đ Hey, Abhishek here! Welcome to the 108th edition of The Sunday Wisdom. Each week I share ideas on thinking clearly and making better decisions. If you have some wisdom to share with other readers, you can send them to me. In return, Iâll post them here (with proper credit).
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Today, letâs talk about writing. More precisely, how I write. All my essays are either explanations or instructions, most of them full of arguments. Iâm not the best writer, but since I write (two newsletters) every week I do get a lot of practice. And over the years (knowingly or unknowingly) Iâve developed a small list of common pitfalls to avoid.Â
Here are some guidelines I use while explaining things. These arenât rules I follow all the time. I break them often. But they do help me keep certain things in mind while writing my weekly essays. Hope these will help you as well. Letâs go!
1. Donât have inconsistent expectations from the reader.
There are authors who will explain the simplest of concepts (such as cognitive bias) in full details while glossing over not-so-easy concepts (such as prospect theory). It doesnât help. A reader who understands prospect theory understands whatâs cognitive bias, but this isnât true the other way around.
A good approach is to write for a specific person in mind, not a specific segment of audience. A segment is too big and too blurry. If you define a real person (not a fictitious persona) and write for them, you would be in a better position to avoid such inconsistencies.
If you write for your 16-year-old nephew, you wouldnât even think of glossing over important details without explaining them. If you write for your professor friend, you wonât be explaining everything in details.
As for me, I write for myself. I write to explain things to myself. This is how I learn. Itâs not the best way to write (because I often skip explaining important details) and I donât recommend it, but it has helped me remain consistent all these years, so I canât risk changing it. đ
2. Donât give weird analogies.
While trying to explain a complex (or even a simple) idea, authors often tend to give farfetched analogies. âThink of closing a sale as a bank heist.â While itâs fun to read (and write) good analogies, the real motive often gets lost in translation. If the analogy is âcoolâ but not appropriate, the reader is left with open questions. This neither serves the writer nor the reader.
The first rule is, donât use an analogy unless itâs necessary. For example, âWhen you are in a state of flow, you feel like water running downstream,â is not an important analogy. Readers can understand the concept without the analogy.
And if you have to use an analogy, use one with a limited scope (that has a direct correlation to the concept you are explaining). In Algorithms to Live By, the authors give the analogy of a washer and dryer cycle to explain a scheduling algorithm. It works because for one, itâs a complex topic and, the analogy is limited to wash cycles only (and not washing clothes in general). Thereâs no ambiguity.
3. Donât use jargon.
âProbabilityâ is a jargon, even though I use it all the time. âBehavioural Economicsâ is a jargon. âErgodicity,â âEmpiricism,â âEpistemology,â and other such E words are jargon.
A jargon is confusing because it tricks the reader into thinking something specific is being said, when the information they need is actually not there. âThis framework is adversity-secure but not foolproof.â This sentence may sound smart, but is ambiguous. The simpler version would be, âThis framework may fail in extreme conditions, especially if we arenât careful.â
Jargon are also a great way to sound smart without actually being smart. Itâs a huuuge pain to write in simple words and, many authors, those who donât have a clear understanding of the subject, struggle with it all the time. I struggle with it all the time. Bad authors hide behind jargon. Good authors fight them.
4. Donât introduce too many concepts at a time.
I made this classic mistake when I introduced 25 logical fallacies in one go. It was too much to write. It was too much to read. It was just way too much info to process in one go. Most of these concepts were âheavyâ and needed their own space. Cramming them together didnât leave any breathing space for the reader.
You want the reader to reach the end of the post (in one go) and feel they have learnt something new. Reading about too many concepts in one go can overload them. It overloads me. Itâs also a waste of time if I have to re-read a post just to make sure I understood the concept. I would prefer to read a new post instead.
A good thumb rule is to stick to one topic per post. A second or third topic might be referenced (with a detailed explanation in a separate post) but should never be introduced in one single post.
5. Donât build suspense.
When you are explaining things, you are optimising for speed and efficiency. You want the reader to scan, understand, and move on. If you are planning to add suspense and drama with a lot of foreshadowing, this isnât the place.
There are certain types of posts where the real joy is found in reading and experiencing the prose. I call them coffee table posts. Explanations arenât coffee table posts. Readers come here to get maximum wisdom in minimum time, so donât waste their time building up a story with a big exposĂ© at the end. It doesnât work. Readers leave before they reach the end.
Drama is good, but only if you can build tension and release it within a paragraph. Donât use the whole post for that.
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Interesting Finds
The power of basic income as an economic right has been lost. This talk seeks to remind us of the origins of basic income and its power to address poverty. There are three primary concerns with a basic income and this talk addresses each with evidence-based and empathy-based arguments.
For every Stephen King there is a Richard Bachman that never saw the light of day. Most lower-middle class kids donât get the chance to get a full ride to a top university. And even fewer ever find their passion and get to do it everyday. Some of us are born with more advantages than others and some of us are born with less, but you should never let that define how hard you try.
Highly specific questions are better on average. With any possible question, ask yourself in advance: can the person being asked the question respond too easily in a vague and not very useful way? âWhy did you write a book about Napoleon? Well, let me tell you, French history always fascinated me,â etc. If that is the kind of slop you might get back in response, try making the question more pointed or more specific.
Timeless Insight
People use small talk as a way of relaxing into a new relationship, and only once theyâre comfortable do they connect more seriously. Sensitive people, on the other hand, do the reverse. They enjoy small talk only after theyâve gone deep. When sensitive people are in environments that nurture their authenticity, they laugh and chitchat just as much as anyone else.
â What You Donât Know About Introverts
What Iâm Reading
Implementing extreme ownership requires checking your ego and operating with a high degree of humility. Admitting mistakes, taking ownership, and developing a plan to overcome challenges are integral to any successful team.
â Jocko Willink, Extreme Ownership
Tiny Thought
Seeing our past self as a fool is sign of growth. Taming the present fool within is sign of wisdom.
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Talk to Me
Do you agree with what I said, or do you think otherwise? As always, I value your feedback (suggestions, critiques, positive reinforcement, constructive insults, etc.), as well as your tips, ideas, and anecdotes: abhishek@coffeeandjunk.com. Or use the comments! đ€đ€
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Until next Sunday,
Abhishek đ