Anyone who knows me, also knows I'm not big into details and that I am blunt. Admitting the blunt part isn't easy at all. I would rather say, I am diplomatically blunt. Doesn't that sound kinder? I am finding in this world of writing; people want details and verbosity. Being diplomatically blunt doesn't lend itself to either.
I was noncommittally looking into submitting an article with a magazine that wanted at least 1000 words per article. I'm sure there are a few subjects on which I could wax knowledgeably, by using a lot of big impressive words, but what happened to editing? Since when does using a lot of unnecessary words make a person intelligent and worthy of publishing? I feel sure I could say all that needs to be said on certain subjects in ten words or less. This is a problem when you are trying to interpret life on paper, which is what I do. All the time. My book is going to be the shortest one out there I guess, more accurately called a pamphlet.
I don't want to be blunt. I have spent years training myself by the grace of God to learn to say it softly, kinder, more tactfully, etc... I think I am kinder than I once was; tho, I remain as opinionated as ever. In reading the aforementioned magazine, one of the 1000 word articles I might add, I became dragged down with the details and bored with the subject. I started skim reading as I often do and before I knew it, I lost patience with the whole thing and went on to something else.
I concluded, I need to study the details better and to keep improving my speech habits in the blunt department while they need to think about the person who can say it in 500 words or less as a person who has done the editing and only wants to say what needs to be said. Too many directions cloud the vision and bog a person down. Very quickly there is no imagination left when all the blanks are filled in. Please somebody tell me there is truth to all this or was this just a whole lot of verbosity?
I was noncommittally looking into submitting an article with a magazine that wanted at least 1000 words per article. I'm sure there are a few subjects on which I could wax knowledgeably, by using a lot of big impressive words, but what happened to editing? Since when does using a lot of unnecessary words make a person intelligent and worthy of publishing? I feel sure I could say all that needs to be said on certain subjects in ten words or less. This is a problem when you are trying to interpret life on paper, which is what I do. All the time. My book is going to be the shortest one out there I guess, more accurately called a pamphlet.
I don't want to be blunt. I have spent years training myself by the grace of God to learn to say it softly, kinder, more tactfully, etc... I think I am kinder than I once was; tho, I remain as opinionated as ever. In reading the aforementioned magazine, one of the 1000 word articles I might add, I became dragged down with the details and bored with the subject. I started skim reading as I often do and before I knew it, I lost patience with the whole thing and went on to something else.
I concluded, I need to study the details better and to keep improving my speech habits in the blunt department while they need to think about the person who can say it in 500 words or less as a person who has done the editing and only wants to say what needs to be said. Too many directions cloud the vision and bog a person down. Very quickly there is no imagination left when all the blanks are filled in. Please somebody tell me there is truth to all this or was this just a whole lot of verbosity?
I don't like when the author says what he has to say and goes on to tell me the reader what to think as well. I think he should leave one or the other in the land of edited out! It's redundant and it presupposes his ineptness with being clear in the first place, AND it doesn't make me feel like saying, "Aha, I thought so." Instead, I want to say, 'Who says?" because I WANT to make my own conclusions. My opinion counts, too. Something like that! Every word an idea. Say it once and done.
ReplyDeleteYes. Exactly. I like when an author invites the reader to think about the situation and leaves room for your own conclusions.
DeleteAmen Sisters. Our world needs to be bigger. We all agree with you but no one else is commenting! Hee Hee! So we might not be normal after all. But I sure agree....
ReplyDeleteBut sometimes when I take time to read the small print I find the deeper story. But ya...I have to yawn my way there
If I have to yawn my way to 'deeper' than it was a waste of good time. :) Now was that diplomatically blunt or just plain blunt?
DeleteI understand what you're saying shilah ... I too am a rather blunt person an can be taken wrong if I don't watch out! I would like to think that I'm growing kinder..but know I have a ways to go :-) I am a skim reader who looks 4 the main story an skips the details so I'll read your book!
ReplyDeleteAwwh, thanks for the vote of confidence. :)
DeleteI don't have a lot of wisdom, but I like you the way you are and think you should write just that way. I am glad there is variety in the world - on some subjects I may like a lot of details....on others, just get to the point. Be your own style! :)
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of Ivan's descriptions of some sermons...they tell you what they are going to preach about...then they preach about it...then they tell you what they just preached about!! His take on the situation is to just go ahead and preach about it!! He must be related to the rest of you!! :-)
ReplyDelete