When the words disappear

ABC 157: On showing up for your ex

My high school English teacher used to say, “in the best prose, the words disappear.”

At the time, I was studying for the SAT and trying to squeeze every $5 word I knew—ubiquitous, galvanize, petulant—into my writing. 

As I got older, I learned that if you can use a simpler word, you should. Use rather than utilize. Start rather than commence. Explain rather than elucidate.

This week’s piece, a modern love column, is beautiful in its rawness. All emotion, no artifice. With a story so wrenching, it’s best not to let the words get in the way.

Here’s the piece: Two Kisses We Never Talked About

Editor’s note: I’m adding a short feature to share book updates. This week’s update: I was a guest on one of my favorite podcasts, The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos. You can listen here.

Warmly,
Simo

P.S. The song of the week is a genre-bending mix of 60s soul and hip-hop.