Chip Away the Stone
Start with more than you need, then cut, cut, cut.
I read a remarkable book last year about Michelangelo—and if I have to explain who that is, this article is not for you.
There’s a wonderful quote attributed to this genius and I hope it’s true. When asked by a student how he would handle the sculpture of David, perhaps his most famous piece, he said:
“The sculpture is already complete within the marble block before I start my work. It is already there. I just have to chisel away the superfluous material.”
If you wanna get deep, a lot of what the Italian master said could apply to so much in our lives. But for the sake of this quick article, let’s apply it to your writing. I’ll use an example for you.
Bulk Up
I set out in early 2024 to write a rather personal book, a work of nonfiction based on a post from a few years ago called “Let It Be Good.” It would be a collection of essays around the same theme, which was—expressed in the book’s subtitle—simple insights on a satisfied life.
Within a few months, it was clear I’d have tons of material to choose from. At last count, there was enough in my notes for nearly 100 separate chapters. The problem was, I didn’t want this to be a long book. I planned to cap it between 35,000 and 40,000 words.
So I had to go all Michelangelo on the manuscript.
It required me to chip away all the material that wasn’t perfect for the book. And believe me, as any writer will tell you, that can be a painful process. We get so attached to certain elements that we almost feel guilty for chopping them out.
And yet, to produce a David, you have to chip away the stone.
When you have an idea for a book, screenplay, or even a long article, one of the best things you can do is stockpile a shitload of content. I’d go so far as to say WAY more than you really need.
Then, start the process of whittling away, eliminating all the pieces that don’t make it sing the way you envision. Some call it trimming the fat. But chipping away the stone is a good way to visualize your finished product.
Look, I know plenty of people will say, “My problem is I don’t have nearly enough material to start with.” I get it. Been there.
That’s another article for Big Fat Words. But in the meantime, put aside your manuscript, no matter how fired up you are to dive in. Instead, invest precious hours into making as many additional notes as you can. I’ve used spiral notebooks, files in a laptop, even the Notes section of my phone. Store up material like a squirrel gathering pecans and walnuts.
Hard to Stop
I’ve found once you get rolling, it’s almost hard to stop the flow of ideas. You’ll end up with plenty of scraps you’ll never use, or you’ll save them for a different project. With my Eric Swan spy thrillers, there’s been more than one occasion where I cut out a scene and worked it into the next Swan novel.
I abandoned a ridiculous amount of material for “Let It Be Good,” but it came in at 37,000 words. More importantly, I’m happy with the content. Chipping away the stone has a side benefit of making you more confident in your finished product, because these are the parts that survived the cuts.
Get out your chisel and get to work.
Dom Testa writes fiction and nonfiction, and has seen the David in person. Yes, it’s magnificent. “Let It Be Good” is scheduled for release in May, 2025. If you’re reading this in future, it—and all of Dom’s work—can be found here.
The book about Michelangelo is “The Agony and The Ecstasy” by Irving Stone.