Stop Writing For Length

Just because your high school essay had a 1500 word limit doesn't mean you have to...

What do I mean?

As a content creator, I'm becoming aware that I'll lull around on an article or script.

That maybe, magically, I can conjure more words to explain my ideas.

After 10 minutes, I'm faced with the same amount of words I started with.

I want to blame the general education system.

Also, my incompetence...

Academically, you can write anything to fill a word limit. In fact, being conditioned to write for word length makes students over-shoot.

Having to cut down sentences was a BIG deal; it means the difference between a B and an A.

Learn to deprogram that your audience are not markers.

They DON'T care if your script has a 1000 words, or ticks off the boxes of some criteria.

The audience care about how YOU can help THEM.

How Do We Combat This?

Firstly, get out of the game of word length.

(I'm sorry for my high school and university students)

Some of my favourite articles come in different ranges. 200 word. 400 words. 2000 words.

The number of words does not indicate substance. The ideas conveyed by these words DO.

I need to stop feeling proud of myself when I hit the 1000 word mark.

The satisfaction should come from having a complete idea in the form of a script/article.

Short, Sharp And To The Point

Give the readers the meat.

Each word has a purpose.

To point the reader to a central idea.