In my slog to re-edit Echo 1, it has never been more clearly illustrated to me that good writing means learning The Art of Omission; in order to create a smooth, delicious story that dissolves on the palate of the readerly mind, I must learn where to dig deep and pour forth description, and when to hold back and let the reader’s mind supply a richness of detail that I as a writer could never be capable of.
I believe this principle can be applied to any form of communication.
I experienced the art of omission when I purchased the album ‘The Wit and Wisdom of Ronald Reagan’. It was blank on both sides.
Thank You So Much Blue December! Apologies if you’re on Volume 2; it’s mostly smoothed out but right now I’m cleaning out those last little bits and I’ll have something more squeaky clean in a week or two. I had to slap up a mostly revised version to coincide with my sale, but I’m getting the last little burrs out right now. There’s a few typos and repetition mistakes I’m taking care of.
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Great! I think volume 1 is free and clear; hopefully I’ll have 2 super clean before you get to it. It’s still pretty entertaining, from what I gather, but i’m trying to get it sparkly so it’s good enough for paperback.
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Congratulations! Yes, I have gone down the black hole of spending my time agonizing over the pacing difference between “then” and “and then” LOL
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Hey let me know! Don’t be afraid to impose if you want to ask me to share or whatnot; I’m kind of a busy bee so it’s hard for me to keep track of returning favors for people unless they ask me directly. 🙂
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Don’t be bashful, LOL! With us indie authors and blogger-folk, I like to highlight what’s good and let people know. I could “negative-nancy” anything, but what’s the point? (unless I’m editing my own stuff, lol)
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Perhaps, perhaps. I try to make room for both the praise and the criticism. But that’s also because I intend to make a career of writin, chiefly through teaching or copy editing. Being a novelist is the dream, but it’s a dream I can pursue on the side, like many authors have done.
Excellent point! Knowing what to keep and what to cut is one of the hardest challenges for me during revision.
I’d pay good money for a fabulous conversation, then again, I’d pay good money to learn the delicate art of conversation. Everything mostly seems a rush, an overspilling of unresearched ideas and words that always could be improved upon … or a ramble …
I agree! But I try and enjoy the mumbo jumbo. I think we as writers are a bit stricter about communication standards. 😉
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Yes, I often worry that I overdo my descriptions and get carried away – mustn’t forget the intelligence and imaginative ability of our readers.
Exactly! Also, I try to be mindful of the diff between the first moviegoers who were afraid by a train rushing toward the camera and the people today who can understand and enjoy “Hardcore Henry”; I try to constantly feel what the collective mindset of readers is so I can figure out how far I’m allowed to push the stylistic envelope.
Kent Wayne 
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