Dear readers,

Today's blog post is in memory of my grandfather, who in spite of being a rather difficult, complicated fellow, was also a genius when it came to language. He put a lot of value in creativity, but also smart use of words. Born in Eastern Europe, and coming to the US after surviving Auschwitz, he spoke 7 languages and had a long career in advertising. Stealing art supplies from the art department from said ad agency, he set up a make-shift studio in the basement for us grandkids. 

But he also had posters of all kinds that plastered the walls of that dank basement office. Some were clever Latin phrases. Some were ads he'd done. But this one is one I want to share with you, because I've carried it with me since moving out of my parents house, and think it is the most applicable to our purposes here on this agency blog. Without further ado (click through for larger image):

I was never entirely sure if he was the one who crossed out those extra words (the black marks match my Zayde's handwriting at the bottom that filled in a poor photocopy job which cut off the text). I like to think he did, but then again, that seems to be the point of the piece in the first place.

Whether he did or didn't, I hope my message is clear. This is how you write tightly. This is the key to editing. When agents and editors say write tightly, this is what we mean. Almost any piece of writing will be stronger for you having cut out anything that really doesn't need to be there, even on this micro level.

So, writers, take heed. Be ruthless with your words. Beware the economy of language. And if you don't want to listen to my grandfather, remember the line from The Phantom Tollbooth: "Today people use as many words as they can and think themselves very wise for doing so. For always remember that while it is wrong to use too few, it is often far worse to use too many."