Apr
30th
2021
Concision and Ellipsis · 2:03am Apr 30th, 2021
Chapter 11 of The Runaway Bodyguard is out. Here is an example of how from one draft to another I improved my writing. Besides typos, I removed my hedge words. I deleted unnecessary articles. I switched verbs from the passive voice to active, substituting action verbs for to-be forms. I removed unnecessary implied objects (they yelled at me). I also selectively enhanced wording to accentuate sensory allusions.
It's funny how excised extra verbiage that seems important adds nothing.
Writers, you might want to analyze this. Ask yourself the question: Do the deleted words make any difference to the story or my perception of the scene?
Words of the day (and the lesson of my writing life): Concision and Ellipsis.
