L’art de la Simplicite, the KonMarie Method, and Live Lagom all circle a common theme: minimalism. Whether it involves design, lifestyle, or, in this case, writing, minimalism is a concept many hope to achieve around the world. What is minimalist writing, and why does it matter when hiring a technical writer? A talented technical writer contributes to lower turnover and troubleshooting issues, while simultaneously increasing ROI and customer loyalty among information users.
What People Get Wrong About Minimalism
In some cases, people misinterpret minimalist writing as simply cutting content. While reducing the number of words is part of the minimalistic process, it is not the foundation. Clarifying the message so there is no confusion for the reader is the primary goal. Less is more, but with intent.
What This Looks Like in Writing
According to the popular Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level, a recognized readability formula that measures the sentence length and the word length of a text, writers should target their documents to be read at an 8th-grade level. Even for advanced readers, shorter sentences and words with fewer syllables are easier for individuals to comprehend and engage with.
Technical writers must keep this in mind when constructing documents, such as product manuals and onboarding documentation. The writer needs to pinpoint the function of the message without compromising the impact. Each word should be intentional. Impactful.
Simple tactics such as stating the purpose upfront aids the reader in their understanding. A document that dives into subject matter without a proper introduction leaves the audience questioning the text and potentially drawing the wrong conclusion. Clear text that is easily understood leads to greater satisfaction for the intended audience.
How to Apply It
The significance of a document’s purpose is even more crucial, especially in the era of shorts on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. According to a study by Gloria Mark, PhD, at the University of California-Irvine, the human attention span has dropped from 75 seconds in 2015 to 47 seconds in 2023.
With that in mind, how does one transform an information-heavy manual into a simplified, user-friendly document? The secret to minimalist writing is threefold: cutting out fluff, prioritizing hierarchy, and writing for scanning.
Cutting Out Fluff: Keep it simple. No one wants to read ten pages when three pages are sufficient. Not only is this a waste of the reader’s time, but it can potentially erode their trust in the document and author. In some time-sensitive situations, a concise manual is a boon. Examples of “fluff” include redundancy, excessive descriptiveness, or off-topic digression.
Prioritizing Hierarchy: Formatting is key. Simple tactics, such as having different heading levels or sizing of text, play a large role when designing documents with intent. Having the proper structure throughout the document assists the reader in understanding what is necessary versus what is supplementary.
Writing for Scanning: Guide the reader with their eyes. Danish researcher Jakob Nielson found readers will, at most, read 28% of text based on eye-tracking data. Bold words and underlines can assist readers as they intake information with speed.
The beauty of minimalistic writing lies in its apparent ease and conciseness. However, achieving both precise and comprehensive documentation requires more than just reducing content matter. A seasoned technical writer understands efficiency goes beyond what is on the paper. Properly curated writing that leaves no room for error guides the reader in their journey of digesting technical information.
Although not an obvious investment, excellent technical communication via minimalistic writing can build bonds with customers, employees, and vendors alike. Many certifications and compliance requirements demand strong documentation, but just as each situation is unique, a talented technical writer will adapt to the needs of their audience. For businesses, measuring user challenges, customer retention, and customer satisfaction after troubleshooting an issue are all metrics that can be evaluated to achieve the company’s mission and vision.
Why Bent Tree Writing?
Bent Tree Writing is a Texas-based writing duo, leveraging our combined technical and compliance backgrounds for regulated small businesses. With expertise in compliance and structured documentation, we produce high-quality content ranging from procedural manuals to strategic communications. Whether you are scaling your organization or strengthening existing systems, our work is tailored to your industry, audience, and operational needs.
