How does a writer figure out what to say?
My first writing step is to brainstorm as many ideas as possible about whatever I’m writing. From there I can choose which points I want to use to communicate my message.
I can conjure up a full page front and back of ideas. Each appropriately connected to my desired topic. They are useful pieces to complete my communicative puzzle. This also helps me to remember the references I want to mention.
Last month I had so many ideas, I filled up a full page and half of usable information. Not even my outlining step helped to condense my article. Being a disabled person with a brain injury, I call this information overload. This can be debilitating for anyone.
Just like too much information can slow down our thinking process, too much information slows down the writing and reading processes respectively.
Information overload is bad for numerous reasons.
- Too much to comprehend at one time.
- It loses focus and power.
- It’s time-consuming to read.
- It’s time-consuming to write.
- It can be overwhelming and even scary at times.
Think about a couple who’ve recently started dating and one of them “falls” in love faster than the other. As one spills their thoughts to the other, the speed and depth of the feelings aren’t the same and the other individual is overwhelmed or possibly scared off.
T.M.I?
These days there’s a popular acronym that fits this situation, T.M.I. (too much information.) It’s not that people don’t want to know things, but we only need to know so much and more importantly to me—our brains can only handle so much.
For myself, my short-term memory is affected by my brain injury. If I hear a long list of directions or items, I will likely forget the first part of the information while trying to process all of it, which is why I’m a serious note-taker and often record ideas on my cell phone before I forget.
Another common side effect of brain injuries is, as my mentor puts it, the lack of a filter between the brain and the mouth. It’s a serious case of foot in mouth syndrome. Sometimes, not realizing what we’ve said until noticing the reactions of others around us.
The cliché that some things are better left unsaid has never been clearer to me. For writers, this is imperative to quality writing. Perhaps you’ve heard the term, “Lean writing,” this type of writing cuts to the chase to get the message out faster.
There is no need for showy adjectives, clunky adverbs or weak verbs. Lean writing has many benefits for writers.
- Easier to read (both visually and intellectually).
- Shorter paragraphs keep our audience’s attention.
- It’s more beneficial because our brains can process what we’re reading faster.
- Readers can connect the dots (selling points) quicker.
- Readers are less likely to be intimidated by the subject matter presented.
T. M. I. can be just as frustrating for the writer as well. How many times have you spent time and energy trying to craft a piece that efficiently represents the research you put into it, only to find lots of mistakes, typos or that the ideas just don’t fit together well?
Chunky writing leaves more room for error. Living with a brain injury has taught me that more isn’t necessarily better. Sometimes I get so busy talking without actually listening to what I’m saying. This can be extremely hurtful, especially in this hypersensitive society we live in. I consciously try to think before every word I say.
Still, occasionally things come out the wrong way. Fortunately, those who know me know it was just a slip of the tongue. They know that I meant no harm.
No Harm Done?
Going back to our fictional couple, we often mean well when we try to give details to help make our message clear to our audience. Unfortunately, the extra information often does more harm than good.
When people find out I have a brain injury, sometimes they try to be “nice” and help me by giving more details that in the end only frustrate me. Below are a few things I keep in mind as I navigate life with a disability.
- Keeping it simple is more respectful of everyone’s time.
- Clear communication is easier for everyone to process.
- Writing too much, like talking too much, increases the risk for misunderstandings.
- Everyone processes information differently.
Having a disability has made me more aware of everyone’s uniqueness and helps me to be more sympathetic towards others. All the while, I can be more confident in what I’m saying without giving Too Much Information.
Martin Johnson survived a severe car accident with a (T.B.I.) Traumatic brain injury which left him legally blind and partially paralyzed on the left side. He is an award-winning Christian screenwriter who has recently finished his first Christian nonfiction book. Martin has spent the last nine years volunteering as an ambassador and promoter for Promise Keepers ministries. While speaking to local men’s ministries he shares his testimony. He explains The Jesus Paradigm and how following Jesus changes what matters most in our lives. Martin lives in a Georgia and connects with readers at Spiritual Perspectives of Da Single Guy and on Twitter at mtjohnson51.
