Why Plain Language is Powerful: Lessons from a Writer

Every writer has been there. Growing up, we were drawn to big, fancy words and intricate sentences, eager to dazzle readers. We wanted them to 😲 at our brilliance, as if we’d memorised the thesaurus.

[Insert smug childhood faces here!] 😏

But as I grew as a writer, I learned that the most impactful writing is often the simplest.

✅ Clear, simple words

✅ Sentences that flow effortlessly

✅ Writing that feels like the author is speaking directly to you.

The magic of writing lies in communicating ideas in a way that feels approachable and digestible for any reader.

I recently received a compliment from a colleague who said they loved how easy it was to understand what I wrote. To me, this is one of the highest forms of praise as a writer.

It doesn't matter whether I’m working on business government communications, educational materials, or stories that transport readers to fantastical worlds, my aim is the same: to connect and communicate.

I’ve seen it across every industry I’ve worked in—business, the public sector, education, e-commerce, and publishing. The truth is, we all have complex ideas to share. But our job as writers is to take those ideas and make them feel simple, clear, and human.

🙅🏽‍♀️ After all, people won’t support a government project they don’t understand.

🙅🏽‍♀️ Readers won’t connect with a story they can’t follow.

🙅🏽‍♀️ Customers won’t trust a brand that hides its message in jargon.

So, here’s my challenge to you (and a reminder to myself).

When you write—email, blog post, or book chapter—ask yourself:

👉🏽 How can I make this as clear and engaging for the reader as possible?

Because, as the adage goes:“If you can’t explain it to a five-year-old, do you even understand it yourself?”

Plain language isn’t just a skill. It’s the best thing you can do for your readers.

As a fantasy author, this lesson holds true in storytelling too. The most intricate worlds are best revealed in simple, relatable ways. Even the most magical ideas need a touch of humanity and every day life to truly shine.

Make Time for Boredom: Creativity in the Idle Moments

In your busy day, do you make time for boredom?

I remember days that stretched on forever as a child, where I felt I ran out of things to do and lay on the floor staring at the ceiling, tracing patterns in the paintwork with my eyes and feeling like time would never end.

Those days, I daydreamed about so much, and I played make-believe with so many ideas my current writer self would envy.

I wondered how I had so much creativity back then, and it was only in reading advice to embrace boredom—to even create time for boredom—that I realised perhaps this was it.

One evening, instead of meditating (my mind was too chattery), I lay on my floor like a star and stared up at my ceiling.

I traced the cracks in the paintwork with my eyes, and looked at the different patches of white.

I let my mind wander as I stared, and I let the emptiness of the moment take over.

Embracing boredom.

If anyone ever told me lying on my floor and staring at the ceiling would be of benefit to me, I’d have raised a brow and stared at them as if they were odd.

But really, it was brilliant.

My mind chattered itself out.

Ideas returned.

My inner dialogue mulled over many things, including ideas for books, blogs, work I could be doing for my coaching.

People I wanted to speak with. Interviews I wanted to hold.

It reminds me of the advice Neil Gaiman shared in an interview with Tim Ferriss, about how his routine was to sit at his desk. He’d either stare at the wall, or he’d write.

“You don’t have to write. You have permission to not write, but you don’t have permission to do anything else.”—Neil Gaiman

He said at some point it got boring staring at the wall and so he’d end up writing.

“You get ideas from daydreaming. You get ideas from being bored. You get ideas all the time. The only difference between writers and other people is we notice when we’re doing it.”—Neil Gaiman

But do you give yourself that time to daydream, to be bored, to let ideas flow?

This is your sign. Your permission slip.

It’s not wasting time to embrace boredom.

To stare at the ceiling or the wall. Or lie on the grass and stare at the sky as the clouds scud past?

You don’t need to have a grand plan to create ideas and enhance your writing.

You just need to give yourself permission to be bored, and let your mind chatter away to itself.

And if an idea hits, let it keep running away with itself.

Perhaps keep a pen and paper beside you, just in case!

On Show, Don't Tell

Ever found yourself lost in a book, feeling like you're right there in the thick of the action? That's the magic of 'showing' in writing. Instead of simply telling readers what's happening, it's about painting vivid scenes, evoking emotions, and letting readers experience the story for themselves.

Well-meaning writing advice givers often tell us to 'show, don't tell' in the hopes it will help us make our writing better. But no-one really tells us what that means or how to do it.

Today Storycraft Gateway is going to guide you on the how of showing, not telling. To help enhance you're writing and give your readers the best immersive reading experience we know you want to give them.

Here's how you can master the art of 'show, don't tell' in your writing

Sensory experiences

Transport your readers to another world by appealing to their senses. Think sound, smell, touch, the elements of the senses we often miss out in writing.

Let your readers feel the chill of the wind, hear the crunch of footsteps on snow, and smell the aroma of freshly baked bread. It'll paint a whole new picture for your readers than just telling them what things look like.

Actions and reactions

Actions speak louder than words. Show characters' emotions through their gestures, expressions, and movements. Let their reactions speak volumes about their inner turmoil or joy.

Instead of saying 'Elemere was angry', show us how she's angry by having her stomp through the streets, bumping carelessly into passers by, and turning to give her friend a scowl before throwing her door open and slamming it behind her.

Show emotions through actions. Slouching against walls, kicking stones ... how you can 'show, not tell' how your characters are feeling?

Dialogue

Dialogue isn't just about what characters say; it's about how they say it. Use tone, pacing, and choice of words to convey emotions, relationships, and conflicts with subtlety and depth. Do they speak through gritted teeth? Do they yawn and struggle to finish their sentence and trail off? Do they speak really kindly to one person but then really stonily to another?

Think about conversations you have and those you hear around you. How do people speak with each other? When they're tired? Upset? When they're distracted? When they're talking with someone they love vs someone they dislike?

Character growth through choices

Actions define characters. Show their development through the decisions they make in challenging situations. Let readers witness their courage, resilience, and growth firsthand.

A character who started off quite cowardly and unwilling to get involved in the main action might show their development through the story by starting to chip into conversations, offering to help with collecting resources, and then in their big climax moment, they jump in and save someone else in a fight they'd ordinarily run away from.

Metaphors and similes

Turn the ordinary into the extraordinary with vivid imagery. Use metaphors and similes to infuse your writing with richness and depth, inviting readers to see the world through a new lens.Instead of explaining that a character feels lost, you could say they felt like 'a ship without a rudder, drifting aimlessly'.

The challenge with this though is using too many clichés. It's all well and good to use metaphors and similes, but over using them can frustrate the readers, especially when they're all from the same old list we see everywhere!

Environments with meaning

The world around your characters isn't just background noise; it's a reflection of their inner worlds. Use their interactions with the environment to reveal their emotions, fears, and desires.If a character is nervous, you could describe them fidgeting with objects, knocking things over, or repeatedly tapping their foot. These subtle cues allow readers to infer the character's emotions through their interactions with the surroundings, and paints the scene more wholly for your readers.

It works for joy too. Splashing in puddles, kicking sand ... show your characters engaging with their surroundings.