My values as a technical writer — being concise — may appear to contradict the principles I prize as a creative writer — imagery — when in actuality they compliment one another.

For professional writing, the one concept that is important above all else is conciseness. When writing a newspaper article or proposal, a writer needs to get the point across as efficiently as possible while effectively portraying the subject matter.  When writing technically, a writer cannot afford to use over-the-top “flowery” language, but instead has to utilize the best descriptive words (also known as imagery) to get the point across! Being concise, and not getting lost in too many words, is essential when writing for an audience full of readers who are only searching for the bare necessities. An author needs enough words, but not too much. It’s all about balance!

Throughout elementary to high school, we are taught to fill up space with meaningless drabble. We did anything to reach the page requirement and show off our knowledge of the writing language, and get the grade. But in professional writing, every word matters and has to have an exact place. The precise language could be the difference in getting that grant money, or telling the best breaking news story, and failing to capture the reader’s attention. Nothing can be wasted, which means that each letter has to be placed with extreme care. Sometimes writing sparing and concisely is difficult, but it is a useful talent to posses.