True facts

What are the true facts if not simply the true facts?

Here are some more true facts:

• A tall skyscraper
• A sharp blade
• A steep cliff
• Green grass
• Brown dirt
  
  

It's a small step to writing wet water.

I think this issue has its roots in school. I remember being told to “be more descriptive” but I don't remember being given much guidance. So I was left to my own devices to blandly describe the sky as blue and the night as dark.

It's a misguided attempt at building images with words. People do it to be pretty, or vivid, or real, but they're just adding clutter. And they're too scared to let the reader imagine.

Just say grass. They know it's green already.

Unless it’s not green. And there’s a reason to tell the reader it’s not green.

• Grass is usually green, but if it’s important to let them know it’s yellow, tell them.
• Dirt is usually brown, but if it’s important to let them know it’s red, tell them.
• Blades are usually sharp, but if it’s important to let them know it's blunt, tell them.
  
  

But true facts? They add nothing.

Delete them.