Good writing is murder, isn't it? You toil over the perfect sentence only for a colleague to read it and complain that they don't get it. They say it's unclear, convoluted, sounds too this or not enough that. Choose your criticism, the end result is the same: your pride is wounded and your brilliance as a writer beaten back into submission.
I like this and it puts me in mind of Orwell's 'rules' for skilful writing (my favourite is the final 'rule')
Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.
Never use a long word where a short one will do.
If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.
Never use the passive where you can use the active.
Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.
Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.