Comments on: Improve Your Writing With Conservation of Words http://onemansblog.com/2007/11/02/improve-your-writing-with-conservation-of-words/ Specialization is for Insects. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 05:44:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Smartest Man in the World Espouses Virtues of Eugenics | One Man's Blog http://onemansblog.com/2007/11/02/improve-your-writing-with-conservation-of-words/comment-page-1/#comment-65138 Smartest Man in the World Espouses Virtues of Eugenics | One Man's Blog Mon, 04 Oct 2010 10:04:17 +0000 http://onemansblog.com/2007/11/02/improve-your-writing-with-conservation-of-words/#comment-65138 [...] subtitled “The Theory of Theories.” Man, I really wish he’d read my article about conservation of words. I skimmed through the whole thing and frankly I’ve never seen so many words used to end in [...] [...] subtitled “The Theory of Theories.” Man, I really wish he’d read my article about conservation of words. I skimmed through the whole thing and frankly I’ve never seen so many words used to end in [...]

]]> By: Kiki http://onemansblog.com/2007/11/02/improve-your-writing-with-conservation-of-words/comment-page-1/#comment-61774 Kiki Sun, 13 Jun 2010 22:14:43 +0000 http://onemansblog.com/2007/11/02/improve-your-writing-with-conservation-of-words/#comment-61774 The beauty of Nabokov is not the one true sentence Hemingway strived for, but the flowers he created using form. If Nabokov wrote like Hemingway, Lolita would not be such a joy to read. On one hand, you have the stories themselves that engages the reader (Hemingway); on the other, it is not what the story is about per se, but rather how the story is being portrayed that makes for the difference (Nabokov). That is to say, it doesn't matter what Nabokov writes, but the words and the style by which he writes, that makes his work such a joy to read. You can write "this leaf is different from the other,"but it' s much harder to write, beautifully, about the idiosyncratic nature of a peculiar leaf, and how that leaf differentiates itself from another. The beauty of Nabokov is not the one true sentence Hemingway strived for, but the flowers he created using form. If Nabokov wrote like Hemingway, Lolita would not be such a joy to read. On one hand, you have the stories themselves that engages the reader (Hemingway); on the other, it is not what the story is about per se, but rather how the story is being portrayed that makes for the difference (Nabokov). That is to say, it doesn’t matter what Nabokov writes, but the words and the style by which he writes, that makes his work such a joy to read. You can write “this leaf is different from the other,”but it’ s much harder to write, beautifully, about the idiosyncratic nature of a peculiar leaf, and how that leaf differentiates itself from another.

]]> By: Tom in Sj http://onemansblog.com/2007/11/02/improve-your-writing-with-conservation-of-words/comment-page-1/#comment-44094 Tom in Sj Tue, 11 Nov 2008 04:02:52 +0000 http://onemansblog.com/2007/11/02/improve-your-writing-with-conservation-of-words/#comment-44094 To pander to the "Average Person" who can't make those inferences, the merchant must be as explanatory as possible. I have many friends/relative who asks all those stupid questions "Is this fresh?", "or is this on sale?", or the worst instance when I worked in a bike shop, "do you sell bikes?" I agree with the "get to the point" mentality, but sadly average Joe (the plumber...) needs a flowery story or fancy packaging. So inefficient. To pander to the “Average Person” who can’t make those inferences, the merchant must be as explanatory as possible. I have many friends/relative who asks all those stupid questions “Is this fresh?”, “or is this on sale?”, or the worst instance when I worked in a bike shop, “do you sell bikes?” I agree with the “get to the point” mentality, but sadly average Joe (the plumber…) needs a flowery story or fancy packaging. So inefficient.

]]> By: Tom Barr http://onemansblog.com/2007/11/02/improve-your-writing-with-conservation-of-words/comment-page-1/#comment-34155 Tom Barr Mon, 24 Dec 2007 04:58:07 +0000 http://onemansblog.com/2007/11/02/improve-your-writing-with-conservation-of-words/#comment-34155 Fresh fish isn't such a good example as frozen fish is the common alternative. My favorite example is "Fresh Jerky". Jerky is dried out, preserved meat so it doesn't matter how fresh or old it is but I see signs in rural areas of California promoting "Best Fresh Turkey Jerky Sold Here" so I guess I can reduce that to "Jerky" now. Fresh fish isn’t such a good example as frozen fish is the common alternative. My favorite example is “Fresh Jerky”. Jerky is dried out, preserved meat so it doesn’t matter how fresh or old it is but I see signs in rural areas of California promoting “Best Fresh Turkey Jerky Sold Here” so I guess I can reduce that to “Jerky” now.

]]> By: John P. http://onemansblog.com/2007/11/02/improve-your-writing-with-conservation-of-words/comment-page-1/#comment-30425 John P. Sun, 04 Nov 2007 16:21:33 +0000 http://onemansblog.com/2007/11/02/improve-your-writing-with-conservation-of-words/#comment-30425 Very good point John. If a writer rambles on endlessly they are going to lose the readers attention. John Very good point John. If a writer rambles on endlessly they are going to lose the readers attention.

John

]]> By: John Williams http://onemansblog.com/2007/11/02/improve-your-writing-with-conservation-of-words/comment-page-1/#comment-30421 John Williams Sun, 04 Nov 2007 14:34:09 +0000 http://onemansblog.com/2007/11/02/improve-your-writing-with-conservation-of-words/#comment-30421 This is the script of a famous magic trick called, "Fresh Fish" originated by, I think, Arnold Furst. The words are printed on a strip of paper and torn away, one at a time. Then, the whole phrase is restored. How do we do it? Very, very well! Whether a writer can be "as verbose as they want to be" depends on how much they care about people taking the time to read what they write. This is the script of a famous magic trick called, “Fresh Fish” originated by, I think, Arnold Furst.
The words are printed on a strip of paper and torn away, one at a time.
Then, the whole phrase is restored.
How do we do it? Very, very well!
Whether a writer can be “as verbose as they want to be” depends on how much they care about people taking the time to read what they write.

]]> By: Lisa Marie Mary http://onemansblog.com/2007/11/02/improve-your-writing-with-conservation-of-words/comment-page-1/#comment-30402 Lisa Marie Mary Sat, 03 Nov 2007 14:13:12 +0000 http://onemansblog.com/2007/11/02/improve-your-writing-with-conservation-of-words/#comment-30402 Great message - makes so much sense! And I love the illustrations - I went and subscribed to his blog, too! :) Great message – makes so much sense! And I love the illustrations – I went and subscribed to his blog, too! :)

]]> By: MG http://onemansblog.com/2007/11/02/improve-your-writing-with-conservation-of-words/comment-page-1/#comment-30380 MG Fri, 02 Nov 2007 16:34:50 +0000 http://onemansblog.com/2007/11/02/improve-your-writing-with-conservation-of-words/#comment-30380 The acronym KISS was created for people like me. I'm guilty of answering a simple question with a paragraph or three =P The acronym KISS was created for people like me. I’m guilty of answering a simple question with a paragraph or three =P

]]> By: John P. http://onemansblog.com/2007/11/02/improve-your-writing-with-conservation-of-words/comment-page-1/#comment-30373 John P. Fri, 02 Nov 2007 13:28:57 +0000 http://onemansblog.com/2007/11/02/improve-your-writing-with-conservation-of-words/#comment-30373 Ahh, but there is a difference between substance and style. I think we are in agreement about excercising "conservation of words", although the point is to use the minimum number of words to <em>get the point across effectively</em>. There is no reason that writing concisely means bland, boring or impact-less. John Ahh, but there is a difference between substance and style. I think we are in agreement about excercising “conservation of words”, although the point is to use the minimum number of words to get the point across effectively.

There is no reason that writing concisely means bland, boring or impact-less.

John

]]> By: Urbanist http://onemansblog.com/2007/11/02/improve-your-writing-with-conservation-of-words/comment-page-1/#comment-30355 Urbanist Fri, 02 Nov 2007 08:16:03 +0000 http://onemansblog.com/2007/11/02/improve-your-writing-with-conservation-of-words/#comment-30355 Well, we've discussed this a bit already, but for your reading audience I'll do a bit of a repeat :) Basically, I agree that verbosity is problematic. However, I also think that in these postmodern times in a way everything has become a story - even history which used to be thought of as fixed 'truth' has become more about perspective and the recognition of inherent bias. Anyway, I could rant for a while but I'll just say: brevity is good, but flavor is also necessary ;) Well, we’ve discussed this a bit already, but for your reading audience I’ll do a bit of a repeat :)

Basically, I agree that verbosity is problematic. However, I also think that in these postmodern times in a way everything has become a story – even history which used to be thought of as fixed ‘truth’ has become more about perspective and the recognition of inherent bias.

Anyway, I could rant for a while but I’ll just say: brevity is good, but flavor is also necessary ;)

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