Some 4,500 years ago, tens of thousands of Egyptian workers descended upon the Giza Plateau to begin a massive construction project like the world had never seen. They used rudimentary tools to cut limestone and granite blocks from an adjacent quarry, as well as other sites that required them to float blocks down the Nile River. Each stone block weighed an average of 2.5 tons and was transported to the building site with great human effort.

Over a period of twenty years, workers placed 2.3 million blocks of stone with such accuracy that it still confounds scientists today. Known as the Great Pyramid of Giza, it is the only wonder of the ancient world that survives today.

When you consider a project of this scope and magnitude, it seems impossible. Yes, Ancient Egypt had a huge number of works, as well as a detailed plan for how to get the work done. But how did they actually build the pyramids? One block at a time.

You can borrow this principle for your writing, or any type of project, for that matter. You take it piece by piece and keep repeating the work. Pretty soon, you have a finished product.

Success as a writer doesn’t need to be complicated. In fact, the very simplicity of writing success is why so many people quit. They can’t handle the focus and discipline that is required to actually finish something.

But you must be different. You must stay the course and commit to finishing what you have started. You can build whatever you want if you just take it one block at a time.

Daily Question: Does the idea of “one block at a time” feel comforting or frustrating? Why?

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There is a part of each one of us that wants to be admired. We want to be respected. We want other people to think of us highly. And why not? That is completely in line with human nature. From the dawn of time, men and women have struggled to gain power over one another in order to get the attention and admiration of our peers.

One way we do this as writers is by trying to appear smart. We use big words and sometimes throw in obscure references in the hopes that others will think we are accomplished and intelligent. Many people in the academic world fall prey to this type of thinking, believing that more degrees and titles, and evermore complicated papers—or perhaps a dissertation—will finally earn them the respect they deserve.

This isn’t to say that academic study is a waste of time. But let’s face it—a lot of academic writing has more to do with posturing and making the writer look smart, instead of being truly useful.

Sometimes big words are necessary, of course, depending on the context. However, for the most part, the best writing is simple, clear, and direct.

Think of the most effective communicators in history such as Martin Luther King, Jr., Abraham Lincoln, or Ronald Reagan. They used simple words, told stories, and communicated well in order to make their meaning clear.

The famous novelist Jack Kerouac said, “One day I will find the right words, and they will be simple.” Indeed, the right words are almost always simple, rather than hard to understand.

There is nothing wrong with sounding smart and having other people admire you for your knowledge. But isn’t it so much better to have people actually read your writing, and not only read it, but understand and share it?

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