Keeping it short and sweet ?

DavidOfAscot · Post by **DavidOfAscot** » 26 Oct 2013, 12:12

My problem isn't writing ... it's more like not writing. Brevity, or conciseness in other words ...

Even writing a shopping list I tend to overcomplicate. Sometimes I do one of what I want or need, and a separate one of what I don't need, because I definitely already have it. This is to avoid getting tempted unnecessarily whilst walking around the supermarket...

My first e-novel ended up at 450+ pages, even though I trimmed out about 100-150 pages in the last few weeks before putting it out. I deleted at least one whole story line, possibly two, although I did keep the main one(s), and ensured the continuity was still right ...

I did do, and am doing for my next attempt, a brief outline, with key people / events in each chapter, key places, and so on, to try to stay focused. But it's very hard to do that ... it's hard for me not to try to follow up every little thought or nuance that comes into my head ...

How do other people try to stay tight and focused. I've come across 'writers block' discussions in several places, but not much the other way ...

Maud Fitch · Post by **Maud Fitch** » 26 Oct 2013, 22:56

Go with the flow. The mind of a writer is always ticking over. I write everything down, create an outline, assemble the story and then edit furiously. The key is not so much stifling the creativity urges as to editing out the unnecessary bits. This is hard because it all looks good, but think of the reader. They don't want to wade through heaps of ideas and unnecessary complications, they're smart enough to get the gist of your storyline.

If harsh editing fails, and you're not restricted by space, a good book will be read regardless of length.

You could do a short story writing course. It's a great way to learn focus, and get your message across in a tighter format. Like Twitter, it's learning how to reshape grammar and master brevity by cutting down bulky wordage.
It's all practice but I remind myself that even today's greats have written and rewritten drafts over ten times.

DavidOfAscot · Post by **DavidOfAscot** » 27 Oct 2013, 02:06

Thanks Maud, makes sense.

I think maybe I kid myself about what's really vital to the story ...

But, I am learning.

As are we all ...

E_Reads · Post by **E_Reads** » 27 Oct 2013, 23:58

I've come across this problem as well.
I usually will outline as well but never stifle my creativity. If I get into a flow then I never stop
until I feel it's satisfied the need to continue. Once I've accomplished my design only then do I begin the editing process.

take care

Richard Falken · Post by **Richard Falken** » 29 Oct 2013, 14:55

Lots of people have the problem of writing too much. Many just end up creating oversized works full of straw that is not necessary for the flow of the story and adds nothing...

I just plan the book from the beginning, and then write it without giving a damn about the length. If the story goes to the point and you stick to the plan, you can make great stories in the range of the 190-360 pages without giving a single thought about the matter.

I don't care about the length very much. If the story has a good flow, you won't get bored reading it.

Smitha Nayak · Post by **Smitha Nayak** » 30 Oct 2013, 02:32

The acronym was reportedly coined by Kelly Johnson, lead engineer at the Lockheed Skunk Works (creators of the Lockheed U-2 and SR-71 Blackbird spy planes, among many others).[3]

While popular usage has translated it for decades as, 'Keep it simple, stupid', Johnson translated it as, 'Keep it simple stupid' (no comma), and this reading is still used by many authors.[7] There was no implicit meaning that an engineer was stupid; just the opposite.[3]

The principle is best exemplified by the story of Johnson handing a team of design engineers a handful of tools, with the challenge that the jet aircraft they were designing must be repairable by an average mechanic in the field under combat conditions with only these tools. Hence, the 'stupid' refers to the relationship between the way things break and the sophistication available to fix them.

The acronym has been used by many in the United States Air Force and the field of software development.

-- 06 Nov 2013, 02:46 --

KISS is an acronym for "Keep it simple, stupid" as a design principle noted by the U.S. Navy in 1960.[1][2] The KISS principle states that most systems work best if they are kept simple rather than made complex; therefore simplicity should be a key goal in design and unnecessary complexity should be avoided. The phrase has been associated with aircraft engineer Kelly Johnson (1910–1990).[3] The term "KISS principle" was in popular use by 1970.[4] Variations on the phrase include "keep it stupid simple", "keep it short and simple", "keep it simple, sir", "keep it super simple", "keep it simple or be stupid", "keep it simple and stupid", "keep it simple and straightforward", "keep it simple and safe", "Keep it simple, student", "keep it simple, silly", "keep it simple and sincere", or "keep it simple and secular.

Nathrad Sheare · Post by **Nathrad Sheare** » 25 Dec 2013, 04:25

Really, techniques differ writer to writer. Some famous authors say to get whatever down and edit it later. The trick is to finish the first draft and leave it for awhile until you can see it through the eyes of a reader and pick out what you don't like. Others say that your writing should be minimal from the start and, if necessary, should be complicated here and there just a bit, but ONLY if absolutely necessary... I like to begin with a high- walled labyrinth of words and gradually clear the vines until a door that leads straight and scenically to the end appears.

ploafman · Post by **ploafman** » 27 Dec 2013, 12:25

Sometimes its best to keep character descriptions brief - pick out one unique thing to a character and describe it well like: "she had hair that swirled up like cotton candy," but don't describe everything else about her. BUT you don't have to cut a novel short if you have a long story to tell.