Rules of Thumb - Part Three
While I am editing, trimming and polishing my latest manuscript, "This Golden Land," (please see last week's blog entry, "Now For the Real Work") I would like to take a moment and share some more of my favorite rules of thumb for writing. These are little gems of wisdom that I have collected in my thirty-three years of being a published author, and they are good helpful hints for both the novice and seasoned writer. Enjoy!
1. "Adjectives dilute a sentence the way water dilutes whiskey. Keep them to a minimum for stronger punch."
2. "A successful story pits characters against all odds."
3. "To improve your writing, study the classics. They became classics for a reason."
4. "Avoid having your characters make long-winded speeches. They're just as boring in fiction as they are in real life."
5. "Never end a chapter with: He turned out the light and went to sleep."
6. "If you're having trouble writing the ending, chances are you've already written it."
7. "Never tell your friends you have sent a manuscript to a publisher. They will pester you for news, and if the book is rejected, you'll never live it down."
8. "If you can't say what your book is about in one sentence, you need to re-think your story."
9. "Writing a first-person narrative is risky because you can't tell the reader what other characters are thinking and feeling."
10. "Sitting down and writing your story tends to get it done faster than just talking about it."
11. "Never read your reviews. You can have a thousand raves, but one negative one will ruin your day."
12. "If you haven't done at least one re-write, then your story isn't ready. However, too many re-writes means you are afraid to send your story out."
13. "Writing is like sex, you'll be better at it if do it in private and don't talk about it afterward."
