Creativity is a lawless land, defined by clarity. The art of writing is the act of refining your thoughts into literate sentences. It has to make sense in a way that imposes structure. Artists and authors are witty, wispy spirits who thrive on creativity.
Creativity is the tendency to generate or recognize ideas, alternatives, or possibilities that may be useful in solving problems, communicating with others, and entertaining ourselves and others.
Expert writing advice is there to impose law and order onto the chaotic act of writing and art making.
Certainly my own career has been made from doing and learning, Being an author requires work and effort, and it isn’t always pleasant, it isn’t always fun. Writing advice tends to drift away from the chaotic, unpredictable tangle of writing and storytelling. It slips into the “reality check” style of harsh writing advice — it is often presented as if one is doing a favor by delivering it.
SIMPLE RULES:
- Clarity is the mark of a genius
- Write what you know
- Show don’t tell – use the five senses (see, hear, smell, feel, taste)
- Do not write long sentences. The average sentence should have less than ten or twelve words.
- Each sentence should make a clear statement. It should add to whatever went before it. A good paragraph is a series of clear, linked statements.
- Do not use big words. The use of small words compels you to think about what you are writing. Even difficult ideas can be broken down into small words.
- Never use words whose meaning you are not sure of.
- Avoid using adjectives, except those of colour, size and number. Use as few adverbs as possible.
- Avoid the abstract. Always go for the concrete.
- Every day, for as long as it takes, practise writing in this way. Use small words; short, clear, concise sentences.
Unleash the novel inside you
with compelling characters,
intricate worlds,
and fine-tuned prose.
“Linda has published twenty books. She blogs about the publishing world, posts useful tips on the challenges a writer faces, including marketing and promoting your work, how to build your online platform, how to get reviews and how to self-publish. She has mentored many authors and edited their work.”
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