Tuesday, October 18, 2022

KEEP IT SHORT

 or

BRIEF


We know the saying, (some attribute to Mark Twain) “If I had more time, I would have written you a shorter letter.”

Another version of this notion tells about a US senator who was asked to address a high school and tell them about his job.

 

At question time, one of the students asked, “How long does it take you to prepare a speech?"

 

The senator replied, “It depends on time. If you want a fifteen-minute speech, I would need two weeks. If you want a five-minute speech, I would require four weeks, and if you want an hour's speech, I can start straight away.”

 

This is even more important in query letters. A few months back, a writing friend gave me feedback on the “Bio” paragraph in mine. I had two versions, one longer and more personal in tone, and one shorter and more businesslike.

 

I thought both were short and was happy with how I managed to succinctly distill my life and writing journey into a single brief paragraph.

 

My friend chopped away the branches, shaved off the bark, and left my shorter version with only the heartwood. Her edit is the one I will  now use in queries.

 

It takes time, reflection, and the help of a good writing friend to make it shorter.

©K. J. Lamb


7 comments:

  1. ^Gratitude for succinct comment ;)

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  2. Well said. It's usually the pithy comments we remember.

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  3. I don’t remember who said “brevity is the soul of wit,” but you are right that cutting down to the heartwood is a good idea. Editors are too often beleaguered to read more and prefer someone who knows how to cut to the chase.

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  4. MirkaK, I've been told my writing tends to be terse, so there's hope on that (word-)count. Editors still have to deal with my typos ;)

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  5. Great reminder. I love the examples you gave. I run to the garralous in things like queries, and have to cut and cut and cut. But for some reason, in my fiction, it's just the opposite. I start out too lean, then have to expand, then cut again.

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  6. I tend to provide too much information. One aspect of my job has helped me learn to pare it down.

    Love,
    Janie

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