C may also be for controversial, as I put forward the following theory.
I'm not being sexist, or making sweeping assumptions, I don't intend to offend anyone (ok, enough disclaimers, get on with it!) but it's been my experience that men are more concise than women. A gent may say "I went shopping for brown shoes yesterday, couldn't get any so I bought black instead", while a lady may go into detail about which shops she visited, which shoes she tried on, etc. Not a bad thing (the woman's version is obviously painting a fuller picture, telling a more detailed story), just one of the differences I've noticed between lads and lasses. I'm sure it can be the other way round, too.
So, where's this going? Well, one of my favourite books on writing is Strunk and White's The Elements of Style, recommended by Stephen King in his brilliant On Writing, which is my other favourite book. Not only does it tell you where an apostrophe should slip in and how to un-split infinitives (that's the crew of the Enterprise going boldy, then...), but it also has the best advice I've ever been given when it comes to writing and editing, all about being concise (which I originally intended to be with this post). That advice?
Omit needless words.
Nuff said.
You may be right about this. I know that I tend to ramble at times. I know when I'm reading a book, many times female writers do add in way to many details about outfits and shows. I'd rather they'd describe the character in other ways other than how they're dressed. I only really think I need to know what a person is wearing or how a room is decorated if the purpose is either to set a mood or because it will figure in the plot in some way. Found you from the A to Z. I like your post.
ReplyDeleteHey, I'm often a lady of few words. When I go shopping, I got to get what I planned on, stroll a bit quickly, then leave. Writing is best when it's concise, but sometimes you do need to expound.
ReplyDeleteYou might be right in general, but I can just go by what I experience, and some men just talk to hear their own voices without consideration to the etiquette of being concise. :)
Good advice, happy A to Z, thanks.
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