Three Things You Should Cut From Your Writing
Don't be afraid of the delete button. In these situations, it is addition by subtraction.
I love watching the NFL. This last season, especially the playoffs, was thrilling. I cannot wait until the next season starts (Go Bears!). However, one of the most annoying things about NFL commentary, especially color and studio commentary, is the repetitive way in which many former players feel they need to ad “in the National Football League” at the end of every thought. As if the viewers somehow forget every fifteen seconds what league we were watching here.
Redundancy is not just a problem for former linemen and quarterbacks on TV, it’s a problem that plagues writers. It’s one of three things I’m urging you today to cut from your writing.
Yes, if you want to improve your writing craft, cutting those precious words might be the most important discipline you learn. You want to write in such a way that the experience for the reader is enjoyable. You don’t want to make them work so hard they give up after the first paragraph. So after you’ve written, give yourself some time and space and then come back and use your scalpel to cut.
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