New and experienced writers struggle with being concise in their writing, resulting in long articles that bore readers. To keep readers interested, communicate messages in as few words as possible. Avoid using the word "that" unnecessarily, and minimize the use of conversational words such as "exclaimed" or "shouted." Instead, use simpler language and avoid complex words where possible. Writing in the active voice, condensing data, and abbreviating terms can also help reduce word count. Avoid using hedging words such as "may" or "possibly" and limit the use of adjectives. Remember, shorter is better, so be merciless in your editing.