Yes sir. You can be more careless, you can put more trash…
![“Yes sir. You can be more careless, you can put more trash in [a novel] and be excused for it. In a short story that's next to the poem, almost every word has got to be almost exactly right. In the novel you can be careless but in the short story you can't. I mean by that the good short stories…” quote by William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/q/i/ff6/william-faulkner-306_absolutes_yes-sir-you-can-be-more-careless-you-can_1716854.png)
“Yes sir. You can be more careless, you can put more trash in [a novel] and be excused for it. In a short story that's next to the poem, almost every word has got to be almost exactly right. In the novel you can be careless but in the short story you can't. I mean by that the good short stories like Chekhov wrote. That's why I rate that second - it's because it demands a nearer absolute exactitude. You have less room to be slovenly and careless. There's less room in it for trash.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Short stories demand precise language because their brevity leaves no room for excess, unlike novels where some carelessness can be forgiven.
In simple terms: Short stories need exact words; novels can tolerate some mess.
Key Takeaway
Choose words carefully in short fiction.
Themes
precision
form
craft
brevity
literary standards
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
instructional
reflective
When to use this quote
- writing workshops
- editing short stories
- literary criticism
- creative writing courses
Key Concepts
Narrative economy
authorial intent
genre constraints
Questions to Reflect On
- How does length affect your editing process?
- When can a short story break the rule of exactitude?
A Different Perspective
Short stories may still benefit from experimental freedom, but the pressure for exactitude can stifle innovation.