Literary Muscle

Writing is powerful. It has literary muscle to inspire, change and empower readers. But much like a physical muscle, it must maintain proper tone and be kept fit in order to be maximally effective. When a muscle is too lax, it needs to be toned and tightened to be structurally sound. Conversely, when a muscle is too tight, it needs to be lengthened and elongated for structural stability. Writing can also be too lax or too tight. If writing is too lax, it rambles and meanders around the central theme or message. Readers get lost in all the convolutions. Lax writing is wordy, full of modifiers and repetitive wording, and generally lacks form. To tighten up lax writing, sentences need to be stripped of unnecessary wording and their content refocused on the central message. Any words that deviate from that message need to go. Long, rambling passages need to be shorter and to the point. On the other hand, if writing is too tight, it sounds terse and choppy. It lacks flow and transition. Readers find it to be confusing and disjointed. To loosen up tight writing, sentences need to be elongated with language that creates rhythm and fluidity between ideas. Short, choppy sounding words should be replaced with words that have a softer, smoother sound. Ample transitional wording should glide the reader from one idea or passage to the next in a seamless way. Writing needs conditioning just like muscles do; and writing that is fit, that is tonally intact to readers' ears, will have a powerful impact and leave a lasting impression.