Writing Stronger Means Writing Shorter
“If I had more time, I would have written you a shorter letter.”
“Sorry for the long letter, I didn’t have more time to write you a shorter one.”
“I didn't have time to write a short letter, so I wrote a long one instead.”
We will never know if it was Mathematician Blaise Pascal or Author Mark Twain who said these words. Google it, and you will find variations attributed to both, but the sentiment remains the same:
Write shorter.
Shorter is better.
Well, don’t start by writing shorter. When I write, I like to do a brain dump of all my ideas and edit them down once they are out of my head. The fun part is going through my words again and again tightening up my work.
Did I express that thought before? Out it goes.
Can those two ideas be combined to get my point across more succinctly? Done.
Is there one strong word that can take the place of a phrase? Replace it.
I apply this approach to both my own writing, and that of my students. I teach them that more isn’t better, it’s just more.
Throw out the window those assignments from English and social studies teachers everywhere requesting a specific word count. They are very, very, very, very silly.
Let the students write whatever length they need to satisfy the prompt. If they accomplish that goal in fewer words they should score higher!
Sometimes I find that what I am writing really needs to be split into two separate entities. Sometimes the most important part of what I am saying is hiding in the prose a few paragraphs down.
Sometimes I find that my story hasn’t yet conveyed what I meant to say and I need to either keep going or redirect my thoughts.
Here’s an exercise. Look at something you have already written. A blog post, an email, a newsletter. Read it out loud, but read it while wearing the hat of someone you are trying to speak to. Become your audience.
Does it speak to them in words they want to hear?
Does it get right to the point, using strong, colorful language?
Do they walk away with something of value? Value could be anything from a tip on sleeping better, a way to invest in cryptocurrency, or something as simple as a smile because you told them a joke.
Take out buzzwords and phrases and just say what you mean. Be conversational in your writing. Keep sentences short.
Your writing will be stronger for it.
#writingcoach #digitalwriting #digitalwriter #writingworkshops #writingworkshop #copywriting #aboutme #aboutmeworkshop #aboutmepage #contentmarketing #contentcreator #contentwriter #blogwriting #blogideas #blogposts #blogger #blogwriter #ghostwriter #ghostwriting #writing #content #marketing #digitalmarketing #socialmedia #writersofinstagram #brandpersonality #yourstorymatters #tellyourstory #tellmeastory #womeninbiz #womensupportingwomen #womenentrepreneurs #womenempoweringwomen