THE ART
by Ted Richer
To me.
This is how Babel explains:
“the twenty-two versions of a single story”—
work . . .
go over each sentence . . .
time and again.
start by cutting all the words . . .
(the story) can do without.
Then.
Babel explains:
go over every image, metaphor, comparison . . .
see if (to the story) they are accurate.
Then.
Babel explains:
a noun needs only one adjective . . .
find the right adjective . . .
or let the noun stand by itself.
Then.
Babel explains:
line is as important in prose . . .
as in an engraving.
Then.
Babel explains:
but the most important thing of all . . .
is not to kill the story . . .
by working on it.
And.
That is how Babel explains:
“the twenty-two versions of a single story”—
To me.
Copyright © 2003 by Ted Richer. From The
Writer in the Story and Other Figurations by Ted Richer. Great Britain:
Apocalypse Press, 2003. Used with permission.
