The Inflation of Content

Generative AI has driven the cost of producing text to zero. As a result, the internet is flooded with 4,000-word “Ultimate Guides” that say absolutely nothing.

In 2026, Brevity is the premium product.

Readers are Skimmers

Eye-tracking studies show that the average user reads only 20% of the text on a page. If you write 1,000 words, they read 200. If you write 200 words, they might read all of them.

Writing long is easy. Writing short is hard. As Mark Twain (apocryphally) said: “I didn’t have time to write a short letter, so I wrote a long one instead.”

The “Word Budget” Strategy

Top editors are now assigning “Word Budgets” instead of minimum word counts. “Explain this concept in 300 words or less.” It forces the writer to strip away the fluff and focus on the signal.

Side Note: Discipline requires measurement. You can’t stick to a budget if you don’t check the price tag. Keeping a Word Counter open in a tab is a simple habit that keeps your writing tight and respectful of the reader’s time.

Cut the Fluff

If a sentence doesn’t add new information, delete it. In a world of infinite noise, the most valuable thing you can offer your reader is the point.