Quality vs. quantity, in words as in wine: A Guest Post by Kathe Lieber
In keeping with our interest in the subject of language, I’ve asked long-time friend and PWAC colleague, Kathe Lieber, to post her first-ever blog post here with us.
Kathe is a writer, editor and translator in Montreal, has freelanced blissfully, and mostly gainfully, since 1982. She comes by her passionate love of language honestly, having inherited her logophilia (look it up) from her father, a retired English teacher who is still writing at the age of 92. For the past 15 years, Kathe has taught writing skills to adult students at the Thomas More Institute in Montreal.
Kathe Lieber is a Montreal-based editor.
Please welcome Kathe’s post with the same enthusiasm we saw for the last post on this blog.
Quality vs. quantity, in words as in wine
If you were born a native English speaker, consider yourself to be in possession of a great, giddy fortune. English is the lingua franca used by millions of people around the globe, with something like a million words in circulation. English imports and exports words from and into other languages at a dizzying rate. A high proportion of electronic communications around the globe is written in English.
As William Zinsser notes in the introduction to On Writing Well, the advent of e-mail changed everything. “Today, everybody in the world is writing to everybody else, making instant contact across every border and across every time zone.” But there’s a huge hiccup here: “Nobody told all the new computer writers that the essence of writing is rewriting. Just because they’re writing fluently doesn’t mean they’re writing well.”
Most of us “dash off” e-mail messages, and we tend to use the same 27 words over and over again. The reasons are obvious: we’re trying to pack too much into our days and nights. If a message conveys the essential of what we want to say and there aren’t too many squiggly lines under too many words, then it must be good to go, right? Well, not necessarily.
These days, I savour less but better wine. I let the best dark chocolate melt in my mouth. The same goes for words. I try to make every word count. Excessive punctuation (!!!!!!!) and smiley faces make poor substitutes for vivid writing, filled with words that convey subtle shades of meaning. Thoughtful messages touch the reader’s head and heart. Writing this way takes a little more time, but it’s worth it.
So, a modest proposal: consider sending fewer, shorter, better e-mails. Save your message, do something else for a while, and return to it with fresh eyes. Use spell check only to find typos – don’t trust it. Keep a dictionary (I have six in daily use) and a thesaurus on your desk. Look words up in books for the sheer pleasure of learning – especially the incidental learning that occurs on the way to the word that started you on your quest. Your writing will gain greatly in clarity, and your correspondents will thank you for it.
Thanks again, Kathe, for being the first-ever guest blogger here.
I don't consider this "writing for free." I consider it an investment in my future, as building these blogs has been an integral part of building my author's platform. My payment will come in the form of a nice big advance cheque for the chocolate book.
And each book that I write is like an RRSP — a contribution to my pension income.
The way in which we writers make our livings has definitely changed from the days when you and I started in the business. Back then, we did everything we could to protect our copyright, resell our work and ensure we were paid for every use of each one of our published words.
In today's world, it is imperative that writers have a big fat platform that will convince publishers that they are viable commodities in today's highly competitive world of publishing.
All the best in the New Year.
Thanks to everyone who commented (mainly friends and students!). I appreciate your kind words, and the odd contrary opinion (thanks, Alex). I enjoyed this "first," but don't think I'll take up blogging any time soon. Earning a living is my priority, and that means writing (and editing and translating) for pay. However, I do consider myself fantastically fortunate to earn my living playing with words every day…
You're so right, Joanne! Social media has taught us to write tighter. We need to grab the reader's attention (nearly) instantly, as we are all so pressed for time and have shorter attention spans than we used to. I know that I read (and respond to) short e-mails promptly. Whereas longer ones (which require more of my attention and more time to respond to) often get left on the computer unread or awaiting a response.
And thanks for dropping in again to comment, Irene. I'm really grateful for the Oxford (American) Dictionary that is built right into my Mac. Saves me having to get up and walk to my bookcase. Although I do regularly rely on my Oxford Canadian Dictionary when I need advice on word selection.
Very interesting post, Kathe, and as Christine said, beautifully written.
Alex, I like the food analogy you made (mere "putting words on paper/screen" = fast food, and "creating a piece of writing" = gourmet cuisine). And I agree that it does seem logical that the micro-blogging venues function as the writing equivalent of conversation, with all the freedoms and lack of constraint that implies.
That said, I still think it would be a good idea if people edited their conversations a little more. We live in an age of blather, when people on the street will say anything that pops into their mind when a reporter's microphone is shoved in their face.
The fact is that pruning one's verbal or e-mail communications inevitably spills over into the writing, in a positive way.
Two examples: When I subscribed to the listserv of a writers' organization I belong to (PWAC, the Professional Writers' Association of Canada), almost overnight my writing became less wordy. I had an audience, and I knew that within minutes they would read what I had written, and that the attention of these busy people was limited.
The same thing happened when I signed up on Facebook. People won't read long, windy essays there *and* they want to be entertained, so you have to get right to the point in an engaging way. I've found that the concision that comes from crafting updates within the alloted number of characters has become a habit that enriches all other kinds of communication.
I enjoyed reading your guest blog, Kathe. While an informal email to a friend does not require as much care as a business email does, I certainly agree that there is a minimum standard that all emails should reach — including no typos and spelling errors.
I have my Canadian Oxford Dictionary on a small table (made by my daughter) right beside my computer. My Webster's New World College Dictionary, my Canadian French dictonary, and my Dictionary of Foreign Terms are in a nearby book case.
I like the distinction you make, Alex. To me, Twitter & FB are the equivalent of having a quick, informal conversation. I don't think we have the need to worry too much about word selection or diction. Twitter pretty much dictates that we shorten & omit words in order to fit our thoughts into the 140 characters. It can certainly be a challenge sometimes! By the way, I'm @wizardofwords if you'd like to hook up there.
Stefan, I've asked Kathe to respond directly to your point as I think it's something she'd like to chime in on.
And Rebecca, thanks for dropping by the blog, and for the kudos. But the kudos for this particular post go to guest blogger, Kathe Lieber. She has been a follower of this blog since its inception. We hope you'll drop in again soon. Posts are made every second week.
Good post, Doreen! I LOVED it!!!!!
Oops, a few too many exclamation marks there. heehee. I'll have to work hard to eradicate bad habits.
Seriously, you've made excellent points. Writing can be so much more than communication– it is an art form.
Puzzling to consider how both precision and content within e-mails and short-stories differ. For example, e-mails lack substance and content yet could be considered, due to length, as short-stories. The shorter the story, however, the more difficult precision and content become yet in emails, content is slang and precision translates into !!!!!!!!!!!!.
I understand why emails are soulless, time-constrained, whimsical transfers of information, but as I've been told time and time again: the shorter the written piece, the more difficult it is to produce. Except, of course, for e-mails.
Stefan "Rupert" Marion
I definitely agree that there is a lack of recognition for the skills of writing in the online world.
Having been a student in Kathe's classes and others I have learned there is a great deal of difference between putting words on paper/screen and actually creating a piece of writing. It's like the difference between fast food and gourmet cuisine.
Having said that, and I am partly playing devil's advocate here, I am not sure it is realistic to ask everyone who writes online to apply the same quality level as you would to a piece of writing you would publish.
One thing I've observed is that email (and Twitter and Facebook) are not about producing something that will last and be enjoyed, they are just a means of communication. The fact that they exist as written words and that they often persist online is a side-effect, it's not their purpose.
We don't delicately craft our words when we chat with friends verbally, or on the phone, so we don't necessarily need to do so when we use our keyboard instead of our voice to talk to people.
On the other hand, blogs probably should be subject to the same standards. But maybe microblogs (Posterous, Tumblr, etc), like Twitter, are just a form of sharing (communicating) a thought and don't need to be crafted.
Anyway I think the question is a lot more interesting when you make the distinction between writing as art and writing as communication.
You may be interested to read my blog at http://www.human20.com/ where we discuss things like this – the effects of technology on human behaviour and society.
Cheers
Alex
Thanks for dropping in again, Jay, and for reminding us of the importance of the thesaurus. I use mine regularly!
And welcome, Lorrie! I love your analogy of giving considerable thought to our correspondence and the words we choose, just as we do with our clothing and accessories! Very interesting comparison indeed.
Please visit the blog again and share your thoughts.
Well said, Kathe, and a timely reminder to a tech-happy world set on fast-forward. I like to remind myself that, just as my outfit creates an important "first impression", so does my email message, tweet, comment and Facebook entry. Am I showing up as if I threw an old sweater on, barely washed my face and didn't bother about my hair — or am I dressing for success? What is your virtual image, through your writing? How do you see others, when you meet them the first time in a virtual setting? Kathe is right on – quality first.
Thanks Mary Anne for your words. They really do ring true. I recently uncovered a poem I had written when I was just 11 years old. I remember that year distinctly. I was introduced to the Thesaurus. I found great joy in discovering the game of wordsmithing. I was amazed at how I found and used 'new' words to great effect. For me it was a selfish pleasure, one which I encourage us all to pass on to our youth. It does insist that we slow down – an act which seldom has a down side. Blessing for the holidays.
What a great thought, Mary Ann! We are indeed always so rushed that we tend to take and use the easiest words that come to mind. My Toastmasters club is famous for that. Everything is "great" so I challenge them to replace the word great with anything but. It's always an interesting exercise to discover and use new words.
And thanks for your comment, too, Adena. It would be wonderful if we could all slow down and give more thought to what we are writing/saying. Be sure to visit us here again soon.
The gift of a writer is to make writing seem effortless. As always kathe succeeds the task with graceful integrity and a straightforward approach that leaves us contemplating. After much thought we realilze the lady speaks true.
We, as a society, are willingly massacring our writing and language for the sake of technology. The english language is suffering, and we are compliant participants in its imminent death.
Tomorrow morning as we all sit down for our daily ritual of newspapers and coffee, let us pick three words, and research them using only a dictionary and a thesaurus. That would be step one; step two would be to use each word in an email. Have fun with words they are what matter the most in our daily communications with the outside world.
Mary Ann
The point is to pause while making the contact in order to make the connection. I like the way Kathe lets us come to our own conclusion about that. Hand-written letters used to slow us down. Now our endorphins chime with the Send button, as though Send rhymes with Well Sent. Well written!
There we go, Kathe! Your fans are beginning to speak! I have a feeling that as more words of adoration come rolling in, you will be signing up for your own blog before we know it! Reluctant blogger no more!
One word comes to mind–wow–which seemed so ordinary, that I went to my Collins Canadian Dictionary & Thesaurus to find an alternate. Finding none, I can only use the word's meaning to convey my thoughts: 1. an exclamation of admiration, amazement, etc. 2.a person [or thing] that is amazingly successful,attractive, etc.
I think all of the above applies to Kathe, and her writing.
I agree that when using e-mail people often forget the rules of good writing, spelling, and good grammar. I try not to, and will be even more careful not to do so in the future. Well said, and beautifully written, Ms. Lieber.