I’m interested in getting your thoughts about stuff I see and hear, quotes I read, stuff that passes as knowledge – and starting an authorey conversation.
also known as “assume your reader is smart”
Some new authors don’t do that. Even I forget sometimes. That’s where CPs come in and say, “Hey, assume your reader is smart.”
Great advice.
Dan Alatorre 
Think I needed to read this to be honest, today! I am currently continuing to write my 17 year old WIP and I know it is wordy at times, possibly describing really mundane things, but at edit stage that will probably all come out, because readers ‘know’ don’t they?
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Seventeen years is a long time! That’s an investment. It would be fun to look at the writing style you had seventeen years ago and see what’s changed, how much you’ve written, the zillions of pages of story…
Unless it’s an epic fantasy. Then you’re only on chapter two.
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Lol! I started on the first of August with 13,000 words. In the lat three days I have added 7,500!
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You seem to have found your pace.
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Whether I can keep it up… that’s the question!
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Isn’t it always.
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🙃
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I think we all tend to get too concerned about word counts. A good story is a good story, regardless of the number of words.
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Exactly.
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I agree, the reader is smart, and I love it when an author writes knowing this is so. I started J.C. Sasser’s debut novel yesterday, titled, Gradle Bird. It’s Southern fiction, and is garnering great reviews. The author is pulling out colloquialisms, such as, He sat at the table in a wife beater, and of course, I knew the reference. Some writers may have added T shirt, but because Sasser did not, it made me feel “in the know.
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Right. You feel special for knowing, like it’s a secret club.
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Yep, I agree. Your reader is smart, they’re reading your book, so less is more in this case.
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I know they’re smart because they’re reading my book.
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🙂
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Over-description can kill the energy in a story. I’m guilty of the other side though – I need to set scenes better more often than not. CPs are good for helping with that too!
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Good CPs point that out. When I go on and on, they use the dreaded phrase: I’m wanting to skim here.
I can’t buy lowfat milk, I hate that word so much.
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Explanations? We don’t need no stinkin’ explanations, for we have imaginations!
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That’s right!
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So interesting because I have heard more than once, assume your reader is dumb.
But I find it impossible to do that. LOL
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Ha! Really?
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Yes. LOL. I think maybe East Coast writing advice and West Coast Writing advice might differ. LOL
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I’d say it depends on the genre and the complexity of the words and their combined meanings, mixed with the subject matter. You can’t talk down to your audience but you also can’t assume they’ll make the jump between X, Y and Pikachu if the content isn’t there. Just find the right balance I think.
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I’m not sure Evil Knievel could make the jump between X, Y, and Pikachu!
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