Interlude: Subtraction, Errors, and Manipulation

I recently discovered an article by Derek Sivers in which he describes the value of subtracting from our lives. "Life can be improved by adding, or by subtracting. The world pushes us to add, because that benefits them. But the secret is to focus on subtracting."

I think that this concept also applies to writing. Writing can be improved by adding, or by subtracting. Removing unnecessary details and complex language will put more focus on the core ideas.

I also think that the writing process can be improved by subtracting. If we remove distractions, like cell phones and unnecessary meetings, we make room for deep work and can allocate more time to the critical thinking needed to write well.

A lot can be gained by removing the unnecessary and reducing friction.

"A car will travel faster not only if you press the accelerator, but also if you remove the speed bumps." —James Clear

And now for this week's curated round-up...

💌 Round-up

💻 From My Desk

Reduce Redundancy to Enhance Understanding
Some authors use redundant terms or phrases that unnecessarily repeat words or meanings. Check out 40 common redundancies that you can "subtract" from your writing.

👓 Reading

Magazine published serious errors in first AI-generated health article
"...it contained persistent factual mistakes and mischaracterizations of medical science that provide readers with a profoundly warped understanding of health issues...[The magazine] seems to have fallen into the same trap: seeing that AI systems like ChatGPT can easily churn out confident-sounding content, and mistaking that conviction for accuracy."

Paper-mill detector put to the test in push to stamp out fake science
“Publishers are testing prototypes of automatic systems to flag submitted manuscripts bearing the hallmarks of paper mills — businesses that produce fake research papers.”

🧰 Tools

Numerical2
While we're on the topic of subtracting, I thought I'd share my favorite calculator app. I really like the functionality and customizability of this (free!) calculator. But what I love most is that I can see the history of my calculations so I can easily compare formulas and values.
 

📝 Challenge

Open up your calendar and look at your schedule for next week. What could you remove to free up space for something that is more important to you?

Thank you so much for reading.

Warmly,

Crystal