[stylist] Story of hoodlums/word limit

[James H. "Jim" Canaday M.A. N6YR]

indeed,
that's the first question I ask myself when I am reading over the 
composition with an eye to editing or shortening.  but I have to 
balance with imagery and effect.
I could write:
He ran into the house.
or for the emotional place in the story, need of the character, etc., 
maybe it is better to say:
looking anxiously over his shoulder, he suddenly ran into the house 
for shelter.

jc

At 03:27 PM 1/10/2011, you wrote:
>There's a lot that's difficult about being a novelist.  If only a 
>publisher would buy a book that started out with, "Once upon a time" 
>and ended with, "And they all lived happily ever after."  The in 
>between space could be dedicated to sleeping.  But that's not being 
>a novelist.  Lori had the best advice for cutting down the word 
>count in a story.  Lori, correct me if I'm wrong, but she advised 
>taking out everything that didn't advance the plot. Judith
>----- Original Message ----- From: <LoriStay at aol.com>
>To: <stylist at nfbnet.org>
>Sent: Monday, January 10, 2011 4:12 PM
>Subject: Re: [stylist] Story of hoodlums/word limit
>
>
>Being a novelist, I know what you mean by having trouble limiting to 500
>words!
>Lori
>In a message dated 1/9/11 7:34:31 PM, n6yr at sunflower.com writes:
>
>
>>p.s. I did try to emphasize not exactly the opulence but the power of
>>Joab St. Brendan by how he ordered that the uniform be cleaned
>>in his hotel. and later the reference to the cigars.
>>
>>easily this could've been a 1250-word story.
>>jc
>>
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