I always share with others that I studied anthropology in college. Although most people probably don't really know what anthropology is about, I mention it because nearly every belief I have about how the world works is rooted in anthropology (the study of mankind). As I've worked my way through a career path in which I increasingly focused on writing, I realized an anthropological truth that holds for writing: in all things, people search for meaning.
In every research, writing, and editing job that I do, I focus on meaning. It applies to word choice; is this word really communicating what I MEAN it to? When I'm clarifying someone else's writing, I continually ask myself What is this passage supposed to really MEAN? It also applies to argumentation and messaging. I remember my professors often circling a line and writing in the margin But why is this important? What they really meant was, does this strengthen the MEANING of this piece?
The key to good writing is to have your message already processed and digested before you share it with the reader. You should be well past putting the pieces together, and instead demonstrating its takeaways. You'd be surprised how much a piece of writing changes when one focuses on meaning. Not only does it become clear--and clarity is the most frequently cited "golden rule" of writing--but something written for meaning is also inherently interesting and worth reading.
Cut anything that might jeopardize the meaning you're trying to impact, even if by mistake. Because people not only search for meaning, they also always find it. The trouble is, the reader may not arrive at the meaning you intended! The goal is to leave zero room for misinterpretation.
Now try doing this in other areas of your life. Make decisions based not just on what makes sense but what they mean to you. Is a decision achieving what you meant for it to? Or are you just used to it, like a phrase you accidentally use too much?
That's why I started working for myself, and why I started this site. I'm looking for research and writing projects which need their meaning extracted, their purpose clarified. Because that's what I find most meaningful.
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