Interlude: Unexpected Generosity, Human Editing, and the Illusion of Clarity
These days, everyone seems to be carrying a heavy load. And I've found that small gestures matter more than we may realize.
For example, when I'm walking my dog in the rain, I pick up newspapers on the sidewalk and leave them on the recipient's dry doorstep. Nobody asked me to. But it felt like the right thing to do.
It's an unexpected generosity.
What are some other ways to show unexpected generosity?
Arrive early to every meeting so attendees don't have to wait for you.
Submit your work ahead of the deadline to make life easier for your team.
Share a useful resource, paper, or tool without being asked, simply because you thought of someone.
Give thorough, constructive feedback on a project—the kind you'd hope to receive yourself.
Respond to emails and review requests promptly, even with just a brief acknowledgment, so colleagues aren't left wondering.
Unexpected generosity doesn't require grand gestures. It's small choices you make—how you communicate, how you show up, and how you treat the people around you. These small acts can lighten someone's load and even brighten their day.
What are some ways that you like to show unexpected generosity?
Now onto this week's round-up...
Round-up
From My Desk
How Human Editing Fixes What EditGPT Misses
AI tools can help with writing, but they can't replace you. Last week, I shared how EditGPT can and can't improve a sample paragraph. In this video, I edit the same sample in real-time, with running commentary on the why behind every decision. From paragraph structure and topic sentences to word choice and reader empathy, this video is packed with tips you can immediately apply to your own writing.
Upcoming
Early-Career Medical Writers Summit – June 8–12, 2026
I'm thrilled to join an incredible panel of speakers in this virtual summit designed especially for medical writers who want to grow their skills and gain confidence in the field. In my session, "Past the Prompt: What Strong Medical Writing Means Today," I’ll talk about why great writing still matters in the age of AI and how you can stand out as the human behind AI-generated text. You'll get expert sessions, exercises to practice new skills, and opportunities to ask questions during live Q&A sessions. Early-bird rate ends April 30.
Reading
The Voice That Got Away: AI, Authenticity, and the Slow Death of Your Writing Voice
"What is happening now is that many writers, particularly those who are not confident in their voice to begin with, are choosing the AI's version of their idea over their own. All because even if the AI version is not better it looks more like the writing they have been reading. It is polished. It sounds like expertise. It lacks the friction of a real human perspective. . . AI is not making mediocre writers better, no matter how much we wish it were, for the world would be a better place with more skilled writers. It is making mediocre writers feel better while widening the gap between their written voice and their real one (and ironically destroying the credibility they are seeking)."
The Illusion of Clarity: How to Test Whether you Really Understand Something
“This exercise forced me to confront what I’ve come to call the illusion of clarity: the confident feeling that you understand something, when in reality your grasp is full of gaps you’ve never noticed. And I’m not the only one falling prey to the illusion of clarity. In a study, psychologists asked participants to rate how well they understood everyday devices like sewing machines, zippers, or cell phones and then asked them to write detailed explanations. After attempting the explanation, self-ratings dropped sharply. The act of actually trying to explain revealed how little people actually knew.”
Quote
"It's hard to build momentum if you keep dividing your attention.”–James Clear
Thank you so much for reading.
Warmly,
Crystal
