Better messages come in smaller packages.
Many contributors to the “chapter news” section of the magazine I edit have not yet caught on that I’m enforcing the maximum word count of 75 words. It’s my only way to include everything in a point size big enough to read.
This past week, on deadline, I had no choice but to condense the 89-, 101-, and 129-word entries. As I fitted more than 100 of them, I made some observations that can apply to any writer.
In each case, the condensed version said the same thing. But through the process of losing words, the entries gained something significant. They now delivered their message:
— more directly
— more powerfully
— more succinctly
But please, don’t try to write tightly on your first draft. You’ll stifle the process. Instead, expect to write long. Once you have the draft complete, you can begin condensing. Try for a reduction of 25 percent.
You’ll find the process forces you to:
— focus on your message’s core
— use more powerful words
— delete words that don’t carry their weight
— say it once
— say it effectively
If it’s worth writing, it’s worth writing well.
