WC Newsletter #120: Finding Falla

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Weekly Editor's Letter:

Issue 120
03/29/2004
Edited by: newmeadowuno


Finding Falla: Tighter Writing (Part One)

It isn't so important Jack Falla is one of my favorite authors you've never heard of. It doesn't matter he writes non-fiction hockey books—in the style and clarity I want to emulate. The important thing is I found him.

Falla is a published, prolific writer who gave sage advice to my bi-monthly Barnes & Noble Writer's Group (comprised of mostly fiction writers) on a variety of topics, which I’ll be relaying to you in a series of newsletters.

Falla’a most recent book is called Home Ice, a story about the importance of relationships developed on his backyard hockey rink and on local frozen ponds. He has published other books and written for big-time magazines. Falla jokes he’s one of the few people to have ever quit working for Sports Illustrated. His main source of income now is from his university teaching gig, where he shares the same advice with his students as he did with me last week.

Prior to his presentation to the Barnes & Noble Writing group, I met Falla at a local pub and eatery. After we talked about the Boston Bruins chances of winning the Stanley Cup, he asked me about the book I’m writing. I gave him the 25-word summary then proceeded to talk about my writing--how it’s improved.

I mentioned the “Color Commentary” I do at www.amhl.com and how my early writing wasn’t that great. If you compare it to my more recent work, you’ll agree (oh please, oh please) the newer stuff is better.

"It's...," I started to tell Falla.

"Tighter," we said simultaneously.

What does that mean?

To me, tighter writing means not only eliminating "penny" words such as some, very and a lot, but also writing as we'd speak; our readers enjoy hearing what we've written as they experience the thoughts we’ve formed into words. We usually think and speak in contractions.

Although it comes naturally to speak in contractions like "it's," "don't," and "we'll," it took some practice for me to even begin to write that way. I’ve made some progress in this area but don’t always write that way, so some of the words you have read, I mean “you’ve read” have been edited. Yet my progress in getting it right the first time has resulted in less time dedicated to editing.

Next time I write I’ll share some more of what Falla had to say and more about what I’ve learned (and am still trying to master)about tighter writing. Until then, keep writing (as you’d speak).

Join us next week when Red Writing Hood helps us get our heads examined.

Featured Works From Our Members:

ID: 833124   (Rated: E) The Brain and The Writer's Mind Link  Left-brained, right-brained or whole-brained test and what it has to do with writing. by Red Writing Hood

Selected Readings:

http://www.writing2sell.com/writingtips.htm

http://ulfwolf.com/dialogue.htm

Quote of the Week:

"If I had to choose between pain and nothing, I'd always choose pain." - William Faulkner

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