Let the Reader Wonder

Make your message resound in the mind of the reader.  How can you get good acoustics in there? It's the same as trying to get a nice sound in any other room: you can improve acoustic conditions by emptying out the room. When 100% of the reader's attention is on one thing, it makes a powerful impression.

Consider this sentence:

The children were hurting my head.

Add another item for the reader to consider or remember, and the attention is divided. It may be necessary to add more words when trying to be informative, but be careful when being informative, because information encumbers the reader:

The children were playing an awkward tune on some flutes they had been given for Christmas, and the shrill noise was hurting my head.


This sentence is more informative, but it is not as fun to read -- not as intriguing.  Also, I hope it gets good gas mileage, because it takes a long time to go from point A to point B. This has more power: The children were hurting my head.
So, informative details are not always helpful. Sometimes, it is best to let the reader wonder. 
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