Thread: Overwriteitisis!!!!!

I have an awful feeling I am suffering with this. Actually I know I am.
How can I over come this? Any hints and tips would be appreciated.

Define?

I over write, trying to be clever I think. Lots of hedging words and words that I probably don't need, but put in to look clever. I'm beginning to think, I'm just no good.

I do this, not as much as I used to but I still do it from time to time.

I can only suggest that you edit and edit it down to just what is needed, reading it back frequently as I wrote helped me. It helped me to catch myself if things were becoming too florid and nip it in the bud. I just think it's about practice and re-adjusting your writing habits. Not easy but doable.

Thanks Nenada. I try and do this, but then feel its hacked to death lol

Ernest Hemingway was the best writer I've ever encountered with the ability to tell riveting stories using everyday language. He was the master of it. I dare say anyone aged nine or upwards could pick up one of his books and read it. At the same time, his prose was never ordinary. Some of his sentences were an absolute joy to read. How someone could say so much by saying so little still astounds me.

I went through the same phase as you, Alfiemama. I broadened my vocabulary so much that I started building sentences around words. I would see a new word in another novel and then insert it into my own work. Most of the time I wasn't even using it in the right context. My work became almost a manual of technical and formal words. Here's the thing, though: I've learned that readers tend to get very frustrated if they have to do work. By work, I mean opening a dictionary. They want a story they can get lost in. Formal words they don't understand will break their flow. If they come on enough of them, they may cease reading completely.

Good writing isn't about showing how much vocabulary you have. That may be okay for academic essays where you need to appear smart. For creative writing, though, it can be considered pretentious. I wouldn't say to completely dumb-down your prose. A big word here or there will go unnoticed. Twenty of them on a page, however, won't. Remember that you aren't writing for yourself. Whether or not you understand those words is irrelevant. The people who are going to read it -- that's who you're writing for. If your target audience is young adult, you aren't going to endear yourself to anyone by writing a dictionary.

Simple equals safe. So keep it simple.

Thank you Sam. Just what I needed to hear. Very well put and something that will definitely help me.

I do agree with Sam's observations on Hemingway, though I'll contradict what he said about readers having to pick up a dictionary. I don't mind if I need to do that, I'm learning whilst enjoying the read at the same time. At the same time I wouldn't enjoy having to put the novel down several times in a chapter.