If you are a writer...

[Anaamika]

@Thudlow Boink

My version of Rule 1 would say something like this: Good writing does not necessarily have to be easy to read, but if it is not, the effort I have to put into reading it should be proportionately rewarded.

@MartinWolf

I think what the OP is saying is that, if a piece of writing is difficult to read, it should be because the concepts are difficult, not because the writer likes using a seven-syllable word where a three-syllable one would do just as well.

Sigh…this is exactly what I mean, and of course someone comes along and puts it way better than I do.

@Ultrafilter

A lot of atheist writers writing about atheism write like James Joyce after a particularly nasty stroke.

You see exactly what I mean. I am part of the target audience, I think, for many atheist writers (a soft atheist who loves studying the history/effects of the Invisible Pink Unicorns), but come on, would it kill you to tone it down a bit?!

@John Carter of Mars

Oh yeah: I LIKE Michael Crichton!

@MartinWolf

Let me take a wild guess: Michael Crichton?

@adam yax

I’ll see your Michael Crichton and raise you one John Grisham.

@Jurph

Oh, come now! “Constant Reader” is the condescendingly faux-grateful hallmark from the long-winded forewords written by The Master of the Macabre, The Captain of Capitalization, Mr. Stephen “I could eat alphabet soup and shit a best-seller” King.

Actually, damn good guesses. I meant both Grisham, and Crichton. I like both authors sometimes but often Grisham and sometimes Crichton make me ill, like Congo. I actually really like King. I picked the Constant Reader bit because I don’t believe at least that he does any of the above in his books. He isn’t the deepest in the world but I like him anyway. He especially isn’t arrogant in his forwards and afterwards; I actually find them interesting to read.

I love to write. I’m not great, I acknowledge that. I don’t inflict my little stories on anyone but myself. BUT the first thing I ever learned in my writing life was

make sure you’re reaching your target audience!!!

ala John Carter of Mars.

BTW, this is my first attempt at multiple quotes other than one test in ATMB. How’d I do?