Quick guide: The "rules" of writing

[RobertBMarks]

Every year, on the first day of the course I teach, my students get a handout on what I call the "rules of writing" (although only the first is a hard-and-fast rule). And, I figured it would be worth sharing here:

1. ALWAYS WRITE ABOUT THE IMPORTANT SHIT.

2. Never fall in love with your own prose.

3. Write with skill, not art. When the skill is there, the art will flow through it.

4. Clarity always comes first – never use specialized language or complicated prose unless you have to.

5. Never forget that every word, sentence, and paragraph is a tool, with its own strengths and weaknesses – and always use the right tools for the job.

6. Whenever you can, read your prose aloud – the ear will often catch what the eyes miss.

7. Don’t draw attention to structure – content is always king.

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[Kelheor]

I suppose #2 meant to say there's no limit to perfection, but it sounds a bit sad when you put it like this

[RobertBMarks]

I suppose #2 meant to say there's no limit to perfection, but it sounds a bit sad when you put it like this

The way I explain it to my students is that any given writer knows what they are trying to say in their prose, and will read it to say those things regardless of if they are there. If you're in love with your prose, it creates a barrier to fixing the problems with it. If you're not in love with your prose, you won't have any problems tinkering with it until it actually says what you're trying to say.

[Spectorium_1]

When you say students, you teach a class? Is there any way to join?

[RobertBMarks]

When you say students, you teach a class? Is there any way to join?

You have to be a fourth year Math and Engineering student at my local university to enroll. I teach writing and disaster analysis.

[Spectorium_1]

Well dang, do you happen to know any writers willing to mentor or take on apprentices. I'm still saving money for college.

[RobertBMarks]

It's been a while since I've mentored somebody, and I'm probably not going to be available until my teaching contract ends for the year in December. But, send me a writing sample, and I'll see if I'm interested.

[Spectorium_1]

Ok, tank you for the opportunity!

[Spectorium_1]

I sent a dm in the forums page with the samples, unless discord or something else works better.

[DiegoPalacios]

perfection is an endless path........this only means we can always become better.....which is awesome

[Ordinaryaverageguy]

I have written sentences that I thought were literally poetic only to realize in editing that no one but me would make be able to any sense out of them.

[system]

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