‘In Praise of the Sentence" with Lucinda/Miller Williams Nod

http://www.niemanstoryboard.org/2014/04/25/in-praise-of-the-sentence/

“Every word you add dilutes the sentence,” said Miller Williams, an acclaimed poet. Williams’ daughter, the brilliant singer-songwriter Lucinda Williams, works from a similar sensibility, as a master lyricist. When Lucinda was writing “He Never Got Enough Love,” her father suggested changing “faded blue dress” to “sad blue dress.” The difference lies in cadence and imagery, and then ultimately in impact. “Faded,” while more descriptive, is prescriptive: the word tells the reader what to see. “Sad,” on the other hand, leaves room for the reader’s imagination. Hear for yourself: