In the newsroom, we have a saying: “Edit with a chainsaw, not a scalpel.”
Early in my career, I spent three days crafting a 2,000-word feature on urban architecture. I had one paragraph—a description of a sunset over a glass skyscraper—that was pure poetry. I loved it. I read it aloud to my coffee.
My editor took one look, drew a thick red line through it, and said, “This is beautiful. It’s also useless. Get rid of it.”
I was devastated. But he was right. That paragraph was “fluff”—it served my ego, not the reader’s time. Here is how you can apply that same ruthless editorial eye to your own work to make it actually worth reading.
1. The “So What?” Test
Every paragraph should answer one question: So what? If you’re telling a story, it must move the plot. If you’re giving advice, it must be actionable. If you find yourself drifting into “purple prose” (overly flowery descriptions), you’ve lost the lead.
The Rule: If a sentence doesn’t inform, entertain, or persuade, it’s just noise. Delete it.
2. The Power of “Micro-Scripting”
Modern readers scan; they don’t soak. To keep them engaged, you need to use “signposts.”
Use subheadings that tell a story on their own.
Bold key phrases for the skimmers.
Keep paragraphs short. Two to three sentences is the sweet spot.
3. Stop Being “Professional” (Be Human)
The biggest mistake I see in corporate blogs or LinkedIn “thought leadership” is the “Professional Mask.” People use words like utilize instead of use, or synergize instead of work together. It’s boring. It’s sterile. The best copy sounds like a smart friend talking to you at a pub. Use contractions. Start sentences with “But” or “And.” Break the rules of the classroom to follow the rules of the human heart.
4. The $100 Sentence
Imagine you have to pay $100 for every sentence you publish. Suddenly, you become very careful with your words. You stop using three adjectives when one strong verb will do.
Weak: He ran very quickly to the closing door.
Strong: He bolted for the door.
