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
