Be cautious when using "we"#
For a long time, when I was writing blog posts, I liked to use "we" to indicate that you and I are on the same side. In this way, it creates a sense of intimacy and establishes an illusion of being on the same wavelength.
However, over time, I began to realize that excessive use of "we" may lead to a series of problems.
It can blur my own perspective. Sometimes, as I write, I unconsciously view issues from the perspective of a certain public group, as if using this word represents strength in numbers. Even if the viewpoint is not entirely correct, with the support of "we," the argument becomes invincible.
On the other hand, it can make readers uncertain about who the "we" I am referring to actually is. It seems as if the thoughts and ideas represent a unit, an organization, a group.
I don't want to speak on behalf of any group of people, nor do I want to be represented by any group of people.
I am expressing my own viewpoint, which does not represent others, nor am I represented by others.
When I became aware of this issue, I started to be cautious when using the word "we."
I hope to express my viewpoint more clearly, even if it is wrong, without using "we" to increase the threshold of credibility in my writing.
I cannot represent anyone; I only represent myself.
Be cautious when using bullet points#
I like to use bullet points to record text, including writing diaries and taking notes. The note-taking tools I like, such as Logseq and Tana, default to a bullet point structure.
A small dot represents a node, a block, and this piece of text is independent, with no connection to the context.
They are the condensation of certain viewpoints, simple, neat, and orderly. Using bullet points can maintain the cleanliness of the text and a clear hierarchical structure. The text after the bullet point often represents a concise piece of writing.
I have been writing and taking notes in this way for many years. Recently, I suddenly realized that this structured writing style caused me to lose sensitivity to paragraphs composed of long sentences.
Expanding the outline text is like practicing sentence expansion exercises in elementary school, expanding a series of notes into paragraphs. However, these texts lose their aesthetic appeal and rhythm despite having viewpoints and expressions.
Paragraphs should have a beginning, development, transition, and conclusion, with a combination of long and short sentences and appropriate use of punctuation. All these elements combine to form the author's writing style.
When I use bullet points to write for a long time, I often lose control of these stylized writings.
How should I put it? Although the expression of viewpoints is clear and the logic is organized, it reads like an article written by AI, with a strong taste of machine translation.
I completely fail to perceive the author's personal writing style and literary charm.
When I realized that long-term use of bullet points to take notes would affect my writing style, I promptly corrected this habit.
Be cautious when using images#
Articles should strive to use text for expression. Although images can enhance the visual appeal of an article, when there are too many images, it can distract from the text content and make the reading experience less smooth. Due to the presence of images, the context cannot be read in one breath.
Excessive use of images can divert readers' attention and disrupt the coherence of reading. When an article is filled with numerous images, the text content is marginalized, and readers often skip the text and focus only on the images, thereby ignoring the expression of the article's ideas.
When readers are reading an article, the presence of images forces them to interrupt their reading to observe and understand the content of the images. This frequent switching disrupts the readers' train of thought, affecting the fluency and readability of the article.
Textual expression is the soul of an article. It carries the author's thoughts and viewpoints, while images are just icing on the cake, providing visual assistance and supplementation to the article.
Therefore, when writing, I will be cautious when using images.
Be cautious when using AI assistance#
In the digital age, artificial intelligence has become a new member of the writing toolbox. AI writing assistants can provide grammar checks, vocabulary suggestions, text generation, and other functions, greatly improving writing efficiency.
I have introduced "One-Click Activation of the Thinking Engine: Pile's 'Nitrogen Acceleration' Writing Method," which can quickly overcome procrastination caused by stuttering with AI-assisted techniques when writing articles.
However, excessive AI involvement may also become a crutch, leading to unconscious over-reliance on it.
I often get used to the perfect sentence structures and smooth paragraphs provided by AI, gradually losing my unique way of expression and depth of thinking.
This leads to a lack of personality and innovation in my writing. This lack of individuality may seem flawless on the surface, but it fails to touch people's hearts.
Therefore, when using AI assistance in writing, one must remain vigilant and avoid excessive reliance on it. Constantly reminding oneself to maintain sensitivity and creativity in writing.