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“The most important characteristic of good writing is clarity. Look at any first-draft sentence. Could it be clearer by moving words around–or by cutting out words that hide your point? I am a good writer. I am convinced that my first draft may contain a solid gold idea or even phrase, but only my eighth or ninth draft will be as clear as possible, allowing my thought to shine through. Try it.” Toby Stein
A fierce advocate of direct, unfussy language, Toby Stein is an editor, author, and poetry lover. She’s also a cherished KWD reader and when she left this comment recently, I wanted to share it. More Toby tips:
- Hone your words with precision and patience — it’s easy to be trite and hackneyed.
- Adverbs are weak cousins to nouns and verbs. Start out with strong nouns and verbs — and use adverbs sparingly.
- Choose verbs that are “specific, accurate, and strong” — verbs like “walk, laugh, and cry” are too unspecific to really engage or affect your readers.
- Fiction’s main goal is to create a protagonist that readers can identify with. The more specific your language, the more real your character becomes.
- Write your first draft fast enough to get your whole story out, then shift into revision mode. Revision = focused writing + making choices.
- A novel isn’t a photograph, it’s impressionistic. Each revision gives you the chance to paint a better picture by picking better nouns and verbs. If you’re just adding words without enriching the meaning or the effect, you’re not improving your story, you’re “disimproving” it.
- It’s very important “not to squander specifics:” Numbers, dates, times, and colors all add emotional and descriptive impact. Azure, royal blue, teal — each shade of blue colors your story a little differently, for example.
- 1+1=1/2. If you have two words or phrases, you diminish the impact of both, so choose one. The one that’s simplest is often the best choice.
- Beware of larding your language: “So much that we write is extraneous — it doesn’t add meaning or feeling or purpose.”
- “Make friends with two delete buttons: the one on your computer and the one in your head.” Make it a point to delete a phrase or word that pops into your head if isn’t a satisfying choice. Push yourself to find a better one: Don’t settle for second-rate.
“Use the right word everywhere — not its second cousin” – this is one of Mark Twain’s rules of writing and Toby Stein heartily agrees with it! Bravo, Toby, write on!