Minimalist Revival

In the early part of the 20th century, the Minimalist Movement marked a certain style of art and literature (poetry). I think I'd have been a successful minimalist, because I'm very good at cutting and reducing, being efficient with the written word.

Minimalist style involved not only the use of the fewest words possible, but the most succinct application of imagery imaginable. I love this example:

"Missing" by George Swede

M SS NG

Thiiief!

I think perhaps it is time to revive the Minimalist Movement. At least keep it in mind when you write query letters and pitch agents and editors, because in those moments, you'll need to be able to summarize your entire work in one sentence. You will need to be efficient with words and succinct with presentation. You'll want to produce a poetic image in the mind of your audience that makes them yearn for what you haven't said - the rest of the story.

In an Ezra Pound essay on his "In a Station of the Metro", he says, "A Chinaman said long ago that if a man can’t say what he has to say in twelve lines he had better keep quiet." Choose your words wisely.