I've entered a few contests where there was a word limit. So you'd darned well better make every word count. In both cases I first wrote what I wanted to convey and did a word count. From there I started looking at every word. Is it necessary? Can I replace two words with one? Do I even need this sentence? Eventually I was at the precise word count -- 500 words for one, 1000 words for the other -- and darned proud of it.
I wonder if some of us come by wordiness from our high school days when we tried to bluff our way through essay questions with a "quantity rather than quality" answer?
Good topic, Hazel. Hope your throat is better.
