WRITE TO IMPRESS_ BY SUMAILA UMAISHA

People often say, “Write to express, not to impress.” To a degree, that counsel is sound; particularly in functional forms such as manuals, essays, reviews, or explanatory prose, where clarity and utility are paramount.

But creative writing operates differently. If a writer clings rigidly to that maxim, genuine connection with readers may suffer. Art addresses both emotion and intellect; it must move and provoke. When these faculties are not intentionally engaged, when no deliberate aesthetic effort is made, the work risks falling flat. Readers approach imaginative literature not merely to receive information, but to encounter language, insight, and experience that elevate them.

Therefore, writing should be crafted, not merely produced. Precision of language matters. Fresh turns of phrase matter. Characters, setting, imagery, and structure must bear the imprint of originality. Such careful construction arrests attention and sustains it, transforming a piece from something readable into something memorable.

Writing to impress becomes problematic only when it is excessive - when ornament overwhelms substance and effort becomes visible strain. The piece should flow with the ease of a clear river: purposeful, controlled, and natural.

Do not hesitate to impress - show them your logo! 😀

© SUMAILA UMAISHA 

- Nigeria