Why scientist should write like the bad guys.
Often, I hear characters in movies speak and wonder why I'm so captivated by their speech. I could listen to an hour-long monologue without complaint. This person isn't morally upright, by nature. Yet, their words grasp me and I'm ready to follow them into oblivion. Or at least admire them from afar. Think Pitch from Rise of the Guardians or Alfie Solomons from Peaky Blinders. I want to hear these villains talk more. I want to know their opinions even if I disagree.
Then I sit down to read a scientific paper of an exciting study with exciting implications. But the same gripping feeling isn't there. I don't necessarily care about the author's opinion on the topic, nor am I convinced I should. What makes these well-educated people with revolutionary ideas less likable than a cold-blooded villain?
A good villain has a strong personality that grips the viewers and makes us want to like them. This personality is better showcased in tv and film when we can see them; study their mannerisms, the emphasis they place on certain words, when they pause or speed up their speech, and what inspires fear in their voice or joy in their remarks. However, a good writer can accomplish this with only words.
A good villain doesn't waste words. They choose their words precisely. Their words reflect their unique personality. An excellent screenplay or novel creates a base for an intriguing villain.
So, what makes a scientific paper different?
Is it not a story as well? Is it capable of being intriguing in its own right?
Perhaps it's just missing its villain.
Steven Pinker captured this idea for me. In his book, Sense of Style, he mentions the phenomenon of phonaesthetics, the feeling of sound. One word so rich in nutrients that it echoes as it's digested by the mind. Tart, a word so sharp that the muscles in your mouth seize at the pronunciation. It can mean nothing else except what you'd infer if you've never heard the word. Voluptuous, a word so large that your lips widen and curve so it can fit on your tongue. Titillating, a naughty word that reminds the reader of a plethora of other naughty words. Even the way it's said looks sexual (try saying it in slow motion). Common words have an impact as well. Dead sounds more harsh, unforgiving, and final, than passed on. The point is, that these words work in tandem over the length of a writing piece, creating a stronger connection between the reader and the idea portrayed on paper. Weaker words that are organized poorly fail to capture that connection and lose their personality.
The writer becomes the villain in their work. If a villain can impose an immoral philosophy and be liked and understood by the reader, then a good scientist can explain scientific advancements in the same engaging way. Think Bill Nye or David Attenborough. Make your writing appetizing for the reader through your words, and they'll dig right in, no matter how large the serving size or their particular preference of taste.
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