Writing Craft: A Lesson on Brevity (Repost + New Notes)
To push the boundaries of word economy, a writer must learn the difficult art of brevity. I find it remarkably hard to master this art, despite my love for short work in both poetry and prose. The topic of economy in writing is both strengthened and weakened by an understanding of poetry. Poetry emphasizes the importance of each word. However, it draws heavily upon the subconscious imagery of the symbol — an easy thing to do in today’s emoji-laden communication. Composition doesn’t have that simple workaround, so needs to rely on craft and word choice. A writer must, instead, tap into the difficult art of paragraph construction to convey important ideas quickly.
In classes, I’ve heard complaints about populating the required 700-word essay responses. In creative writing circles, I’ve read lamentations of the same as a limitation. Crafting a paragraph, at times, feels like an arcane magic. The five paragraphs should be around eight sentences and 120 words each. For reference, my previous paragraph was around 110 words and seven sentences — right on target. In eight sentences, you need a topic sentence in the first position and a transition in the final position. For those struggling to meet the word minimum, these two posts are a boon; they are a bane to the prolix writer. Many of us are, unfortunately.
While difficult, staying within a limited word count can be an exercise in concision. I tend to write as I think. Thoughts arise and are sprinkled into the paragraph like a child blowing on a white dandelion. They have no aim, no purchase; to do so is not writing craft. Think, instead, of painting. In painting, you do not embellish your work endlessly until it’s “done,” then go back and erase, redo. There is an overvalued worship of the editing process in writing. I can write 2,300 words right now, concluding the exact point which I am making. Editing after composition has some very strong points, however. As I am reposting this, I am editing for clarity and concision, as well as updated viewpoints on the editing process. No one is a writing wizard, we're all just practicing.
Basic self-editing, however, is so much easier than you think. How to do it is encapsulated in the past three paragraphs. Look at the size of them, get a feel for their flow, and maybe even read them aloud. Use the topic sentence to guide your ideas in the next three, then work backward for the next three until the transition. This works best with scholarly writing, but can be useful in creative work as handrails for moving a scene. Consider what ideas, images, or thoughts don’t fit into the work, or meander in subject. Is the paragraph longer or shorter than you would expect? Are you arriving at your intended conclusion logically? Did every paragraph serve that goal? Editing will best help if you let go of unnecessary ideas, no matter how precious they may be to you. The only way to master self-editing is through heart-wrenching practice.
The greatest tool that poets use is an impactful word choice - what is known as poetic diction. I now alter the old saying from “talk” to “text is cheap.” Texting gives any person access to unlimited word counts and character limits, within reason of the receiver, but isn’t bound by the same rules as writing. Limitless thought and endless curiosity are the lifeblood of the developing child. As we age, we sharpen a ravenous passion into skilled pursuit, expansive thinking into communicable ideas. Word choice in writing is no different. Understanding diction is a practice in self-editing, creating stronger statements and clearer intent. The skill of paragraph composition through self-editing serves only to strengthen your writing. While difficult to master, practice will improve your abilities. This post has been my practice - a way for me to test through doing. Through similarly sized paragraphs, self-editing AND traditional editing, I have met my goal.
22 April 2026 Update
On my statement, "There is an overvalued worship of the editing process in writing," - I am willing to note that this claim was incorrect. Professor Goldberry Long, a writer and neuroscientist researching the effect of creativity on the brain, explained to me that self-editing is actually one of the things that contributes to lack of confidence in writers. This is what is meant by writer's block - a loss of confidence. If you limit your thinking by editing on the composition level, according to Prof. Long, you can also interrupt the natural process the brain uses to create novel connections. These novel connections are what develop and advance creative thinking. Professional writers, such as myself, have developed through regular practice, a level of self-editing that is automatic. This skill is very helpful, but can create a feedback loop in creative progression. So, I present an alternative idea to augment my original assertions: self-edit to the best of your ability. Prof. Long suggested to me that if that self-editing turns from beneficial to limiting, turn it off and just go with the flow. What is most important is getting the ideas out without poisoning your creativity. That is the true benefit of post-production editing, to free up your beautifully creative mind to create things that have never been thought of before.
