Must You Write Tightly?

Don’t try this in your initial draft.

Forget tight writing and let your book’s first draft flow. Then practice tight editing. As Strunk & White advise in The Elements of Style, retain only those words that earn their keep. No freeloaders.

In the process you’ll find many candidates for deletion.

  • Replace adverb and adjective phrases with vigorous verbs and evocative nouns.
  • Zap empty expressions, such … Continue reading