I’m no where near the writer I want to be. I still make silly mistakes and I’m confident that I break about every rule C.S. Lewis has given for better writing. That last sentence likely broke a few of them. But there is one area where I believe I’ve improved. I don’t think I’m a pufferfish writer too much anymore.
The pufferfish, as you likely know, is a fish which blows itself up to make itself look much bigger than reality. It’s a handy little defense mechanism and one writers, like myself, are at times tempted to employ. When we get in over our heads we can start using big words or abstract concepts to try to make ourselves sound smarter. Likewise we can add a ton of fluff to a tiny article in order to meet a word count.
I’m learning more and more that I need to just write where I am. No sense in trying to write over my own head. If its not something I wouldn’t say in normal conversation then I don’t have much business writing that way either. Unless of course I’m writing a seminary paper and then I have to channel my inner pufferfish. Because everyone knows the best way to train pastors is to fill them with hot air and teach them to ramble on and on with jargon words.
In this day and age, with ever streaming social media, pufferfish pastor and pufferfish writers won’t be too terribly appealing. Just say it, man. Be who you are. Don’t try to be someone you aren’t or sound like someone you ain’t.
