George,

I thought all morning before responding, so know I thought about this quite a bit as I have a lot of respect for the work you put out into the world.

I'll be blunt--I hate this advice. It makes for homogenous writing, which is ironic considering you've invited folks to read diverse works.

Perhaps this advice would work for advertising, business, or self-help writing because clarity and precision are key in conveying a message. But I would never give blanket advice like this (I say this because you've evoked fiction in a few spots and the oft-given advice of Stephen King) to all writers.

Should line, or experimental writers, or poets for that matter, not explore the English language? Stretch words to their limit and reshape them? Play with syntax? Should folks stifle the imagination in favor of dumbing down their language? This advice alienates thousands of writers who live to excavate language--including the classics and much of post-modernist and experimental fiction. Why should one limit their vocabulary because someone can't right mouse click and get a definition? Why should one write for the masses if that's not their inclination?

If someone doesn't understand a word in my work, I could give a fuck. Right mouse click or read someone else.

This advice, for a group of writers, bleaches out the joy of writing. I would never admonish people who favor short, simple sentences as their style (and we are talking about style here). And no one should encourage or favor one style over another.

I read all sorts of writing and appreciate the spectrum of technical skill and style a writer brings to their work. Personally, I favor the baroque, language-driven writing. I'd rather read Jenny Offil's, Rachel Cusk's, Patricia Lockwood's, Amy Hempel's etc. etc., advice any day of the week over Stephen King. That doesn't speak to the strength or impact of his work, it's merely my preference.

However, his advice is not the sole standard.

A lot of people don't read my work because of how I write, but that doesn't mean the writing isn't good--it simply means that style isn't one's preference.

If one wants to experiment and play with language and be messy--I encourage that. Have fun with words! Write! Find your voice. Be curious about words and how to use them.

I suppose this is a long-winded way of saying I don't agree with writing short, simple sentences that people can understand will invariably make everyone's writing better. It just makes it easier to understand.

Please know this is not me striking at you personally, but I am growing tired of the homogeneous style that has evolved on this platform to a point where everyone looks and sounds the same.

I appreciate writers of all genres, voices, and styles, and I'd rather encourage breadth and exploration over rigid rules and simplicity.

Of course, this is just one small opinion. I know a pile of people will feel differently, but I'd be remiss if I didn't share it with you because I value your work so much.

Cheers, Felicia