Neutral language!

"You don't need any such big advice about writing. I am not a good writer either. Just make sure you are framing the ideas in a neutral language." he quipped after a minute's thought.
"What exactly is a neutral language," she was quick to interrupt.
"We should not boast about ourselves. Sentences need to be plain and simple. They must only explain the facts and our activities," he replied with an impassionate smile. He was worried about the choice of words.
"Got it. I will do what I can do. But you must change wherever it is necessary. I have not done something like this before," she explained. She is a very peculiar person who insists on being clear all the time. Be it a big or a small task. She wants clarity. Conversations with her are helpful because you express more things to her. Everyone liked her for her precision and passion.

 When you are a storyteller, you have the responsibility to communicate your story.  To make words work, you need to apply life in it

She responded to him that night with a mail. The write-up looked different. It was a blend of her day's experience and a sum-up of their daily activity. One small detail was missing. A title! He wanted the writer in her to suggest a nice one. She left it to him by saying she can't think of anything at the moment. He was not planning to let her go but couldn't give her time. He suggested a few titles and chose the one she agreed. The write-up was a well-compiled one but now it seemed that only the two of them were really concerned about it!
Days and months passed by. The duo met after a long gap and spoke about the usual topics. They understand each other very well. But they could not share everything because of time constraints and the nature of the activities they undergo.
"I read your note on Ashok," she said.
"Oh, is it okay," he asked impatiently. Ashok was a construction labourer about whom he wrote a profile piece. More than that, he valued her taste.
"It was fine. But I think it lacked some emotion. Don't get me wrong, maybe it is my own opinion, but I think people like it more when the writings are personal."
"The idea was to avoid that personal touch, to let the reader know his/her life and leave everything to them," he clarified.
She did not say anything but her expression reflected her mind. He went back thinking whether his style was right or wrong.
Years passed by. He and she moved ahead with their plans in life. He started meeting more humans and 'report' their story. The independent thinker she is, she had to make some tough choices before meeting her destination point with clarity.
Writing was his way of living. He loved it to the core but was not satisfied with his work. He felt something was missing."These are human interesting stories. Stories that deserved to be heard. But there is no human element in it. Where is the emotion? Who will be patient enough to read it,"? he asked himself. "When you are a storyteller, you have the responsibility to communicate your story.  To make words work, you need to apply life in it."
He pondered about everything. He was following a set pattern. Something which worked well in the past. But people have changed. Priorities too. After giving it a good thought, he came up with the answer. "When we focus on the structure beyond content, we are likely to skip the originality of the story and the emotion of the subject. Neutral language was an unnecessary thought. Like neutral politics, there is no such thing. You can express yourself in each word and each sentence. The only point is that it needs to be logical," he said to himself. "Maybe this is what she intended to convey on that day. Why did it take so long to realise," he asked before looking back at the handwritten note she had given him.

Credit: Society6

Dedicated to a very special person.