Simple words, simple sentences, powerful meanings.
You have probably heard of the KISS principle: Keep it simple, stupid!
Perhaps it is a little blunt, but it can certainly apply to writing (and storytelling in general). All too often some of our young people string together complex sentences and words in a bid to impress their teachers (and perhaps others—including themselves— too). But does that work? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. However, the more complicated the sentences and words, the more likely it is that the storyteller may bewilder the audience. And rarely do we want that to happen.
So, KISS!
Simplicity rules!
And don’t be mistaken. Simple writing does not mean that the impact of the writing is soft. Let’s take the following sentence for example:
The old man lifted his shovel and began yet another day.
There is nothing tricky about that sentence, but let’s consider the power of some of the simple words in it.
The old man lifted his shovel and began yet another day.
Old can evoke many thoughts in the audience’s mind: grey hair, wrinkles, sinewy, weariness etc.
Shovel can evoke thoughts of hard, physical work, heat, dust, cold, mud, back-breaking effort etc
Yet another is one of those places we’ve all been to! Oh dear, here we go again. Today is the same as yesterday, and it’s more than likely tomorrow will be the same as well. On and on and on…
When used in isolation those underlined words can be strong, but when they are all connected in a single sentence, they can reinforce that well used statement that ‘the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.’ It seems the old man has been digging for a very long time. And that simple sentence has the power to make the audience dig into its own thoughts. Goodness, that poor man…What a hard life…Does the man do it to support his family?…I bet his hands are tough and callused…So many different thoughts may come to mind.
Here are some other examples:
The girl laughed and danced in the morning light.
The dog turned to face the wind and wrinkled its nose.
My house lets in the cold but doesn’t let out the love.
The magpie landed on the railing and sang to the lonely old woman.
So, why not try the following exercise with your young people? Ask them to write some simple sentences using carefully considered simple words. Then ask them to explain why they have chosen their particular words, and what meanings do they wish these words to evoke in the audience’s mind. For example:
The magpie landed on the railing and sang to the lonely old woman.
Explanation: Magpies are handsome birds that can develop strong bonds with people. They also have beautiful voices. In this sentence I want to put images in the audience’s mind of a bird that is trying to be a friend to the woman and wants to make the woman feel happy.
This exercise is useful in helping our young people to gain greater respect for word usage, and a greater understanding of just how powerful simplicity can be.
Go on, give it a go.
Tag:#Educators
