I appreciate the insights here but this prose style feels automatically to me like it was written by AI.
I do think there’s a cost in terms of credibility when writers embrace this choppy, short-sentence, tons of white space style. Especially when I start seeing “it’s not X, it’s Y.” The text feels unearned and the writer untrustworthy — even if they really did write it themselves.
Maybe this style is attractive to lots of readers. I guess then it’s about which readers you’re trying to reach and what kind of reading and writing culture you’re trying to cultivate.
I feel the opposite! He breathed fresh air into those sentences - and the key difference between the two writers: I felt like he was talking to me by painting clear pictures, not dictating a thought. Each to their own, of course!
Lisa I feel the same way. Appreciate the intent but reading it gave me the AI vibe too. I think this style has been so widely adopted whether through using AI or not that it has the whiff.
I really enjoyed reading this post, especially because I was able to read it slowly and all the way to the end ;)
But something else I notice in “The Irresistible Writer” approach is that there is usually a more "imperfect" human story, told either in the first or third person, which is also a way to keep the reader more engaged. That process of empathy makes us want to know more — how it started, what they went through, and how it ended.
Thank you for the writing tips — I will definitely follow.
Ooo I’m going to save this article. This is a perfect checklist to reflect on before publishing - thanks!
Thank you Karen for sharing this - thank you Derek! You have me thinking for sure and motivated anew to write my next.
Thanks Maria. Glad it helped
Really appreciate this! The sharp writing that painted a clear picture - versus rambling sentences - was very helpful.
I appreciate the insights here but this prose style feels automatically to me like it was written by AI.
I do think there’s a cost in terms of credibility when writers embrace this choppy, short-sentence, tons of white space style. Especially when I start seeing “it’s not X, it’s Y.” The text feels unearned and the writer untrustworthy — even if they really did write it themselves.
Maybe this style is attractive to lots of readers. I guess then it’s about which readers you’re trying to reach and what kind of reading and writing culture you’re trying to cultivate.
I feel the opposite! He breathed fresh air into those sentences - and the key difference between the two writers: I felt like he was talking to me by painting clear pictures, not dictating a thought. Each to their own, of course!
Lisa I feel the same way. Appreciate the intent but reading it gave me the AI vibe too. I think this style has been so widely adopted whether through using AI or not that it has the whiff.
Thanks for sharing your opinion Lisa. It's good to ponder different perspectives
I’ve already copied this into a permanent file for future reference. Thanks so much for sharing.
Thanks for the encouragement Larry. Love it when my writing resonates
He has a keen sense of the obvious.
Fantastic, pragmatic insight that I'll be applying in my next piece. Thank you!!
Thank you Glad it was helpful.
Great article
Thank you Grace. What was most helpful?
I really enjoyed reading this post, especially because I was able to read it slowly and all the way to the end ;)
But something else I notice in “The Irresistible Writer” approach is that there is usually a more "imperfect" human story, told either in the first or third person, which is also a way to keep the reader more engaged. That process of empathy makes us want to know more — how it started, what they went through, and how it ended.
Thank you for the writing tips — I will definitely follow.