Write 500 words on any topic you like. Now remove 250 of them without changing the essence of your post.
Today‘s post is in essence about editing. brevity. With the challenges, features and multi blog extravaganzas I am involved in, some days it feels like my blog isn’t my own anymore. But at least the content, and how long or short it is, is still my choice.
So, how pithy and succinct should our posts be? Should they be packed with punches, or should we write them to be enjoyed over time like a fine wine or good chocolate?
Some things are perfect if they are short, like A Charlie Brown Christmas. Some things are better when you can enjoy them for hours, sometimes more than once. Gone With The Wind is an example. A four hour movie, based on a book over 1000 pages.
Everything has a time and place, and a correct length. We write because we want to be heard. But, we have to remember that no one loves our words as much as we do, so we must stop talking while they still want to hear more.
So how do we court our readers? How do we satisfy them, yet leave them yearning for more? That is a delicate tightrope we all must learn to walk in our own special way.
How do you choose the length that works for you and your readers?
Thanks for sharing!
*-Word count 244 without the challenge title and the link
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Here’s the original post if you care to read it~
Today’s post is in essence about editing. brevity. One thing we don’t have to do on our blog posts if we don’t want to. With all the challenges, weekly features and multi blog extravaganzas I am now involved in, some days it feels like my blog isn’t my own anymore. But at least the content, and how long or short it is, is still my choice.
So, how pithy and brief and succinct should our posts be? Should they be packed with quick punches, or should we write them to be enjoyed slowly over time like a fine wine or a good piece of chocolate?
Some things are perfect if they are short, like A Charlie Brown Christmas. Could anyone stand more than a half hour of that? And some things are better when you can enjoy them for many, many hours, some of us more than once. Gone With The Wind is a good example. Clocking in at around for hours, based on a book well over 1000 pages. One of my favorite stories that I just watched again, and now I am dying to re-read the book that I so loved as a teenager.
Everything has not only its time and place, but also, it’s correct length. We can write something and think it’s brilliant, and leave it alone for a while to stew. When we return, we may think. “Geez, how did I let myself get so wordy?” We all write because we want to be heard. We have something to say. But, we have to remember that no one loves our words as much as we do, so if we want people to listen, we must stop talking or writing while they still want to hear more.
So how do we keep them engaged, these lovely readers we court? How do we satisfy them, but yet leave them yearning for more of our wonderfulness? That my friends is a delicate tightrope that we all must learn to walk in our own special way without falling off.
I’m thinking of some things I like very much that could have done better with a little editing. The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy is a good example. I kept getting up to leave the theater during the last one, because I kept thinking it was over. Not so much. Of course they are even longer on DVD and now you can get a version that’s something like 36 hours or something. Oy~ How many hours of a pensive brooding Frodo can one person take? I like them as much as the next guy, but for me, Peter Jackson could have made better use of his editing staff. Just sayin.
I’m almost done here, as my 500 words fast approacheth. Please tell me how you keep your writing to the length that works best for you, and your readers?
Thanks for sharing!
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Related articles
I don’t really pay much attention to word count. I just keep writing until I’m out of things to say.
I do too, unless my word count inches towards or goes above 1000. My attention span is pretty short, as I’m really a 5 year old trapped in a 47 year old body, so I guess some of my readers may have a short attention span as well, and be distracted by shiny…………oohh! Look, a chicken!
I don’t really care how long a post is as long as it’s entertaining. That and….squirrel!!
actually I liked your editorializing better than the first version
I don’t usually just spew non-stop for a word count goal. I agree with you. This was a piece that really didn’t need 500 words on second look. Thanks!
NIcely done! My editing takes days, sometimes weeks. You did a great job of clean-up in such a short time…commendable!
Thanks! Now, if I could just find someone to pay me for my lightning fast mad skillz with writing, tweeting and facebooking, I’d own the world and junk.
I like ‘em long and hard… hey, I am talking about posts and words and such… but then again, size isn’t everything… That’s my theory and I am sticking to it.
No, it’s not. Finesse is worth a lot more.
But the master has both…
Were truer words ever spoken?
Depends on if I am lying or not I guess.
This is great! Both are good—I like the shorter one better. Suzy
I like both the brief and fleshed out version. But if I had to choose, prob the shorter one. I tend to be a slash and burn, pillage and rape kind of editor. At least I try!
Well, you should be. Don’t you do that for a living? Thanks by the way. I just sat down and let my thoughts wander until I hit 500 words. Then a couple hours later, I whittled it down after I had a little time to let it stew.
Yes, I do it for a living…BTW need more clients!! — but I’m even tougher on myself.
I’m not a potential client, sorry–not yet anyway. I have no one to answer to but me, and since I think I’m absolutely fabulous, I just let the words fly, and then step back and admire my genius. Pffffftttt. What-ever.
I usually go with the flow of the write up and not much look into the word count. And honestly, rarely do I end up with too much to say!
Thanks for dropping by to give your take on this. I usually have WAY too much to say. I tend to run off at the mouth and the fingertips.
I think editing is important. I will usually write out all of my thoughts, then like you, come back a few hours later to rehash and edit. I find that once the initial mess is written my brain subconsciously starts to edit and then I just have to fix it. Does that make sense? Maybe I should edit this.
You bet it makes sense. If I don’t just write it down-no matter how awful it is, I forget it. Sux to get old,
So… When did counting the words become one more thing I am to do in blogging? ugh.. I just wanna share my verbal vomit! it gets lonely sitting in it on my own..
hehehe
I know what you mean. The writing becomes a smaller and smaller part if you let it, doesn’t it? Some days that’s what it feels like anyway.
I don’t really count words so much. Just try and keep it under 1000 or even less if there are a lot of pictures. I like shorter reads myself, I don’t want to bore anyone.
“verbal vomit” ….he he. That’s funny
Pingback: Daily Prompt: Slash and Burn | A YEAR OF DAILY POSTS ~ A PERSONAL CHALLENGE