Make Your Words Count (Session 1)

In Protected content , Blaise Pascal wrote “If I had had more time, I would have written a shorter letter.”

What do you think? Is it harder (more time consuming) to write something short than something long?

And for that matter, is shorter necessarily better?

Let’s dive into this and see what we think. Because as writers, we want to make our words matter!

Some questions we’ll explore:

•Is shorter better than longer – why or why not? (Or, when vs when not?)
•How do authors utilize length to make their point?
•What does “making your words count” mean to you?
•How do you achieve maximum meaningfulness in what you write?
•What do you think about categorical “tricks” or “tips” some authors recommend for tightening up text – do they actually lead to better writing?

Feel free to bring examples of brief or lengthy writing that you feel demonstrate “making your words count.” Bring your own questions for debate, too!

We’re looking forward to hearing your thoughts on this!