Brevity
The writers circle of which I am now a long-distance participant challenges one to write a maximum of 600 words on an assigned topic and read it at the monthly meeting. Anyone who knows me is well aware that it is a challenge for me to restrict myself to 600 words on any subject. Yet every month I manage to reduce my offering to less than 600 words without a corresponding decrease in the clarity of the subject matter. Sadly, as any regular reader of this blog will attest, I have not consistently applied that same discipline to my daily blog or other communications. Yet, I am well aware that when I am reading what others have written I can easily get lost or distracted if it is much more that 600 words. I ask myself why it is so difficult to practice brevity and clarity in all that I write and say. The reasons may be as varied as the subject matter on which I write. They may include:
When I am paying attention I notice myself doing the same when I am communicating verbally. The goal is not communication but overwhelming someone with my logic which, of course can be a euphemism for bullsh...!
I am reminded my goal may switch from communication to winning the argument even as it is delivered in sound bites with the hope of overwhelming the listener.
The documentary “The Gatekeepers” is a 2012 documentary film by director Dror Moreh in which he interviews six of the former heads of security in Israel. As I recall, one of the conclusions which all six men share is “once military action has started the goal becomes one of winning or revenge rather than justice or preventing some future violence”(my words as I recall what I heard when I watch the film). It would seem that whether we are using words, military weapons, or perhaps even music humans quickly forget the stated purpose of our action.
Often when listening to a composition by some composer of which I am very fond, I find myself thinking that this is a good place to end this piece of music which may be some distance from the actual end of the piece. It seems as if the composer is saying, “You may not have gotten that messages. Let me present in another 10 different ways to make sure you get it. Of course, what happens for this human is I leave the composer and the music.
Examining my motives for any action requires that I daily recommit to honesty, open mindedness and willingness (three principles I am borrowing from the 12 step recovery program - principles known as “The HOW” of the program).
I have now arrived at a total of 586 words.
Written October 17, 2017
The writers circle of which I am now a long-distance participant challenges one to write a maximum of 600 words on an assigned topic and read it at the monthly meeting. Anyone who knows me is well aware that it is a challenge for me to restrict myself to 600 words on any subject. Yet every month I manage to reduce my offering to less than 600 words without a corresponding decrease in the clarity of the subject matter. Sadly, as any regular reader of this blog will attest, I have not consistently applied that same discipline to my daily blog or other communications. Yet, I am well aware that when I am reading what others have written I can easily get lost or distracted if it is much more that 600 words. I ask myself why it is so difficult to practice brevity and clarity in all that I write and say. The reasons may be as varied as the subject matter on which I write. They may include:
- I have not allocated enough time to edit.
- I do not always practice writing out a thesis statement and insuring that I stick to the commitment contained in said thesis statement.
- My goal becomes convincing some readers that I am right and they are wrong.
- I forget about the reader and continue talking/writing for the sake of doing so.
- I add a lot of filler because I am discovering as I write that the reasons for my opinion or thoughts are lacking in depth.
- I am writing because I have a commitment to write daily and not because I have something to say which is worth the reader’s attention.
- I am having great fun playing with words.
When I am paying attention I notice myself doing the same when I am communicating verbally. The goal is not communication but overwhelming someone with my logic which, of course can be a euphemism for bullsh...!
I am reminded my goal may switch from communication to winning the argument even as it is delivered in sound bites with the hope of overwhelming the listener.
The documentary “The Gatekeepers” is a 2012 documentary film by director Dror Moreh in which he interviews six of the former heads of security in Israel. As I recall, one of the conclusions which all six men share is “once military action has started the goal becomes one of winning or revenge rather than justice or preventing some future violence”(my words as I recall what I heard when I watch the film). It would seem that whether we are using words, military weapons, or perhaps even music humans quickly forget the stated purpose of our action.
Often when listening to a composition by some composer of which I am very fond, I find myself thinking that this is a good place to end this piece of music which may be some distance from the actual end of the piece. It seems as if the composer is saying, “You may not have gotten that messages. Let me present in another 10 different ways to make sure you get it. Of course, what happens for this human is I leave the composer and the music.
Examining my motives for any action requires that I daily recommit to honesty, open mindedness and willingness (three principles I am borrowing from the 12 step recovery program - principles known as “The HOW” of the program).
I have now arrived at a total of 586 words.
Written October 17, 2017
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