I didn't know what I wanted to study in college. When forced to declare a major in my sophomore year, I ambivalently chose English.
I remember taking several English theory classes. Some of the texts that I had to read were beyond intimidating, confusing, and incomprehensible. Long, drawn-out sentences with more 50-cent words than this 19-year-old student could comprehend. When my professors asked me to write in a similarly opaque style, I had to ask my older friends for help. I once turned in a short essay that pleased one teacher so much that she read part of it aloud to the class. Rather than feeling pride, I couldn't help but be embarrassed. I didn't know what I had "written."
Back then, I had very little choice about what I had to read. Well, almost. I ultimately switched majors later that year.
The Content Deluge
What's more, choice abounds. Over the past two decades, we've seen deluge of content on just about every topic. Pick a niche subject like "Big Data in healthcare" and your search results will quickly bombard you.
I think about these things quite a bit. Even if you fancy yourself a good writer (and I certainly do), it's very tough to build a tribe. Often I'll peruse a business book replete with jargon and wonder, "What was the author thinking?"
Simon Says
My advice to current and aspiring writers: Make your words understandable or risk irrelevance.