Can you say that again?

Here’s something I noticed about good writers:

They repeat themselves.

Not because they think their reader is dumb.

But because different people need different entry points.

• Some people need a plain and direct explanation.

• Some people need to the reverse—what not to do.

• Some people need a metaphor.

• Others need a step-by-step.

So, write one sentence.

Then write another sentence that says exactly the same thing, just from a different angle.

If you're only explaining new ideas, your reader never gets to settle into what you're really saying.

Here’s what I mean:

When you move on before your point has a chance to land, it gets lost in the shuffle. And one way to fix this is to slow your writing down. Speed wins on the internet. BUT part of speeding up is slowing down to see what’s going on.

Fast is slow. Slow is fast.

Take the pace down a notch to help your reader see what you want them to see. Even squirrels can pay attention to an acorn (once they find one they like).

So if you want the reader to remember your writing…say it in 1,000 different ways.

Example:

• “Writing is repeating.” → One way to say it.

• “Present your idea from a new angle.” → Another.

• “Restate your point in at least 3 different ways.” → A third.

See how each one says the same thing?

Each turn of phrase, gives your reader a new way to think about your idea.

But “duplication” is not what you're after here.

Instead…

You want to “twist” your idea so the reader can see it from different angles.

Let me show you how this works.

Grab a cup. It doesn't matter what kind. Any cup will do.

Now, place the cup on a table. Choose a table you can walk all the way around. Don't try this in a restaurant booth. It will be harder for you to finish the exercise.

Once you have your cup on the table. Walk around the table while keeping your eyes fixed on the cup.

What do you notice?

Is the handle always visible?

Is the design on the cup always in full view?

It's the same cup, but as you move around the table your vantage point changes.

You see different things.

This is what it means to repeat what you write.

Show your reader as many angles on your topic as you can, to help them get the full picture of what you're trying to say.

It doesn't need to be in excruciating detail.

But you need to give the reader enough options, so they can latch on to the most meaningful part—for them.

And…

If you want a little help, you can ask ChatGPT to give you some examples to get you thinking.

Here’s the prompt:

Create 10 alternative ways to say the following: 

"[YOUR TEXT HERE]"

For Context: 

This means [EXPLAIN THE CORE CONCEPT].

A few guidelines:
- Focus on new angles and perspectives, not just synonym substitution
- Each angle must be a different way of expressing the same concept
- Be simple and plain (around grade 4 reading level)

For example, if the phrase was "Writing is repeating," poor responses would just use synonyms like "Writing is regurgitating." Instead, I need expressions that reveal different facets of the concept, such as "Good writers say the same thing in new ways."

Hope this helps.

JZ