Tuesday, May 26, 2026 · 9:41 AM
what’s the most practical revision rule from the book?
assume the reader is looking for the exit
again with the hostile reader
not hostile. free
they can leave any time. revision is you removing reasons to leave
yes, but define boring precisely
boring means low information, low tension, low surprise, low beauty, low usefulness
that’s better than “this section sucks”
way better
a section can earn its spot by explaining, escalating, delighting, clarifying, setting up a payoff, or changing the reader’s mind
and if it does none of those?
delete or rewrite
do not keep it because it was hard to write. that’s hostage logic
we all do
the twist: cutting is not punishment. it’s hospitality
you’re clearing the hallway so the guest can reach the room they came for
ok that makes cutting feel less violent
drill: mark every paragraph with one job: hook, context, proof, turn, payoff, joke, instruction
if you can’t name the job, it’s loitering
no loitering on the page. got it
Read Tue, May 26 · 10:02 AM