almost all American writers tend to overwrite, to tell too…
“almost all American writers tend to overwrite, to tell too much. I get the disillusioned feeling that novels, today, are sold by the pound, like groceries. It actually takes a great deal more discipline to be able to leave out rather than to throw in everything. This means that you have to say in one sentence precisely what you mean, instead of saying sort of what you kind of mean in hundreds of sentences and hoping the sum total will add up.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Effective writing requires restraint; saying less often conveys more than overloading prose.
In simple terms: Write concisely for impact.
Key Takeaway
Choose precision over excess.
Themes
writing
discipline
conciseness
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
literary
advice
When to use this quote
- novel drafting
- academic essays
- blog posts
- marketing copy
Key Concepts
minimalism
clarity
editing
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you decide what to cut?
- What detail adds essential meaning?
A Different Perspective
Too much brevity can strip nuance or voice.