Cutting Unnecessary Words

Toni Asante Lightfoot, poet in residence at Off the Street Club writes,

"We wrote our biographies in 26 words.  We then edited to 13 words.  We then edited it down to 7 words.  Looking over the 7 most important words to describe our lives we then edited down to 3 words.  Finally, they chose the most important and vivid word to describe themselves.

An example of their work is from Dominique M.

I am a girl who lives on the Westside of Chicago.  I love pink.  I love it here at Off the Street Club.  I love poetry.

I am Westside, Chicago.  I love pink, Off the Street Club, and poetry.

Westside, Chicago, Off the Street Club, poetry

Westside, Chicago, Poetry"

Poetry