All writers have been told to cut their work.

A story I recently sold to Highlights magazine came back with a note that said, “We like this. Can you make it 500 words?”

I wasn’t surprised. In my day job, I edit copy from an array of business writers, and one thing I’ve learned is you can always make a piece shorter. And making it shorter – if you do it right – invariably makes it better.

My story was 625 words. I took the editor’s request as a personal challenge and hit 500 words on the head.

But how do you be brief? How do you look at your work-in-progress and make it shorter, tighter and stronger? Here are a few tips to try:

Eliminate words you love. Every writer has them. For me, it’s “just” and “really.” Other common ones are “that,” “very” and “suddenly.” Search for those words and ask if they truly need to remain. Chances are, your sentence can stand without them.

 Trim certain phrases. Some phrases you can automatically shorten. “Prior to” can always be “before.” “Stand up” can always be “stand.” “First ever” can simply be “first.” Dozens of extra words creep into you manuscript this way. Don’t let them.

 Adjust your adverbs and adjectives. A few will do. If you find yourself using strings of adjectives to describe a noun, pare down to the most essential. And if you use a lot of adverbs, eliminate them and make your verb stronger. Use “wobbled” or “tottered” instead of “walked shakily.”

Check for value. Does each part of your piece add value to the whole? If you removed a scene or a quote or a transition, would you miss it? I can’t count the number of times I’ve struggled with a section of a manuscript for hours only to realize if I cut it, the story would be even better.

 Review each sentence individually. Challenge yourself to say the same thing in fewer words. It can be done!

If you need inspiration to pare down your prose, check out these quotes from some writing masters:

  • You can cut 20 words from the tightest page you ever wrote. – Richard Peck
  • I try to leave out the parts people skip.  – Elmore Leonard
  • Easy reading is damn hard writing.  – Nathaniel Hawthorne

Need more inspiration? Consider what Greenwillow Editor Susan Hirschmann said about All Alone, the first book Kevin Henkes sold her. It was, perhaps, the ultimate compliment:

“There wasn’t an extra word in it.”