Last week, I finally finished the manuscript for my new book, People Tools for Business: 50 Strategies for Building Success, Creating Wealth, and Finding Happiness. In the midst of the final throes of the writing process, I was happy to stumble upon a delightful NY Times article by Amy Klein about her experience having her writing critiqued by others at a writer’s workshop. Using humor and insight, she lists a variety of tips that one should have in mind when engaging in the often-excruciating process of critique.
I found her experience to be quite familiar and got a much-needed comic break from my own writing process. I wanted to share several of my favorite tips here, which you may or may not be familiar with.
When in Doubt, Take it Out
This is the age of texting. I limit my weekly blog to about 600 words. Would you be as eager to read it at 2,000 words? I wouldn’t. Take out every word that is not necessary. I recently edited the following sentence:
Original — I am writing this letter to you today to ask for a one line endorsement of my new book “People Tools for Business,” which is scheduled to be published on September 30, 2014.
Revision — I am writing to respectfully request a one line endorsement of my new book “People Tools for Business.”
Deletions — “this letter” (that fact is obvious); “today” (obvious – did you write it tomorrow? Last week? Who cares.); “which is scheduled to be published on September 30, 2014.” (At this point not relevant. If the answer is “yes,” then timing will be discussed.)
Use Words Which are Strong, Specific, and Interesting
“Ran” is stronger than “went.” “Smug” or “vain” are more specific than “proud.” “Thundering” is more interesting than “loud.”
Use the Microsoft Word Thesaurus. I find it to be both quick and helpful.
Write the way you Talk
If you wouldn’t use a word when you speak, then don’t use it when you write. Would you ever say in conversation, “The articulateness of the speaker was surpassed only by his exaggerated sense of his own self-importance”? I prefer, “He was more smug than articulate.”
Never Over-edit
Revise your writing to your heart’s content, but be aware that, especially when you are tired, your edits might weaken your text rather than improve it.
‘Kill Your Darlings’ (from the article)
William Faulkner is one of the writers attributed with having said “In writing, you must kill all your darlings,” which means you should take the one phrase you love most and get rid of it. That’s because if you’re so enamored with some bit, it probably doesn’t work in the grand scheme of the piece.
However, when your peers tell you this, they might be excising every original construction you ever wrote (see #1, “Find Your Voice”). Perhaps they don’t understand brilliance. Perhaps they understand brilliance but don’t want you to succeed.
You can read the full article here.
Always remember that each of us, including you, often has a hidden agenda that lives in the unconscious mind, and we would deny that agenda if asked.
CAVEAT: I am not writing this blog to let you know how wonderful I am as a writer or to plug People Tools for Business.
-Alan
I hate to waste money, but for the past six months I’ve been driving my new red Tesla which is the most enjoyable car I’ve ever handled. I’m able to listen to every radio station in the world, including News Burundi. I now have a trunk in front and a trunk in back, so my new car serves as an even better portable closet than my last one with hardly any storage space at all.
That’s the way this type of inner debate usually ends. Normally reason trumps emotion, but my emotional habit is to save every dollar I possibly can. I had a similar debate with myself in a men’s room yesterday. A penny was lying on the restroom floor. It was a bright copper penny. But I had to bend over to pick it up. In that case emotion won. I picked it up and dropped it into my pocket, vowing to write an article in a few years about how I turned the penny into a million dollars in my spare time.
I’ve supervised hundreds of employees, and I can say without a doubt that one of the most difficult parts of being a manager is the dreaded annual review process.
contribution to the company that saves time and money, increases profits and productivity, or improves the working conditions in the office, consider awarding them a one-time bonus. This way, the annual review can be just as much about rewarding performance as it is about offering constructive suggestions on how to improve.