Brevity

I'm troubled, fellow diners. I've heard rumblings from some of you that my posts are too lengthy-bordering on boring and mind-numbing, according to some. Logically, it concerns me. So, I spent a few moments bouncing around in cyberspace-looking for a little insight from those who have proven themselves successful writers. I found this:

"It is when I struggle to be brief that I become obscure."
-Horace

Made me feel a little better, to be quite honest. I recognize that I'm a bit windy-perhaps I just like to hear myself-I can't say for sure, but I do have a tendency to be...wordy (a nice way of putting it, I think). But, as Horace stated, struggling to be brief results in obscurity. Then though, I found this:

"Certain brief sentences are peerless in their ability to give one the feeling that nothing remains to be said"
-Jean Rostand

This is, I think, what every writer worth his salt strives for-the ability to in as few words as possible, say everthing that needs saying. How profound a statement! Which, of course, inspires me to strive for potent brevity-that is, brief, but so full of meaning that it says all there is to say.

But then I came across one final comment:

"I want to make a summing up, brief and to the point, but thorough. I have never supressed a word in my books out of regard for other people and their prejudices."
-John Henry Mackay

And this, I think, says it all: I'll say it as briefly as I can, but never sacrifice meaning or content. And I will endeavor to never strip down my writing simply to satisfy a critic. I will say everything that must be said, but endeavor to say no more.

Allow me though one indulgence. I am curious: do you, as a population, dear readers, universally agree that I'm too windy? Or is it only the uncivilized few? I have posted a poll on the right; vote-tell me if I need to shave it down from now on, or if I've got it just right!