Even if you don’t plan to become a professional writer, learning to write well sets you apart as a communicator across all professions. Small tweaks elevate good writing into great writing, especially when you’re given limited space to convey your ideas: 250 characters, 5 pages, or just an easily distracted reader.
If you are anything like me at all, you have definitely got a lot to say.
If you’re anything like me at all, you’ve definitely got a lot to say.
Of course, if you’re like me, you’ve got a lot to say. Parting with good ideas and beautiful sentences can be painful. However, as more words do not equal stronger writing, I’ve learned to practice ruthlessness while editing.
Interested in becoming an efficient writer? Here are 5 tips for being a ruthless editor of paragraphs and a careful crafter of sentences.
- Understand “good” vs. “relevant.”
Sometimes we include good and interesting ideas in our papers that are hard to part with but add unnecessary length. Consider if an idea is relevant to your thesis, instead of if it is good. For example, a paragraph on racism in “Moby Dick” might be interesting but irrelevant when discussing Melville’s theology.
- Create a graveyard.
While drafting, we all invest time in tangential paragraphs or sentences that we don’t want to let go. For this purpose, I use a blank Word document to create a “graveyard” where I put text that I like but isn’t relevant to my thesis. If I end up needing it later in the drafting process, I can easily retrieve it. Even if I never need the extra words, it softens the blow of deleting work.
- Learn from masters.
When you read published texts, especially academic articles, study them for style in addition to content. How do experts communicate concisely? Observe how well edited the first paragraph of a newspaper is, or how online comedians carefully use every character in a tweet for maximum impact. Emulate these masters in your own work.
- Leave plenty of time for editing.
When I’m stuck on how to rephrase something, coming back to the piece 1–2 days later gives me a fresh perspective. Try to build editing time into your schedule. If you’re a procrastinator like me, at least try to step away briefly between drafting for content and editing for clarity and concision.
- Don’t sacrifice style—but rethink what style looks like.
Efficiency doesn’t require lifeless writing. Select words with intention instead of settling on the first iteration of your ideas. F. Scott Fitzgerald mastered stylistic purpose in “The Great Gatsby.” Even in lengthy sentences, each word drives the sentence forward. It’s impressive to create a great American novel with fewer than 250 pages. Strive to revise like Fitzgerald.
As you edit, consider subbing a group of weaker words for a single stronger word, or rephrasing a sentence from passive voice to active voice. For example, instead of writing, “The dog ate the food quickly and ravenously,” write, “The dog devoured the food.” Instead of “A decision was made by the manufacturer to recall the defective parts,” write, “The manufacturer decided to recall the defective parts.” See the difference? These small changes preserve style while enhancing clarity.
For expanded advice about clear and concise writing, “On Writing Well” by William Zinsser illuminates how we fluff our everyday sentences with unnecessary repetition. The book is a must-read for all writers!
Armed with these strategies, go forth and be ruthless!
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Ella is a senior English major with a minor in Spanish. She enjoys talking about big books and even bigger ideas. Writing has been a wonderful way to express herself and build confidence in her ideas, and she enjoys helping others do the same! She firmly believes that everyone can produce great writing and has something interesting to say, and she loves working with writers on anything from putting their swirling ideas down on paper to refining edits for creative or academic writing.