Thanks! I often need to think through these things when I'm trying to figure out how to trim a book down to size, so I figured maybe someone else would find the tips useful, too!
Great tips--thank you! I tend to trim better at the line level, so I appreciate your larger-scope, trimming tips. Your post made me think of Ursula K. Le Guin's writing craft book called Steering the Craft. She includes an exercise in it where you trim a 400 word narrative down to 200 words, while still keeping the narrative clear and impactful.
I get it! I put a lot on the page to figure out what I want to say....and then I say it. And then I have to cut all the figuring out parts. Thanks, brain. (But knowing that about myself is half the battle!)
lol the garbage bag!
When I told my agent that's how I felt about her comment, she was SO pleased with herself.
😂
So much good advice packed in this post.
Thanks! I often need to think through these things when I'm trying to figure out how to trim a book down to size, so I figured maybe someone else would find the tips useful, too!
Great tips--thank you! I tend to trim better at the line level, so I appreciate your larger-scope, trimming tips. Your post made me think of Ursula K. Le Guin's writing craft book called Steering the Craft. She includes an exercise in it where you trim a 400 word narrative down to 200 words, while still keeping the narrative clear and impactful.
That is such a tough exercise, but definitely worth practicing if you want to learn to be more concise!
These are great! And omg yes, I felt that trash bag being brought out as I read it 😅
I love seeing word counts! Idk why but I find it fascinating. ALL THOSE WORDS
I'm always interested in others' wordcounts too!
Really helpful tips. Thank you Jodi! I tend to be an overwriter so I will definitely need these
I get it! I put a lot on the page to figure out what I want to say....and then I say it. And then I have to cut all the figuring out parts. Thanks, brain. (But knowing that about myself is half the battle!)
Even though I’m not writing a book - I see a lot here I can use for the letters I write to my som. Thank you!
I'm glad it helps! Happy letter writing!
Given my first draft of a novel was twice the length it should be... I'll be revisiting this post a lot!
Oh my. Good luck!!
I'm doing a cut, so this is excellent advice. Thanks! I've dropped about 2500 from the first 9 chapters. It reads so much better.
Wow, that's quite the cut! Good work.
Thanks. Mostly just tightening and using better verbs.
I have a huge overwriting problem - your wordcounts look fine to me lol