Write Well Day 21: Avoid clutter in your writing

It’s tempting to add more: more description, more dialogue, more action. After all, the more you write, the more polished it feels, right? But here’s the thing: sometimes, less is more (both in writing, and in life). Overwriting can suffocate your story, making it feel heavy and weighed down by unnecessary detail. In contrast, writing with clarity and precision can make your work feel sharp, engaging, and, most importantly, impactful.

When writing Arrival, I had to be mindful of stripping away anything that didn’t serve the story. Every word had to carry its weight. The temptation to over-explain, especially in the emotionally complex scenes, was there, but I knew that restraint would ultimately make the narrative more powerful.

Here are five tips to avoid overwriting, along with practical actions to help you simplify your writing while keeping its depth and meaning.