Knowing What to Leave Out
Good writing is not about including everything you know. It is about recognising what your readers need to know, and having the confidence to leave everything else out.
Knowledge and Relevance
Every writer knows more than they can possibly include. Whether you have spent years researching medieval castles, studied an author's entire life, or become an expert in your field, there comes a point where you have to decide what belongs on the page and what does not.
The temptation is to include everything. After all, you invested time in learning it, and it seems a shame to let that knowledge go to waste. The problem is that your readers only need the information that helps them understand what you are trying to say.
Context Is Everything
If you are writing a history of medieval castles, your readers will expect detailed descriptions of their construction, development and purpose. If your novel simply happens to be set in a castle, they only need enough information to picture the setting and understand anything that affects the story.
The same principle applies to every form of writing. A dissertation on an author's work does not become stronger because it includes every fact about the author's life. Unless a detail contributes to your argument, it distracts from it. Your readers do not need to know the author's grandmother's name or the date of birth of a favourite teacher simply because those facts are available.
Write for the Reader
Experts often assume that everyone shares their knowledge. They use specialist terminology without explanation or describe every stage of a process in exhaustive detail. Readers are left trying to understand the jargon instead of the subject.
The aim is not to explain everything. The aim is to explain everything the reader needs to know. Every piece of writing has a purpose, and every paragraph should help to fulfil that purpose.
A Simple Test
One of the simplest editing techniques is to remove a passage and read the text again. If the story, argument or explanation still works perfectly well, the passage probably was not needed. If removing it leaves a gap, put it back.
There is another useful test. Pay attention to your own reading. If you find yourself skimming a paragraph to reach the next important point, ask yourself why. If you are losing interest, there is a good chance your readers will do exactly the same.
Final Thoughts
Writers often feel obliged to include everything they have learned. In reality, the opposite is true. The best writing is not measured by how much knowledge it contains, but by how effectively it gives readers exactly what they need—and no more.