WRITING TIPS
Longer Isn’t Always Better
When writing, less is often more
Are you a writer who tends to write long or who goes over the word count by hundreds of words?
Is long-form never long enough?
Do you hold on to every word you’ve written as if it’s gold?
Writing lengthy pieces may seem like a small deal, but too many words could be the difference between a rejection and a yes or keeping the reader interested and engaged for the entire story.
With articles, memoir pieces, and essays, it’s crucial not to go on for too long as it can come off as indulgent and annoying to the reader.
Not everyone has the gift of storytelling. A poor storyteller will include unimportant details, are wordy and repetitive, or get lost in whatever point or message they wish to convey.
Most people don’t have huge attention spans, and if you want them to continue reading your material, you’ve got to be mindful of not only the length of a piece but its content.
As a professional writer for places like The Los Angeles Times, Salon, The Girlfriend, Woman’s Day, Next Avenue, Business Insider, and The Ethel, I’ve learned some things along the way.
