst of all, the complex sentences and fancy words give you, the writer, the false impression that you’re saying more than you actually are.”
I’ve heard this advice more than enough times. Write how you talk. It’s nice to have someone talking to you like they’re your best friend Fatima. Fatima~ no one actually talks like that— write how you would talk.
Did I mention that you should write how you talk?
But I feel like I never really got it until now. I knew that it was enjoyable. I like reading articles like that. Everybody does. I was thinking about it though; writing articles filled with synonyms I’ve never heard of before, or emojis that I would never use in real life aren’t me. That isn’t the Fatima you’d meet in real life, and it certainly isn’t who I am in my head. Being authentic is the only way people are going to know who you are. Imagine that every time you met someone online and decided to meet them in person, they were completely different. It’s weird, right?
Both you and that person know that they’re not the same, and it’s an uncomfortable situation. I’m trying to keep that in my head while I’m writing. It’s kind of weird, this exercise, but it’s keeping me real 🙃.
Usually over here, I’d write about things that you can do or exercises you can try to implement this, but I’ve honestly got nothing. Paul Graham (I love you PG) mentioned in his essay to try explaining a sentence you’ve written down to a friend, and then write it down how you explained it. It could be helpful, but I don’t know if I’d be able to remember what I said. Maybe try a recording?
Let me know what your findings are, and happy new year.
