Less Words, Greater Impact
Writers often try to measure their creativity by the wrong metric—the number of words written that day. It’s about as helpful as evaluating your last vacation based on the number of steps taken while there.
Volume doesn’t reflect quality. There’s great beauty in saying something simply. Even when addressing a deeper issue, less can be more. I try to practice that in these daily readings.
You may have heard of the time fellow writers challenged Ernest Hemingway during a meal to create a story in six words. He grabbed a napkin from the table and scribbled: “For Sale: Baby Shoes, Never Worn.” There’s doubt whether this really happened, but regardless, it’s a stunning example of what a handful of words are capable of.
Three of my favorite books have relatively few words. I hope you’ll read (or re-read) them. As you do, notice the writer’s talent (and courage) in saying just enough and no more. The illustrations certainly add to the story, but focus on what’s said…and left unsaid.
The Old Woman Who Named Things by Cynthia Rylant and Kathryn Brown
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy
Writers—make each word earn its place on the page. Do so by counting less…and creating more.
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