Writers, Learn from Non-writers

[Peg Herring]

When I taught Shakespeare back in the day, invariably students would ask, "Why does it take him so long to say everything?" I'd launch into my canned explanation of the fact that Elizabethans liked the sound of the spoken word, since they weren't immersed in it as we are today, and the fact that the lack of elaborate sets meant the actors had to create the mood and an image of the physical scene, et cetera, et cetera. Often when I finished, the same student would say something like, "Whatever. He could have made it a lot shorter."

Reading posts on writers' sites, I have to admit something to myself: writers love words. We love our own words best of all, and many times we could say less and say more. I'm reminded of Pascal's note: "I'm sorry this letter is so long, but I did not have time to make it shorter."

Good writing is edited writing, where we cut out those extra phrases, superfluous words, and diversionary passages. We need to keep in mind that readers don't love words as much as we do; they're trying to get the story. When a writer takes a side road, each reader judges whether she will go along. Some may, but some will skip ahead to where things pick up again. (I know, I've done it myself.) If the diversion is entertaining, the reader may approve, but there is a point where the reader thinks, "But what is she going to do about the bad guy who is chasing her?"

As writers we need to listen to other writers (and editors and publishers and agent) about what constitutes good writing. But we also need to remember that readers in general don't love grammar, vocabulary, and syntax as much as we do. If you keep in mind that you're writing for readers, not other writers, it will simplify your life, and maybe your story as well.