5️⃣ TREE 705: Use the right words

This week I’m sharing five rules that govern how I make a TREE post.

1. Say one thing

2. Tell the truth

3. No Syrup

4. No prog rock

5. Use the right words

First, I try to ‘sound’ like me. Often I read something and think, Oh this person used their Doing Writing words. And then I think, I must remember to not do that.

Second, I play. I like to subvert or invert figures of speech. I like to take sentences in unexpected directions and yank new metaphors into existence. I put line breaks anywhere
I want to.

Third, I try to be not a bad writer. I know the difference between less and fewer. I don’t use words like just, probably, very, really, actually unless they are contributing significant meaning to the sentence or creating an effect. I avoid clichés like the plague unless i’m playing with them or making the joke in this sentence.

Fourth, I use the fewest words I can. I think 95% of all writing is too long. I try to be in the 5% that isn’t. I don’t want to wander around my point, so I try to use words that accurately communicate what I want to tell you. I edit as I write. People say don’t but it’s fine because I make up for it by writing as I edit on the second, third and fourth times through. I just really really really (creating effect) want to get the words right.

Occasionally I succeed.

I got teary when I heard this for the first time. It was the first song that came on after I read that Benjamin Zephaniah died.

True(ish) story: yesterday in a work meeting I said, ‘I’d like to get my eyes on the rough draft.’ I immediately choked myself until I passed out as a warning about the life-altering trouble I would be in if I ever again said ‘get my eyes on’ or any other vile business-speak without being ironic or engaging in satire.

Happy weekend
Jeff

P.S. I got several of the words right in my book.