These past few months I haven’t had a chance to write on the blog because I’ve been preparing for a big adventure. I’m moving to North Carolina!
It still feels strange to write that though the moving date is now days away. I’ve lived in New York my whole life so it hasn’t quite sunk in yet that I’ll soon be calling another state home.
But I’m excited for what the future holds, and I can’t wait to get past the craziness of moving.
This move so far has felt like a crash-course in becoming a minimalist. My parents are selling their house and moving to North Carolina too, and we simply can’t take everything with us.
So we’ve had garage sales, given away or donated furniture and books, and thrown out everything else that won’t fit in the moving truck.
Cutting Through The Clutter
Through this process, we’ve realized that many of the things we own we really don’t need. Sure, there are those items that are wrapped in memories. But the memories we’ll always have while the item itself is old now or perhaps ready to be passed on to a new home.
In my parents’ attic, for example, I found my childhood dollhouse perched on a table. I’d nearly forgotten how big and beautiful it was with its six rooms and wrap-around porch.
As a child, I loved creating stories about the miniature family that lived there and decorating the rooms with the furniture that fit so wonderfully in the palm of my hand. One day, my mom showed me how to wallpaper the kitchen, and my dad wired the rooms for electricity.
Unfortunately, I grew older before we had a chance to wallpaper the rest of the rooms. And up it went into the attic.
This month as I sorted through my things and tried to decide what to keep and what to part with, I nearly thought about taking the dollhouse with me. Maybe one day I’d have time to continue with those renovation projects.
But I knew there wouldn’t be room for it in the moving truck. It had to go to a new home, and so I gave it to my friend’s two young daughters. When I saw the look of enchantment in their eyes as they peered through the dollhouse windows, I knew I’d made the right choice.
My book collection faced a similar fate. There were many treasures I’d bought for 25 cents at library book sales that now had to be boxed up and brought back to the library. I’m afraid that I might still have kept too many books and will have to give more away.
At times, getting rid of your belongings is bittersweet. At other times, it feels almost tragic. But, in the end, it’s a relief to be free of so much “stuff”.
I realized this is just like writing.
Decluttering Your Writing
You’re editing a blog post or a manuscript, and you realize that there’s a paragraph that doesn’t fit in with the flow of the narrative. You must delete it even though it’s beautifully written. Or maybe your piece is too long, and you must cut out sentences ruthlessly.
In On Writing Well, William Zinsser observes,
Clutter is the disease of American writing. We are a society strangling in unnecessary words, circular constructions, pompous frills and meaningless jargon. [This seems to be a universal problem for any writer!]
Eliminating this clutter makes our writing tighter and more compelling. As Marion Roach writes in The Memoir Project (affiliate link),
The goal of a good edit is for the piece to read like a sleigh ride: smooth and fast. It can, if not a word is extra, not a phrase is flabby.
Of course, it’s a difficult process to get our writing to that final state. A humorous quote attributed to Blaise Pascal says,
The letter I have written today is longer than usual because I lacked the time to make it shorter.
Thankfully, though, we can save deleted paragraphs for future inspiration or even for a new piece. Marion writes,
And how about those paragraphs that go off in a totally different direction, bringing in an entirely new story? Hack ‘em, though here’s the message of the morgue: What you kill is there for another day, so put those excised sentences or paragraphs in a file where you can retrieve them later.
As you edit your writing projects this month, see how much clutter you can eliminate from your sentences and paragraphs. Avoid redundant words and phrases like “first began” when you can just write “began”. Delete those unnecessary adverbs like “very big” when you can write “huge.”
Instead of padding your sentences with extra words like “by examination of the following situations we see that…”, you could write, “The following situations show…”
Check out my post here for more editing tips. Of course, it’s important not to edit so ruthlessly that you strip your writing of all personality. Even when I was getting rid of many things while packing, there were still some “tchotchkes” — as we call them here in New York — that I just had to keep.
Ultimately, however, a room filled with clutter is not as inviting as one with lots of open space where everything is neat and organized (including the drawers and closets!). So too clear, concise writing speaks more powerfully to our readers than writing that is verbose and rambling.
What clutter can you cut from your writing projects today? Let me know in the comments, and if you have tips about moving, please feel free to share those too.
The next time I update the blog, I’ll be in North Carolina!
Robert Sullivan says
I loved your thoughts on ‘clutter’ in my writing and will apply them immediately. The various quotes were a brilliant touch and added some motivation for me. As to moving, I’m sadly a ‘near professional’ mover having done so over 50 times. In hindsight, some of those moves were unnecessary and I deeply regret many of them. I was deeply in ‘love’ with my library of over 2,500 volumes, but after about 20 moves which included unopened boxes of books, I opened them all, selected about 100 that I couldn’t part with, and donated the rest to a church that was starting a lending library. A well written book, sitting unread on a shelf, is in some ways tragic. Books are to be read, and that experience broke some ‘possessive barriers’ in me. I now buy used books in volume, especially from favorite authors like Phillip Yancey, and give them away to friends, family, and occasionally random strangers. Thanks again for your kind instruction for an aged aspiring writer.
Joshua says
As one that also moves a lot, being a minimalist is something that is learned with the experience. After you learn the lifestyle, decluttering is a sitch.
Aaron says
We grow attach to objects the same way we grow attached to certain words and writing styles. Sometimes they define you, other times you would do better without. Not easy to get rid of any of them.
Hanna says
I think decluttering when moving is the hardest and worst part since we don’t want to let go of things because of the memories even tho we don’t use them anymore.
Gregg Bender says
Hi, Nicole
Can I have for moving boxes when you’re done? Lol
Nicole Bianchi says
Ha! I’m thinking the unpacking is going to take a while. 🙂
Danielle Bernock says
I imagine you’ve already moved by now. I was on vacation and just got to reading this. Moving – it’s something I’ve done a lot. Thirteen times.
I know many people hate it but I like it.
I love how it creates the opportunity to go through all your things and get rid of stuff. Things forgotten, like your dollhouse. Oh, the joy you gave those little girls.
The hardest move was moving to a new state like you’re doing. There’s not the opportunity to go back and get another load. The cutting is much more definitive. But it also opens us up to new things and new adventures. I’m excited for you.
Likewise in our writing. I’ve discovered the need to cut in ways I hadn’t before. If I feel the need to keep it, it goes in a separate file – like a box in the attic.
Looking forward to hearing from you. North Carolina is one of the few states I’ve not visited. Please tell us about it.
Nicole Bianchi says
Yes, I’m here in NC now. 🙂 Thank you for your kind words, Danielle. This is the first time I am moving to a new state — the other times I moved (though nowhere near 13!) it was locally so much easier to transport belongings. I do like that this move has forced me to get rid of so many things. It’s a freeing feeling. I’ll definitely be sharing more about NC.
Karen Love says
Welcome to North Carolina Nicole! Thinking of the extra words like “clutter” gave me a good perspective. Thank you for the post!
As for your move:
I like to take a photo of things that I know I do not need, but have a memory attached. Examples would be a gift from a loved one or a favorite old shirt. No need to keep it, but no reason to forget. Keep the memory. Ditch the stuff!
Nicole Bianchi says
Thank you, Karen! 🙂 I love that method of taking a photograph so you can keep the memory but still throw away the item. I did that with several of my things — probably should have done it with more!
Danie Botha says
Nicole,
It matters—saying more with fewer words.
Succinctness is king.
The dollhouse had to go?! “Killing our little darlings” in our writing?
Cutting the frills.
And, enjoy the new state, NC! You may find it’s like moving to another country in many ways…
Nicole Bianchi says
Thank you, Danie! Yes, some things here in NC do make it feel almost like moving to a different country. 🙂
Colleen says
“This move so far has felt like a crash-course in becoming a minimalist. ”
After six international moves, I SO relate to this sentence. But – we have kept the same house back home through all those moves, so we still have more “treasures” to clear out. We’re working on it.
It does feel harder sometimes to let things go than to collect more. With words, as with things. Thanks for a great post.
Nicole Bianchi says
Thank you, Colleen! Wow, six international moves is a lot. I’m going to be checking out your website — the articles look very helpful.
Monica Sackman says
I made a major move last summer, 650 miles one way. It was exhausting. I found very little time or energy to write. I did carry a small recorder with me on my trips back and forth. It came in handy when I had a moment of inspiration. I certainly hope I don’t have to make another major move any time soon. Good Luck in NC.
Nicole Bianchi says
It is exhausting! I’m glad that I managed to find some time to write this post. And, yes, I’m not planning on making another major move anytime soon either. I like your tip of bringing a small recorder. Thank you for your kind wishes, Monica! 🙂
Kate Findley says
I can really relate to this on both fronts! Cutting unnecessary words out of a piece of writing and getting rid of items I no longer use are both difficult for me. However, when I get rid of an old item, my place looks so much better and I never think about that item again. Similarly, when I edit my writing, I don’t miss the old phrases and the finished product looks less cluttered and more user-friendly as a result.
Nicole Bianchi says
Thanks for your comment, Kate! Yes, it’s true that after some time you forget the items you parted with. (Or you might still remember them with fondness but you don’t necessarily *want* to have them cluttering up your space again).
Leontien Reedijk says
I recently had to pack up my life and leave Nicaragua due to the revolution going on there. I literally packed my life into two suitcases and didn’t ship anything because I have nowhere to ship it to. A major case of decluttering, and it feels light and good. (https://medium.com/@leontienreedijk/an-exercise-in-letting-go-5d0483ffdbc0)
In my writing I’m learning to declutter as well. Cut the excess, make it to the point. Still, my blog posts are often 8-10 minute reads. I do find that I often start with writing a messy first draft, but when it gets to a certain level of messiness, I start a new file and cut and paste the best parts into it, and with that start a next messy draft. For me this half-way edit helps me to figure out where I really want to go with the story. But I guess we all have our methods. Usually two drafts will get me to the final story, but sometimes it will be three or more. In that case the discarded parts often turn out to be stories of their own that need more time to gestate and will get written later. Too many ideas in the head, at times. Always good to save for the dry spell when inspiration falters
Nicole Bianchi says
Oh my! What an experience. I enjoyed reading your article though am very sad you were forced to leave your home under those circumstances. It was so difficult culling through all of my family’s belongings to fit in the moving truck — I can’t even imagine what that would have been like for two suitcases. Praying you have safe travels and find a new place to call home.
I like your method of the half-way edit.
Gregg Bender says
Speaking of moving, we’re just beginning the process of moving 1,000 miles away next year. We’ve moved several times in the past andI can tell you’re doing the right things by getting rid of anything you absolutely don’t need.
Weight = cost. If you have any of that particle board furniture for example, get rid of it. It’s cheaper to replace it then to move it. Books? Only keep the ones you absolutely can’t part with, such as signed editions.
Same with things like plastic trash bins, etc. They probably are old enough to need replacing anyway.
That rickety table lamp? It’s history. Did the cat claw up your sofa? Sell it. Be ruthless. You’ll thank yourself later.
Nicole Bianchi says
Hope your move goes well! Yes, we are taking very little furniture with us. But I’m having the hardest time parting with my books. And it’s difficult to even give them away. Most people don’t want a big book collection anymore — takes up too much space and they can just read eBooks or borrow from the library. While it’s a bit sad, I’ve realized that I really don’t need all of those books either. It’ll make moving in the future much easier too.
Janis Cox says
Nicole,
Great post. I too am thinking of moving. We have had our house on the market for a long time. Frustrating but knowing God has a plan. We have 3 interested parties but they all need to sell their places. But it might happen so I am continuing to pitch.
Thankfully in my writing I learned to write simply from the beginning – but it still needs editing and cutting extraneous material.
Many blessings for you and those who meet you in your new place.
Blessings,
Janis
Nicole Bianchi says
Thank you so much for your comment and kind words, Janis. Hope everything goes smoothly for you if you do sell your house soon. It’s all in God’s perfect timing. God bless.
Kirk says
I absolutely hate cutting out words once I’ve written them, but it really does make my writing better. Great article, and I hope you like your new house in NC!
Nicole Bianchi says
Thank you, Kirk! 🙂