I didn’t have time to write a short letter, so I wrote a long one instead. Mark Twain
Fans of Bollywood movies know this: three-hour movies are a classic staple. Traditionally these films offered audiences a journey of escapism, a break from the outside world’s hustle, oppressive heat, or for a lot of moviegoers, an escape from difficult lives. But rarely are the 3-hour formula movies pure content. They could be cut short in half, and still manage to convey the point (and I use the word “point” very loosely here).
We all have a natural tendency to say more than necessary. We share an idea, then feel obligated to explain it, then justify it, and elaborate again. Many of us have been in corporate meetings that last 45 minutes longer than they need to because people felt compelled to “think out aloud”. I once attended a two-hour-long presentation ironically dedicated to the topic “KISS” (Keep it Short and Simple).
But sometimes, what we leave out speaks louder than what we put in. And that’s where the art of self-editing comes in.
The art of self-editing
Hemingway, famously, wrote a short story in 6 words.
For sale: baby shoes, never worn.
It just took six words for Hemingway to craft an entire narrative that draws people into an emotional world without a single superfluous detail.
And that’s why there is Hemingway —and there is the rest of us. It can be very challenging to self-edit.
This choice to omit rather than add emphasizes the profound impact of brevity in communication and art. And it is a skill we can all learn.
Don’t just blame attention spans
Brevity isn't just about attention spans; it is also respect for depth.
It’s easy to blame shorter formats on declining attention spans, but that’s only part of the picture. Saying less is about trusting that listeners, viewers, and readers are more capable than we think.
Caryl Churchill, a highly regarded British playwright’s 2021 play What If I Only, is just twenty minutes long. Its beauty is in that instead of explaining details (oversplaining), the playwright recognizes the audience’s ability to fill in the gaps.
Thomas Jefferson’s brilliant quote on self-editing sums it all:
The most valuable of all talents is that of never using two words when one will do.
Saying Less is a Discipline — And a Gift
Art is in what you leave out.
The allure of something concise and precise cannot be denied. Common wisdom is that people only remember about three points from a speech, alluding to the Rule of Three —a principle used in many forms of communication such as public speaking, writing and even advertising.
Brevity requires us to master the art of self-editing, which requires discipline. And like all disciplines, it grows with practice.
In an era of shrinking reels, fast-paced news cycles, and endless content, restraining what we have to say is more than a communication technique. It’s an act of wisdom.
Robert Browning’s famous quote “Less is more” is an idea that’s not just artistic but universal — a reminder that sometimes the most impactful thing we can do is leave something unsaid.
So, if there’s one takeaway from this article, it is this: as a general rule, say less than you think is necessary. This will allow you to do two things, get out of your own headspace and more importantly you hear more when you speak less.