Say Less + Repost: Emily Edwards “Blackout Poetry”
TL;DR: say less
I have resting contemplative face. It’s like the misogynistic term resting bitch face, except people ask why I’m sad when I’m really just deep in thought. I’m long-winded. I think in layers upon layers. This is a problem because people want to be stimulated, not submerged.
You shouldn’t give away info people would pay for, nor answers to questions people haven’t yet asked.. You should say less—my overused Gen Z phrase—and ask more.
I’ve always written too much. It’s not to show off my typing speed, but to make sure every point is covered. I imagine every possible misunderstanding and try to plug the gaps with words. But writing like that leaves no room for discovery. It assumes the reader won’t meet you halfway. Editing down is how I’ve learned to let go of that control.
When in doubt, split your sentences in two.
For today’s repost, I’m sharing a space that shows the value of restraint. fouuund.it is a site run by a brilliant writer, Emily Edwards, whose work captures deep emotion with precise minimalism. Each piece is strong enough to survive erasure. Below I’ll share examples of her work from Booooooom (seven o’s), but it doesn’t do it justice. Go to her site, where you can black out any words you want. What remains often feels deliberate, like fridge magnets you say “Oh, there’s no order to it!” But deep down everyone knows there is.
Sometimes when editing down, the meaning holds. Sometimes it shifts. Sometimes it disappears entirely. It proves that saying less doesn’t always mean saying less—it can mean saying it better. But it can also strip meaning away. Only your reader’s reaction can tell.
Image examples are from Booooooom. Check out fouuund.it to try it yourself!
