The Art of Simple, Powerful Writing: Lessons from Paul Graham
“How to Become a Better Writer?” : The Beginning
In a world drowning in information, the ability to write clearly and effectively has never been more valuable.
Yet many aspiring writers wonder how to become a better writer and struggle to convey their ideas in a way that truly resonates with readers.
In this post, we’ll explore some key lessons on writing well, inspired by the approach of essayist and programmer Paul Graham (often referred to as PG) and distilled by writer and educator David Perell.
These lessons can help transform your writing from ‘convoluted’ and ‘forgettable’ to clear, impactful, and memorable. Let’s write!
Write Simply
The first and perhaps most crucial lesson is to write simply.
This doesn’t mean dumbing down your ideas or avoiding complex topics. Instead, it’s about expressing even the most sophisticated concepts in clear, straightforward language.
Many writers fall into the trap of using unnecessarily complex vocabulary or convoluted sentence structures in an attempt to sound intelligent or “literary.“
However, this approach often backfires, making the writing harder to understand and less engaging for readers.
Instead, aim to write in a way that closely mirrors how you would explain the concept to a friend in conversation.
Use common words, straightforward sentence structures, and clear examples. This approach allows readers to focus on your ideas rather than struggling to decipher your language.
Benefits of Simple Writing:
- Improved clarity: When you strip away unnecessary complexity, your core message shines through.
- Wider accessibility: Simple writing is easier for a broader audience to understand and engage with.
- Forced precision: Writing simply requires you to truly understand your subject matter and distill it to its essence.
- Enhanced memorability: Clear, simple ideas are more likely to stick in readers’ minds.
- Increased impact: When readers can easily grasp your ideas, they’re more likely to be influenced by them.
Remember, the goal of writing is effective communication. By prioritizing simplicity, you’re making it easier for your ideas to travel from your mind to your reader’s understanding.
Great Writing Comes from Great Editing
The second key lesson is that exceptional writing is rarely achieved in the first draft. Instead, it’s the result of meticulous, thoughtful editing.
Many novice writers labor under the misconception that skilled authors simply sit down and produce perfectly formed prose on their first attempt.
In reality, even the most talented writers typically produce rough first drafts that require significant refinement.
The true art of writing lies in the editing process.
This involves not just correcting grammar and spelling but critically examining every sentence, paragraph, and section of your work.
Ask yourself:
- Does this contribute to my main point?
- Is there a clearer or more concise way to express this idea?
- Does the flow of ideas make sense?
- Are there any unnecessary tangents or repetitions?
Effective editing often involves significant cutting. Don’t be afraid to delete sentences, paragraphs, or even entire sections if they don’t serve the overall purpose of your piece. Remember, every word should earn its place in your final draft.
Editing Tips:
- Take breaks between writing and editing to approach your work with fresh eyes.
- Read your work aloud to catch awkward phrasing or rhythm issues.
- Consider printing out your work and editing it on paper for a different perspective.
- Use highlighting or comments to mark areas that need improvement without getting bogged down in immediate fixes.
- Seek feedback from others, but be specific about what kind of feedback you’re looking for.
By embracing editing as a crucial part of the writing process, you’ll be able to refine your raw ideas into polished, impactful prose.
Embrace the Messiness of Early Drafts
Our third lesson addresses a common obstacle that prevents many aspiring writers from even getting started: the fear of producing “bad” writing.
It’s important to recognize that early drafts are almost always messy, incomplete, and far from perfect. This is not only normal but necessary.
The key is to separate the process of generating ideas (drafting) from the process of refining those ideas (editing).
When you’re working on a first draft, your primary goal should be to get your thoughts onto the page.
Don’t worry about perfection at this stage. In fact, permitting yourself to write “badly” can be incredibly liberating and lead to more creative, honest expression.
Strategies for Overcoming the Fear of “Bad” Writing:
- Set low stakes: Think of your first draft as a private “brain dump” rather than a polished piece for public consumption.
- Use freewriting techniques: Set a timer and write continuously without stopping to edit or second-guess yourself.
- Change your environment: If writing at a desk feels too formal, try writing in a coffee shop, park, or other relaxed setting.
- Use a different medium: If typing feels too “official,” try handwriting or even voice recording your initial thoughts.
- Reframe your mindset: Instead of trying to write a perfect essay, imagine you’re just explaining your ideas to a friend in an email or text message.
Remember, no one needs to see your early drafts. The only thing that matters is your final, edited piece.
By separating the creative, generative phase of writing from the critical, refining phase, you can free yourself to explore ideas more fully and produce more authentic, original work.
Seek and Use Feedback Effectively
The fourth lesson focuses on the importance of getting outside perspectives on your writing. Even the most skilled writers benefit from feedback, as it’s often difficult to spot weaknesses in our own work.
However, not all feedback is equally useful. The key is to seek specific types of input that can genuinely improve your writing.
Some valuable questions to ask readers include:
- Which parts did you find most engaging? Which parts were less interesting or dragged?
- Were there any points that seemed unclear or unconvincing?
- If you had to cut 20% of the piece, which parts would you remove?
- What’s the main idea you took away from the piece? (This helps gauge if your intended message is coming across clearly.)
When receiving feedback, it’s important to listen with an open mind but also trust your own judgment.
Not every suggestion needs to be implemented, but patterns in feedback can often highlight areas that genuinely need improvement.
Refine Through Multiple Iterations
The final lesson emphasizes the iterative nature of great writing. Rarely is a piece perfected in just one or two drafts. Instead, excellent writing often emerges through multiple rounds of revision and refinement.
Each pass through your work allows you to focus on different aspects:
- First edit: Focus on overall structure and flow of ideas
- Second edit: Refine individual paragraphs and sentences for clarity and impact
- Third edit: Polish word choice and style
- Fourth edit: Proofread for grammar, spelling, and punctuation
Don’t be discouraged if this process takes time. Even experienced writers often go through many iterations before they’re satisfied with their work.
The willingness to revise and refine is what separates good writing from truly great writing.
The Journey to Better Writing
Improving your writing is a lifelong journey, not a destination. By embracing these lessons – writing simply, prioritizing editing, accepting messy first drafts, seeking useful feedback, and refining through multiple iterations –, you can steadily enhance the clarity, impact, and effectiveness of your writing.
Remember, the goal isn’t perfection but rather continuous improvement. Each piece you write is an opportunity to practice these principles and further develop your skills.
Over time, you’ll find that not only does your writing improve, but your thinking becomes clearer and more precise as well.
So don’t be intimidated by the blank page. Start writing, embrace the process, and keep refining your work.
Your unique ideas and perspectives deserve to be shared with the world – and with practice and persistence, you can develop the skills to express them powerfully and effectively.
(Source: “How I write” from David Perell on Paul Graham “The King Of Internet Writing)
