Interlude: Holding Back, Word Limits, and "Plain" Language
A few months ago, I learned about a Zen teaching that struck me: "What's holding you back is what you're holding onto." This phrase has been in the back of my mind ever since.
I've been wondering: what might you be holding onto that's keeping you stuck in your writing? Perhaps it's text you worked hard on but know deep down needs cutting. Maybe it's old writing habits that once worked but no longer serve you. Or it could be well-meaning advice from a mentor that no longer aligns with your goals.
Here's what I've realized: what you're holding onto often feels comfortable and may seem easier in the moment, but it can quietly weigh you down. Allowing yourself to get a little uncomfortable—trying something new, experimenting with a different approach, and tackling what might be a little harder right now—can help you let go and shed the weight that is holding you back.
So I have two questions for you...
What identity, idea, mindset, behavior, attitude, or expectation is keeping you held back from being the writer you want to be?
And what if you gave yourself permission to let it go, even just long enough to try something new and see how it feels?
When you let go of what no longer serves you in your writing, you create momentum toward becoming the writer you want to be.
Now onto this week's round-up...
💌 Round-up
💻 From My Desk
10 Tricks to Reduce Your Word Count in Academic Writing
Do you struggle to squeeze your manuscript, grant, or other document into a strict word, page, or character limit? In this video, I share 10 tricks to help you cut your word count without sacrificing the core message of your work. Even if you use AI tools to cut words, these strategies will give you human-powered ways to tighten your writing.
📆 Upcoming
Ask Me Anything About Writing Fundamentals – December 2, 2025 @ 11 am PT
Have questions about writing fundamentals? Get your questions answered in this free live Q&A session. Can't make it live? Add your questions to the registration from and watch the replay. Learn more and register
👓 Reading
Plain Language Resistance: Is “Plain” the Problem?
"The problem, I think, lies not in what plain language is but in what some writers mistakenly believe it is. The issue stems in part from these common misconceptions about the “plain” in plain language:
Plain language is boring, uninteresting and lacks spice.
Plain language is overly simplistic, generalized and lacks nuance.
Plain language is not professional or academic enough for this context (legal, medical, political, academic, etc.).
Plain language doesn’t sound elevated or make me look smart.
Plain language proponents know these views are misguided, but writers who hold these negative beliefs, either singly or in combination, are less likely to use the approach and perhaps to actively resist it."
🖥️ Watching
This is what happens in your brain when you can’t recall a word
Sometimes I struggle to remember a word. It's on the tip of my tongue but just won't surface. In this video, Cella Write shares why your brain can struggle with recall and how you can get tip-of-your-tongue words unstuck.
💬 Quote
“The best way to think is to write.” - Shane Parrish
Thank you so much for reading.
Warmly,
Crystal
