I’m just back from a “Writer’s Retreat” organized by the Madison Writer’s Studio. It was a glorious three days, full of inspiration, support, and teachings about the craft of writing. I’m grateful to Jim for holding down the fort, and for Susanna Daniel and Michelle Wild genes, the forces behind the MWS, for organizing such a empowering event. Given that I’m starting work on my second novel (see below for news about the first!!), the timing of this retreat was perfect.
There were workshops on Plot, Voice, Character, and Setting, but in every session the fact that “less is more” came up repeatedly. For example, in his book, On WritingStephen King said “Adverbs are not your friend.” King quotes his teacher John Gould as saying “When you write a story, you’re telling yourself the story. When you rewrite, your main job is taking out all the things that are not the story.” Almost all writers have to do it–take out words that add unnecessary weight while revising draft one, draft four, draft twenty two of a manuscript. I certainly did it (and am no doubt not done) with my first novel.
Here’s an example of less is more from our workshop on Voice, taught beautifully by Christopher Chambers. You may, (or may not), be surprised that it’s an excerpt from James Patterson’s Sundays at Tiffany’s. “Michael was running as fast as he could, racing down thickly congested streets . . . “. Sounds interesting. But. What if you read “Michael was racing down congested streets . . .”? Doesn’t racing already imply going as fast as one can? How does the word “thickly” add to the concept of congested streets? We got that they are busy streets already, right?
Less is more. And not just in writing. I’ve talked before about the importance of keeping things clear when working with clients, and early this year I wrote about the same topic–How Dog Training and Editing are the Same. So why write about it again? Because I was reminded the weekend before, at a three-day sheepdog clinic with Paddy Fanning, how hard it is for us humans to be clear. And how tiring it must be for dogs, especially dogs working at a high level under time pressure.
I’ve been working Skip this week using as few cues as I can manage, and it feels like it’s making his life better. Here’s the question I have for you: Why do we humans chatter so much? Why is it so hard for us to say less, not more? Both verbally and when writing? I await your wisdom.
Speaking of writing: Uh, I MAY have some big news for lovers of mystery novels very soon. I wish I could spill the beans, but all I can say is things are happening (finally, the MS was done in January) and I hope to have an announcement soon. That does NOT mean that the book is about to come out next month! Soonest is, help me take a breath, a year and a half from signing with a publisher. My saying “But I’m 75. And a half!” has no effect on the world of publishing, which seems to move at a different speed than many of us. So . . . maybe late winter/early spring 2026? Cross your paws.
MEANWHILE, back on the farm: Not much today, because if I don’t spend the rest of my energy typing up my prolific notes from the writing retreat it will never happen. Besides, Maggie and Skip would like to work sheep after their involuntary break from herding while I was gone.
But here’s my immediate family, taking a break at the Paddy Fanning clinic. This photo makes my heart sing. I am the luckiest woman in the world.
Here’s more happiness: The backyard day lily garden, drunk on all the rain we’ve had in the last two months:
And more flowers in the front:
I’m hoping there is a lot of happiness in your life right now. Tell us about it, and why you think it is SO HARD for us humans to stop tiring out our dogs with extraneous chatter? I’d go on about this, but, you know . . . , less is more.