Nobody Likes A Rambler

We all know people who ramble. They include every boring and insignificant detail, speak in five-minute-long sentences and take forever to get to the point. When they finally reach the end of their story, most people have either walked away or lost interest.

If you were reading their words, would you read right to the end? Or would you find something more informative, less boring and shorter to read?

We all have a tendency to ramble. It's natural. And the more excited we are about a subject, the more likely we are to ramble.

Unfortunately, if we ramble in writing, our readers may not get to the "good stuff." And if that "good stuff" is your website, your byline or a product you wish to promote, your rambling has just cost you money.

Now, I certainly don't want to curb your excitement, and I don't even want to thwart your tendency to ramble.

Instead, I want you to get wildly excited about your topic. I want you to ramble as much as you like. Then I want you to edit.

When you edit, try to cut as many words from your article as possible. The number of words cut depends on the length of your first draft and the desired length of your finished article. That said, you should usually try to cut your word count by at least 20 percent - and the more words cut, the better. If that leaves your article too short, try rambling on for even longer before you get to the editing stage.

I don't have the room here to list everything that helps cut down the words in your article, but I will share some key points:

  • Identify your points and sub-points. When we ramble we tend to go from one point, to another point, then back to the first point, then to an unrelated sub-point. You get the picture. By identifying points and sub-points you can structure your article and ensure each point and sub-point is only addressed once.

  • Indicate the importance of each point and sub-point. I like to use a highlighter for this. Pink for very important, yellow for fairly important, and so on. When you run out of colors, ask yourself if the material left is important enough to be included, or whether it can be cut.

  • Get to the point. Ramblers take forever to get to the point. First, they will tell you what they were wearing, what the weather was like and why Cousin Sue happened to be there at the time. If you're taking a lot time to get to the point, cut the beginning from your article. This goes for paragraphs, too.

  • Say what you want in the shortest possible way. You all know the sentence about the quick brown fox. This sentence not only uses every letter in the alphabet, but it says what it needs to with as few words as possible. A rambler would write "The fox, who was very quick, and happened to be brown, ran up to and jumped over the very lazy dog." I'm sure you'll agree that the original is much better.

    These items won't cover everything you need to look at when reducing your word count, but they do provide a good starting base. If you want to remember them, just think of the biggest rambler you know and the things you would like to say to him: "You already said that." "Is the weather important?" "Get to the point." "I have to go soon. Can we hurry this up?"

    Readers won't wish they could say these things to you. They'll just find something else to read. Keep your word count low and you'll keep your readers with you right to the end.

    About The Author

    Liz Palmer is a freelance copywriter and editor, based in Australia. She works with businesses and writers, offering a range of proofreading, editing and copywriting services.

    palmer19@austarmetro.com.au

    same day cleaning service Bannockburn ..
    In The News:

    Google is making a push to ensure its AI, Gemini, is tightly integrated with Android systems by granting it access to core apps like WhatsApp, Messages, and Phone.
    A new green energy system is set to change how we capture clean power, and it all starts with the ocean. French startup Seaturns has designed technology that taps into the natural motion of the sea.
    Cybersecurity researchers are warning that hackers have started exploiting flaws in chatbots to carry out AI phishing attacks.
    Google has just made it easier than ever to regain control of your inbox with Gmail's new Manage Subscriptions tool.
    Despite the benefits, residential power saver programs come with several potential drawbacks and concerns that have been raised by both customers and experts.
    The Blackdot AI tattoo machine is quiet. It's steady. And according to early users, it hurts a lot less.
    Attackers have started to exploit the very signals that users assume will keep them safe when it comes to add-ons to improve productivity or entertainment.
    Located on Cerro Pachón in Chile, the world's most powerful digital camera is set to transform how we see the universe.
    The innovative DQ Tower stands 28 feet tall with 420 square feet of living space, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows and premium amenities in a prefabricated design.
    A new mmWave imaging system allows warehouse robots to scan and create 3D models of objects inside sealed containers, potentially revolutionizing shipping processes.
    Family fraud endangers seniors when relatives exploit their trust, but removing personal data online and monitoring identity can prevent financial harm to aging parents.
    A study analyzing 500,000 customer service interactions shows chatbots struggle with complex issues while human agents excel at matching customer communication styles.
    Aigen's Element robot uses solar power and AI to provide farmers with a sustainable alternative to herbicides, working efficiently in cotton and soy fields.
    The new Tesla Oasis Supercharger features 11 megawatts of solar panels and 39 megawatt-hours of battery storage, making it one of the largest solar-powered EV stations worldwide.
    Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.
    Cybercriminals accessed Medicare data of more than 100,000 Americans by creating fraudulent accounts, prompting CMS to deactivate accounts and issue new Medicare cards.
    China's battery swap technology from CATL lets electric vehicle owners exchange batteries in under two minutes, with plans to expand to 1,000 stations across 31 Chinese cities by 2025.
    Analysts at Silent Push have uncovered a widespread scam that uses counterfeit retail websites to steal the credit card information of online shoppers.
    Chrome users need to update their browsers immediately as Google addresses a critical vulnerability that hackers are actively exploiting. Additional security measures are recommended.
    A study found teens glance at phones for dangerous two-second intervals while driving, using devices primarily for entertainment, texting and navigation despite crash risks.
    Security researchers uncovered a flaw in Windows 11 that allows attackers to disable Secure Boot using Microsoft-signed tools, requiring manual updates to protect against bootkits.
    Carnegie Mellon's noninvasive brain technology allows users to move robotic fingers by thinking about the motion, offering new possibilities for people with motor impairments.
    Multi-factor authentication (MFA) adds an extra layer of protection to your accounts. Instead of relying only on a password, MFA requires you to verify your identity using two or more methods.
    Scientists from Duke, Harvard, and the University of Otago have unveiled a game-changing tool called DunedinPACNI. It uses a single AI brain scan to reveal how fast a person is biologically aging.
    A disturbing wave of fake agent phone scams is sweeping across the United States, catching people off guard and draining their savings.
  • Is The Theme Reinforced In The Ending?

    Creative Writing Tips ?By now you should have an idea... Read More

    Dont Get Burned: Evaluating Script Writing Contests

    Hundreds of writing contests tempt screenwriters with the lure of... Read More

    The Many Paths to Plotting

    For several years before I left teaching to write full... Read More

    An Inside Look at Proofreading

    This is the ideal topic for us all to think... Read More

    How I Became a Syndicated Columnist -- And You Can Too!

    Real Estate has "Location, location, location," and writing has "Clips,... Read More

    Mexican Living: Pasatiempo

    It occurred to me one day that I needed something... Read More

    Screenwriting ? The Lone Wolf Story Structure Template

    Story Structure Templates are the fastest way to write screenplays.... Read More

    How To Self-Publish Your Own Books, Manuals, Reports Or Newsletters

    You can make a lot of money by writing and... Read More

    The Bottomless Notebook

    Reading through a writer's notebook or journal is like discovering... Read More

    Writing Tips for your Journey

    Tips for your writing journeySo, you'd like to be a... Read More

    The Prologue - When to Use One, How to Write One

    What is a prologue? When should you use one? Should... Read More

    Idea Mining for Writers 101

    Want to write an article or book, but are stuck... Read More

    Five Tips to Find More Time for Your Writing Life

    When I asked new ezine subscribers, "What is your Number... Read More

    Writing For The Web: Where To Get Article Ideas

    A friend and I were talking the other day about... Read More

    Should You Hire a Ghostwriter?

    Have you heard the term 'ghostwriter' and wondered what they... Read More

    In Your Own Words

    More Tips For New Writers (Part I)Explain in your own... Read More

    Technical Writing for the Terrified

    IntroductionSometimes it may be beyond a companies or individuals budget... Read More

    Autobiography: Installment No.3

    ESSAY 3Writing an autobiography involves a matching up of a... Read More

    Ten Quick Tips for Inexperienced Writers

    One of the biggest problems that inexperienced writers have is... Read More

    Why Every Freelancer Should Have A Web Site

    "Do I send samples, a media kit, or just the... Read More

    What You May Not Learn In College... (Part Two)

    If you become a writer for any publication, private business,... Read More

    Cheap Therapy

    I call it cheap therapy. That gushing, near-religious, poured-from-the-body stress... Read More

    10 Ways to Shatter Writers Block

    1. Use Logic: Check for External PressuresAre you under physical... Read More

    You Can Be An Author

    "You should write a book." For years, I had been... Read More

    Pairs/Groups Of Words Often Confused - Part 5 of 6

    PASSED, PASTPassed is the past tense of pass. Past means... Read More

    housekeepers near Deerfield ..