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In March, I did what I believed was impossible: I wrote 70,000 words in 7 days.

Yet it’s been 4 months, and I’ve only used 4 of the possible seventy 1,000 word articles I wrote…

Why? There was 1 problem…

My writing was unclear.

Dodging from point 1 to point 2, full of unnecessary details, no clear insight in sight… Who would willingly read this?

But it’s much worse than that.

Clear writing is a product of clear thinking.

If your thinking is mediocre, moving from one point to another without guidance or explanation, your writing will be as well.

Unclear thinking leads to unclear writing.

That’s where most of those articles lived… In the land of unfinished thought.

3 steps I now take to create clear thinking

1. I write with a map. 

I explicitly write the big idea, as well as each supporting point.

• Does point 1 lead to point 2?

• Does point 2 lead to point 3?
• Is every point necessary?
• Are there any assumptions made?

Seeing the bones of the article has helped me catch entire sections of an article that were necessary.

2. I vocalize.

I open a recording app and talk through each point in order. This allows me to hear my progression of ideas.

• If I struggle to move from point 1 to point 2, then I know this part needs some work.
• If the recording went smoothly, I get it transcribed. At this point, most of the “writing” is done.

If you hate subscriptions (like me) and want a high-quality recording + transcription app for your phone, here’s what I use (not an affiliate link).

I can get my ideas out, and then it can clean up my recording, and outline the article for me. Highly recommended.

3. Cut-cut-cut.

I cut my writing in half.

I do this in four ways:

• Cut the sections.

Is every section required? Is every point critical?

If no, I cut it.

• Cut the paragraphs.

Do any paragraphs repeat what was previously said?

If so, I cut it.

• Cut the sentences.

Does every sentence contribute something new?

If no, I cut it.

• Cut words.

Is every word required?

If no, I cut it.

If you want clear

If you want people to read your writing, clarity is key. And clarity of writing is simply a product of clarity of thought.

Focus on creating clarity of thought, and your writing will start getting read.

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