Many people think that effective writing needs to be long. That couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, some of the most amazing writing I’ve comes across are short pieces that are simply unforgettable. Want the most poignant example? The Gettysburg Address is made up of all but 272 words, yet it’s the most quoted speech in the history of the United States.
Chiseled Writing
If you look at short pieces that make the most impact, you’ll notice that they’re chiseled to the hilt. Every word counts, every phrase matters. In a term we used to describe great albums when I was a young lad, “It’s all killer, no filler.”
Chiseled writing is all about weighing, parsing and refashioning every aspect of a work. It’s not the easiest thing to accomplish. Yet, putting in all that extra time and effort to rework pieces for better quality pays huge dividends.
How To Keep Your Writing Short And Memorable
1. Pick out your topic carefully. Make sure it’s something you can address within a short piece. If you can explain the story to a random stranger on a train ride to work, that’s usually ideal.
2. Take in-depth notes about the subject. That will ensure that you’ll eventually settle with the best information once you get down to writing.
3. Transitions can take the hit. You heard that right. When you’re writing short 300 or 400 word pieces, you can forsake transitions without much negative effect. They’ll tend to drag paragraphs longer, leaving less space for useful information.
4. Edit ruthlessly. Armed with your best writing software and an unquenchable gusto, edit that piece without mercy. If a sentence, clause or word doesn’t contribute anything of value, chuck it out.
