Comments on: Cut The Cleverness http://blog.writingpower.net/2008/05/05/cut-the-cleverness/ write better, live better Fri, 30 Jul 2010 21:26:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: loren http://blog.writingpower.net/2008/05/05/cut-the-cleverness/#comment-434 loren Tue, 06 May 2008 14:35:28 +0000 http://blog.writingpower.net/2008/05/05/cut-the-cleverness/#comment-434 Thanks for the great comments, one and all. Sounds like this is a phenomenon with which we are all familiar. It's so hard to get perspective on your own writing, isn't it? There is indeed a fine line between self-indulgent cleverness that serves the writer rather than the reader and what I'd call wit, or an engaging tone. Trying to define that line by considering things from the reader's perspective is important, even if we don't always hit the mark. Cheers! Loren Thanks for the great comments, one and all. Sounds like this is a phenomenon with which we are all familiar.

It’s so hard to get perspective on your own writing, isn’t it? There is indeed a fine line between self-indulgent cleverness that serves the writer rather than the reader and what I’d call wit, or an engaging tone.

Trying to define that line by considering things from the reader’s perspective is important, even if we don’t always hit the mark.

Cheers!
Loren

]]> By: Farfield http://blog.writingpower.net/2008/05/05/cut-the-cleverness/#comment-432 Farfield Tue, 06 May 2008 09:42:36 +0000 http://blog.writingpower.net/2008/05/05/cut-the-cleverness/#comment-432 Very nice post indeed. In the beginning I didn't even read back what I had written. And now I discover how important it is to read your own piece with the average reader in mind! Very nice post indeed. In the beginning I didn’t even read back what I had written. And now I discover how important it is to read your own piece with the average reader in mind!

]]> By: Arachne Jericho http://blog.writingpower.net/2008/05/05/cut-the-cleverness/#comment-431 Arachne Jericho Tue, 06 May 2008 07:36:25 +0000 http://blog.writingpower.net/2008/05/05/cut-the-cleverness/#comment-431 I suppose it depends on what's defined as "cutesy" and how far off the meter we're talking. It's a balance. Because gods know you don't want to be completely dry, but at the same time you do want to communicate. "Murder your darlings" is something you bring in when you need to edit the draft; you don't cut every last one. And I've known some PhDs who were... less than clueful. And yeah, I used to be in utter awe of them. I suppose it depends on what’s defined as “cutesy” and how far off the meter we’re talking.

It’s a balance. Because gods know you don’t want to be completely dry, but at the same time you do want to communicate. “Murder your darlings” is something you bring in when you need to edit the draft; you don’t cut every last one.

And I’ve known some PhDs who were… less than clueful. And yeah, I used to be in utter awe of them.

]]> By: Lillie Ammann http://blog.writingpower.net/2008/05/05/cut-the-cleverness/#comment-430 Lillie Ammann Tue, 06 May 2008 06:01:29 +0000 http://blog.writingpower.net/2008/05/05/cut-the-cleverness/#comment-430 I recently had a conversation about this with an editing client. He was so pleased with a particular scene he was sure that alone would win him an award of some kind. I repeated some excellent writing advice I'd heard: "murder your darlings." Great to see you reinforcing that here. I recently had a conversation about this with an editing client. He was so pleased with a particular scene he was sure that alone would win him an award of some kind. I repeated some excellent writing advice I’d heard: “murder your darlings.” Great to see you reinforcing that here.

]]> By: Bob Younce at the Writing Journey http://blog.writingpower.net/2008/05/05/cut-the-cleverness/#comment-429 Bob Younce at the Writing Journey Tue, 06 May 2008 03:35:15 +0000 http://blog.writingpower.net/2008/05/05/cut-the-cleverness/#comment-429 Excellent post, Loren. I absolutely love the "murder your darlings" story. Stumbled, subscribing, etc! Excellent post, Loren. I absolutely love the “murder your darlings” story. Stumbled, subscribing, etc!

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