It is my contention....

[Paul Whybrow]

'It is my contention that a really great novel is made with a knife and not a pen. A novelist must have the intestinal fortitude to cut out even the most brilliant passage so long as it doesn't advance the story.'

Frank Yerby

 

[E G Logan]

"... even the most brilliant passage so long as it doesn't advance the story..."

That is a horrible construction, and the sentence is too long. What's wrong with: "...even the most brilliant passage IF – or equally WHEN – it doesn't advance the story" ?

I know he sold millions of books, but he must have seen some stalwart editing!