The only reason to buy these books is to set them on fire and throw them out your window. Buy The Chicago Manual of Style & The Elements of Style The simpler and more direct your language is, the better. When you’re writing a book, don’t turn to a thesaurus. If I’m helping a friend come up with a name or a pitch, and we don’t want to use a certain word because of a trademark problem (or some marketing and promotion issue), I’ll use a thesaurus. In all that time, I’ve only used a thesaurus for one thing: when I’m naming companies. I’ve been a professional writer for 20 years. Readers don’t want esoteric, obscure drivel that obfuscates your conceptual propositions. Readers like simple words and ideas that are easy to take in quickly. If you’re going to a thesaurus, it’s to make yourself look smart. You don’t need a dictionary.Īnd you definitely don’t need a thesaurus. Spell check is automatic.īesides, you should always get your work proofread. We all write in word processors that have writing tools built-in. That was great advice in the 19th century. Write with a dictionary & thesaurus on your deskĭo you need to keep a dictionary on your desk? No. You’re not writing for the love of writing–that’s just a bonus. It’s the advice that can energize a writer and transform a book. To create a change in other people’s attitudes, perceptions, and behaviors, or your own life. The point of writing and publishing is to create a change in the world. Either way, the love of writing isn’t the point of it if you’re publishing your work. You might love writing, or you might not. They write to make money or to raise their status among their peers. And snobby, elite writers love telling snobby, elite stories about their own work. I keep a journal because I get something out of that too.īut don’t tell an Author, who’s trying to write and publish a book, to write only for the love of writing. I keep a journal myself, but it’s not for the love of journaling. If you’re writing a journal, with no intent to publish it, that’s great. There’s no other reason to write-at least if you want to publish what you’re writing. The reason you write is to get something from your writing. I have a whole spectrum of emotions the rest of the time: But I might love writing 10% to 20% of the time. Why? Because you start thinking that if you don’t love your writing, you’re doing it wrong.īy most people’s definitions, I’ve been wildly successful as a writer. If you fall in love with the process of writing and you can’t wait to do it every day, that will definitely help you write your book.īut it’s terrible advice to give an Author. This is excellent advice if you want to be a poor poet. Write for the love of writing itself, not for what writing might get you Because of this, you must deal with it by facing it. When you’re writing something that’s worth writing, fear is part of the process. You’re far better off putting your fears and insecurities on the table and addressing them.īut you don’t have to solve that fear. You’re putting your honest thoughts and ideas out there in a highly vulnerable way. I’ve written bestsellers, and I’m still not immune to it. I live it myself with every new book I write. How do we know? We’ve seen it thousands of times, with every Author we’ve coached. It will eat you alive if you don’t address it. And you can’t push fear away effectively for that long. You have to come back to it every day for months. Or an anecdote or short story.īut if you’re writing a book, those fears are going to catch up with you…and they’ll knock you right on your ass. It’ll work fine for something quick-a blog post, maybe. You can disassociate from your emotions and start writing. Sure, if you want to set yourself up for crippling writer’s block. Start by getting your ideas down, whether or not they feel inspired.ĭon’t get me wrong: inspiration is great, and you should harness it when it comes. Every Author arrives at good writing through the valley of mediocrity. If you want to write a book, you must have a plan.Īlso, we recommend giving yourself permission to write mediocre stuff. Fortunately, it strikes every morning at nine o’clock sharp.”Īuthors attributed with similar quips and routines include: Somerset Maugham said this about inspiration: Why? Because inspiration doesn’t follow a plan. And if you do only write inspired (and rarely), you’re going to write about disjointed topics that don’t connect. If you only write when you’re inspired, you’re probably never going to write. People who make working out part of their routine stay in shape because they go even when they don’t want to. You might go once in a while, but you’re not going to get in shape. That’s like saying you’ll go to the gym when you feel like working out. This is the worst piece of advice you can get as an Author. 21 Common Pieces of Terrible Writing Advice 1.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |