Measures of density
In physics, density=mass/volume. I used to believe that in
poetry, density=content/word_length. I used to prune a poem within
an inch of its life at the expense of clarity, "never using two words if
one would almost do". Now I tend to believe that density=content/reader_time.
If one version takes longer to read than another, its impact is spread
over a longer time-span and is thus a less dense experience. Halving the
number of words is no use if the reader has to read a piece 3 times instead
of once.
Updated January 2006
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Tim Love