Be Concise

Too many words make you a fool. Ecclesiastes 5:3

When Jon Farrar at Tyndale asked me to write this book, he told me the size of the pages would be smaller than usual and that I would need to keep each entry to about 190 words.

The samples I had given him were each about 220 words. I didn’t think it was possible to say what was necessary in fewer words, but he was right. Forcing each page down to 190 words helped me to focus on one kernel of truth in each passage. Shorter is definitely better.

Nearly everything we do is too wordy. Sermons are better when they’re shorter and more focused.

Marketing brochures with too many words are counterproductive. Job applicants who ramble on rarely get hired. PowerPoint slides with too much information don’t help. Just about everything can be said more concisely than what’s in the first draft. Avoid over-explaining. Put in what is essential, and don’t smother your message with hyperbole.

Remember to keep it simple.