Less Is More

Sometimes in our zeal to be effective writers, we load up our prose with descriptive language. The idea is that if a little description is good, then a lot of description is even better. But actually the opposite is true. Writing that is glutted with adjectives and adverbs becomes busy and distracting for readers. This kind of cluttered language is challenging to read because it trips up the tongue. It becomes confusing and readers give up. Lean, clean prose with minimal descriptors is the best way to communicate. This forces you to carefully select descriptive language, using the most powerful options to get your message across. Lean description is easier for readers to read and easier for them to visualize. Providing a skeletal framework of descriptive detail gives readers the opportunity to fill in the rest for themselves. And this is what readers want. They don't want writers to describe everything for them. They want to imagine for themselves because that's what makes reading exciting. Using descriptive language sparingly brings power to your writing and creates a more meaningful experience for your readers. When you feel the urge to go all out with description, rein it in and remember: less is more.