Effective Brevity

Effective Brevity

deviantArt is a minimalist experience. No one has time to use words unwisely. You may write lengthily, but not redundantly. This is good practice; a rule they don't teach you at school, but that all writers ought to learn before they break it.

Brevity is the best way to show-not-tell. It is the best way to keep pace. It is the best way to create convincing characters and plot.



5 steps to keeping it brief:

NOUNS

Why use a genus when you could use a species? When describing Aunt Maria's dog, is it more effective to say "dog" or "dachshund". "Dachshund" not only tells me what the dog looks like, it tells me about Aunt Maria too.

Why use an abstract when you could use a concrete? The story of "the love affair" may be longer than the noun phrase, but its length is compensated ten times over by the new insight. Do not talk to me about "death" or "dream" unless I know whose death or which dream. It must be an action or event to earn its place, not a "thing".

Why be dull when you could be interesting? Why point out the sun when we know we're on a beach in summer? Why call rain "rain" when it could be drizzle, sleet, downpour, deluge. Only mention something if I neither know about nor expect it.

VERBS

Do not use long verb constructions when short ones will do. Cut unnecessary "had"s and "did"s and "was"s. Keep necessary ones. "I did the tidying"? No. "I tidied"; not only can you perform the action, but you can tell us what you performed it on: "I tidied the gnawed bones from the mead bench."

Delete "-ing" verb-forms when "-ed" forms will do better. There was Emma, scraping the blood from the table, humming as she worked? No. Emma hummed Holst's Mars as she scraped blood from the table.

ADJECTIVES/ADVERBS

Avoid adjectives/adverbs unless necessary. Use concrete nouns and active verbs to describe instead. The strange, deformed creature or the gargoyle? She went, slowly, meanderingly or she ambled?

Do not use adjectives/adverbs redundantly. Of course the sky is blue; of course smoke billows; we already know.

When you use adjectives or adverbs, use them unexpectedly. No one expects grinning beetles, ugly kittens, or obese ballerinas.

WHAT YOU SAY

Don't repeat yourself. Don't say anything you've even half-said already.

Don't use long words where short words will do.

Don't use many words where one, precise word will do.

WHAT YOU DON'T SAY

Don't tell us every action, expression, or word spoken. We can infer what is expected. We have brains which fill in gaps.

Why brevity matters:

(a) Your style will improve: you will only write what is worth writing.
(b) You will be forced to give richer characterisation through action and detail.
(c) You will be forced to keep the plot moving; you will not be able to describe gratuitously.
(d) Your writing will not be boring; you will engage readers; they will care about your writing; you will get more feedback.