There are rules to writing well. They are not hard-and-fast rules—all the masters break them. But they break them at times and in ways that enhance the writing. Following all the rules will make your writing better. Knowing when and how to break them will make your writing great.
But you can’t know when and how to break them if you do not know the rules. And know them well.
Here ‘s a nice, concise post from thewritepractice which addresses six of those rules, and how to fix them. Here are the rules addressed by the author, Kellie McGann, with my comments after each.
- Read out loud. (I read my works—even novels—out loud. It can take a lot of time, but is well worth it, as Kellie describes.)
- Shorten your sentences. (I have a penchant for writing long sentences that are grammatically correct, but not always the best for reading. Do you?)
- Be specific. (Don’t write like politicians speak.)
- Re-word. (This is the basis of editing, isn’t it? First drafts are rarely (never?) the best way to say something.)
- Tighten. (“x-1” is almost always better than “x.”)
- Delete. (It isn’t personal. Cut it out if it is not necessary.)
Write these on a note and place it near your computer/typwriter/paper as you edit. Not only will it make your writing better, but it provides the confidence that you are doing something to make it better—not just hoping for the best.
Read the full post, with descriptions and examples. Thanks, Kellie!
