Every time a newspaper or magazine is redesigned, the call for additional white space and images shrink the spaces available for articles. New media publications demand that writing be as concise and interactive as possible. Writers’ roles have shifted. We have to think more like television and radio producers and learn to better use pictures, audio, links and video to deepen our stories.
I have found that writing short, thorough pieces can be every bit as time consuming as writing those with a more luxurious word count. You become an editor and writer simultaneously to keep your word count close to the bone without losing the soul of your story.
If you are lucky enough to write for one of the few places that still publish long, voluptuous pieces, trying your hand a short one now and then can be a benefit as well. If you learn to convey something meaningful within a 200-word space, it can help you write a leaner, more compelling 2,000-word piece.
Here are some articles with tips on writing short:
Write Tight by Chip Scanlan at Poynter.
Literary fat reduction by Scott Lindsay at Ezine @rticles.
20 tips for tighter writing by Bill Leuning of the Kansas City Star.
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