Why Length Doesn't Always Equal Impact in Writing
And how to make every word count.
I love to settle in with a long book sometimes. Flipping through page after page and getting lost in a story is truly one of the most magical things about reading.
But I've also found myself reading books—or articles, posts on social media, and emails—and thinking, Will this ever end? Just get to the point!
And as an author, that's what you want to avoid. There's nothing inherently wrong with writing poetic, beautiful scenes with flowery language if it's appropriate for the genre and the audience. That is an essential "if" that authors shouldn't ignore. Why? Well, a recent post from The Lemon Tree Mindset answers that question, and this post made my jaw drop because it said, "The average attention span for an adult is 8 seconds. The average attention span for a goldfish is 9 seconds."
For authors and readers, this statistic is a little unsettling at first glance. No one is going to finish a book in eight seconds, obviously, but you have to keep your reader engaged. If you lose them, you risk their mind wandering to something else in a matter of seconds.
If your writing is unnecessarily detailed, you might lose people in the minutiae.
Yes, details matter, and little moments of clarity in a book make the reader feel connected and understood. But there's a difference between including short, poignant details and writing long, drawn-out scenes that overcomplicate what should be simple.
How do you know what to cut and what to keep?
There are a few ways you can approach the process of revising your work—and it's important to note that you should only start revising after your first draft is complete. Your first draft is a place for you to be creative and get everything out on paper.
When it's time to revise and "kill your darlings," you'll want to ask yourself what purpose each chapter, paragraph, sentence, and word serves. That doesn't mean each sentence should be action-packed; readers do need time to process what's going on. Being concise doesn't mean creating a rushed pace in your story or cutting down a 250-page novel to a 90-page novella. However, if an area in your manuscript isn't moving the book forward in some way, you should reassess its place in the book.
As we alluded to earlier, there are instances when it's appropriate to have drawn-out moments in a book. For example, a reader of a romance book would be annoyed if the author didn't spend enough time building up the connection between the two protagonists. Not doing this would go against genre expectations in a negative way. However, readers also won't appreciate tons of extra detail that adds nothing to the story even though the genre allows for some lengthier characterizations.
If you're still not sure how to create the most impactful story, working with an experienced editor can help.
An editor who's worked with authors in your genre can help identify what areas are essential and what should be removed from your manuscript. Your goal should be to both meet reader expectations and subvert them in a positive way, and the structure of your story can play a big role in how a reader perceives your work.
Of course, you should always ask questions if you're unsure why an editor is making a certain suggestion. If you're not in agreement, don't be afraid to talk it out; sometimes, the solution might be adding more context to make an existing scene easier to read, whereas, in other instances, you may need to rephrase or reexamine the placement of a sentence.
Ultimately, you want to make sure nothing is cut that removes central aspects of your story while creating a punchy, creative, and impactful story without much fluff.
How do you feel about a more minimalistic style of writing? How do you determine what to remove and what to keep in your own works?
A quick note to our readers:
Soon, we are going to offer paid monthly or annual subscriptions to our Substack. Our weekly newsletters will always be free, but we have created paid options for those who want to give additional support to KWE Publishing. We will provide a variety of perks for those who choose one of the paid subscriptions, including query letter and chapter outline templates, in-depth articles and downloadable graphics covering topics such as unexpected parts of publishing and how to find an illustrator, quarterly “ask-me-anything” posts, and more.
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If you are writing a book and want a hand, let us know! Our team—Kim, Emily, and Jean—would love to help you with creating your book. If you'd like to talk about your idea or want advice, we are here for you. Even if we don't work together, I'm happy to share what I know. Book a 30-minute complimentary consultation by clicking here:
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We look forward to hearing about your incredible book project.
Write on!
Kim Eley
KWE Publishing
“The purpose of a storyteller is not to tell you how to think, but to give you questions to think upon.”
—Brandon Sanderson
Coming Soon: Evan the Dragon!
If you’re looking for a beautifully illustrated children’s book with a great message then you won’t want to miss Evan the Dragon, written by Susan Bould and illustrated by Wouter Pasman! This amazing book launched on June 18th, 2024!
Evan, a little dragon with a big goal, hopes to win the town's annual contest and receive an amazing prize—a bright red wagon! He practices hard for the big day, and his practice pays off! However, his mom warns him to be gracious and kind. When his friends get tired of his bragging, Evan wishes he'd listened to his mom's advice.
You can click here to purchase the ebook, and we’ll share the link to purchase the paperback book soon!
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Writer, editor, and coach Sofia Wren recently opened her Digital Organization Membership! Sofia writes:
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Join Ben Gioa’s Podcast & Book Roadmap Workshop!
Author and expert from Influce With A Heart Ben Gioia recently shared information about his upcoming webinar, and we wanted to share with you, too! Ben writes:
Don't miss this!
Did you know? You don’t have to wait—till your book is published or your podcast is broadcast—for more leads, clients, and partners!
Because influence is for everyone (not just "influencers"). You'll see how easy it is to stand out as a unique expert, authority, or thought leader. You get instant credibility as your readers and listeners begin to know, like, and trust you.
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Join us on the 22nd and 23rd of June!
*Note: the link below is an affiliate link, meaning KWE Publishing earns a small commission on any items purchased through the link.
Free Upcoming Workshop with Dr. Anne Bartolucci!
Dr. Anne Bartolucci will be holding a free webinar on June 27th, 2024, at noon Eastern! She shares:
Have you ever set a goal and then asked yourself later, "What the #$@& was I thinking???"
Let’s be honest…setting goals is fun. Doing some of the things necessary to achieve them?
Not so much.
Then how do you stay motivated when the going gets tedious?
How can you feel satisfied with progress all the way through the process, not only at the end?
Values are the magic ingredient.
This is a good thing because everyone has them.
Join Dr. Anne Bartolucci, clinical psychologist, author of two nonfiction books, and USA Today Bestselling author of 20+ novels and novellas as she teaches you how to connect Values to making and achieving real-life creative goals.
In this workshop, you’ll learn:
- How to reverse-engineer your existing goals to uncover the values that drove you to make them
- How to integrate your Values into strategies and tactics
- How to connect Values to Identity so you can access fulfillment all the way through the writing process
Resources:
Here at KWE Publishing, we want to share a few of our favorite resources with our newsletter readers. Check back weekly to see what resources we recommend!
Something we really value at KWE Publishing is transparency, and we love finding others who are transparent about their journeys to success as authors. One of our favorite recent finds from an author and speaker who shares her experiences with honesty and grace is The Lemon Tree Mindset.
The Lemon Tree Mindset by Veronica Llorca-Smith is a great publication on Substack that combines practical writing and publishing advice with concepts of mindfulness and well-being. Veronica lets readers into her world by sharing her ups and downs as an author who gained a large following across a multitude of platforms, published her first three books in 2023, and made a book deal with Penguin Random House. The Lemon Tree Mindset offers readers practical tips for improving their writing practice and candid insights into the publishing and writing industries, so you’re sure to find something you’ll love.