"Why So Books Have So Many Words?"
The one where I am asked this question on Quora
"Why do books have so many words?" you asked me.
“So many” is a relative term.
If it is an engrossing book,
one that I have eagerly read
and dread
reaching the end,
there can’t be too many words.
`
If the book is tedious,
or poorly written
so that I regret even starting it-
any words at all are too many.
~
There are wordless books
that help you build
the story
in your own mind
with no words needed at all.
(You could try those.)
~
There are books of words
and definitions,
books that explain galaxies,
books that diagnose diseases,
books that try to P U S H the boundaries of knowledge-
such books almost dare us
to make up new words to
express their ideas
as the common ones of every day use
don’t seem enough for the occasion.
~
Books should have only the number of words needed
to convey what they are called upon to convey.
That’s the job of an editor:
to work with the author,
help remove what isn’t needed,
and suggest polishing more that which is essential.
~
Don't give up on books.
Keep trying.
Look for books that make you
yearn for them to never end.
Write a book of your own.
Keep using the words
until you find
just the right amount
that you need.
~
Hello?
(They never responded.)
~~~~
Once a bookseller always a book apologist.
Note- The title is the actual question I was asked. The first line of the poem is what was meant.
Here's my latest bookstore poem:
Comments gladly welcomed: What is your favorite book that you received as a present? {Sometimes we need to buy presents for ourselves- they count, too!}
About the Creator
Judey Kalchik
It's my time to find and use my voice.
Poetry, short stories, memories, and a lot of things I think and wish I'd known a long time ago.
You can also find me on Medium
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By Tabitha Hinkley5 days ago in Fiction
Comments (7)
You described books so perfectly!
Excellent response, Judey. My favorite example for too many words? "The Gift of Administration", the one from back in the mid-80s. The only words required in this something like 98 page slog I will paraphrase here (as I refuse to go back to the book): "The root of the word 'administration' is 'ministry'. It is what we do to facilitate ministry." Everything else should have gone.
Lol, I'm with Paul on Quora being a place where people don't think before they speak. I mean, if they find a book has "too many words", then buy a thinner book maybe? Lol
I love this. 💖
Enjoyed this one!!! 💕❤️❤️
True! The amount of enjoyment you get from reading depends on how much you resonate with the text...
LOL, Judey...it's such a ridiculous question...It's like saying there is such a thing as too much cheese...too much donuts...too much love...too much trees. Quora...is just headquarters for people that often don't think before they speak. I saw a question once "How many years in a leap year?" honestly...well, I can't take credit for that Dave Gorman, a British comedian found that beauty for one of his TV shows lol. Favourite book I was bought...erm...one I recall was the scripts for the comedy show Rab C. Nesbit. Which was brilliant. It's a Glaswegian show about this opinionated drunkard Glaswegian who does a lot of four wall breaking and wears a disgusting string vest and has a bandage around his head. lol. yeah. That's one I remember...there are likely others...