If your reader puzzles over a word or thought ever so slightly, if she is distracted by just one unnecessary word or phrase, you have lost her concentration.
The best writing has precision, which is, simply put, the exact word in its proper place.
Category: Rewriting
Be the editor, not the writer
Your job is to make your talented writer’s message clearer, so look to cut words and save your reader time.
Remove any interruptions of your reader’s experience. Static descriptions interrupt the story, so does exposition and summaries. Keep it focused on the story.
Then ask yourself ‘Is there any detail missing?’ Sometimes we become so focused on removing words that we unintentionally cut out the story’s heart.
