One of the basic functions of the written word is to communicate a message from one person to another. Achieving clarity in your writing is not always easy, especially if you are writing a longer piece such as a book. Even though challenging, creating clear work that can be comprehended by the reader while still making sure that you create intelligent writing can be done. Here are a few tips:

Offer definitions

If you are writing for an audience that may not be familiar with some of the terminologies that you will be using, creating a list of definitions for the reader is always a good idea. This is appropriate also for foreign terms that are adopted in the writing where the language used for some parts of the work is different. Where the author coins words from already existing words to expound on a topic, defining the meaning of these words as used in the work is also useful. Offering definitions not only helps the reader understand the work better, but it also serves an educative purpose where the reader can widen their level of knowledge of the language.

Getting rid of ambiguities

One way to avoid ambiguity in your work is to keep sentences short where possible. This allows the reader to pause and understand the message being conveyed before moving on to the next sentence. When the sentence is too long, there is the likelihood that the reader will be lost in the details.

Another way is to avoid too many explanations. Let the reader interpret events for themselves and offer as few details as possible that will adequately explain scenes. Separate the obvious from what needs explaining and maintain this balance in your work.

Consider the audience

Your audience will dictate the complexity of language that you will use when writing. The language you use when writing for young adults is different from what you would use when writing for children. Depending on who your audience is, select the language that would best suit them.

Keep it simple

You can add flavor to your work in many ways, not only from the language you use. Using simple language does not mean that the writing is not intelligent. The way you describe scenes, build characters, maintain the pace of the plot and ensure that all parts of the story remain cohesive are all ways of creating a great piece.

Be clear on your goal

Define the reason you are writing and the main goal for the project. When you have a clear objective, you are more likely to maintain clarity in your work as opposed to when you do not. Even before you begin, be clear on the main purpose of your work. This will help you flesh out ideas and only include what is necessary for your work.  You can consider listing down main themes, the beginning, the middle and the end of the plot. Later, you can develop characters, dialogue, and scenes that represent the key objectives of the work.