Appreciate this post. I have this tendency too. I often want to caveat and comment more on the words I write. I often go the other way and take words away as i do think the additional words would be distracting because they are, as you say, "difference in tone and... in spirit".
I am curious to understand how you identify which words (and ideas) you decide to take away. Is there anything going through your mind that informs how you take certain words away, or is it more pure instinct and feeling?
Surely, editing sometimes - especially when it adds clarity - improves the writing, but I struggle with doing this well without ruining the tone and spirit. Discussing editing and concision reminds me of "I would have written you a shorter letter if I had more time."
Appreciate this post. I have this tendency too. I often want to caveat and comment more on the words I write. I often go the other way and take words away as i do think the additional words would be distracting because they are, as you say, "difference in tone and... in spirit".
Thanks Mike. Exactly.
I am curious to understand how you identify which words (and ideas) you decide to take away. Is there anything going through your mind that informs how you take certain words away, or is it more pure instinct and feeling?
Surely, editing sometimes - especially when it adds clarity - improves the writing, but I struggle with doing this well without ruining the tone and spirit. Discussing editing and concision reminds me of "I would have written you a shorter letter if I had more time."