Last week, I mentioned that I was prepping for a class on timeless writing principles for my students who are majoring in e-media. Today during class, I opened up the question to my knowledge network on Twitter, and received some excellent feedback.
[I’ve bolded the ones that I had in my actual presentation before opening the question up to Twitter!]
Always, always, always consider your audience.
@LaurieBorisMake sure the rhythm is right. Good writing grooves like good music 🙂
@jackiesfaceLess is more, especially when it comes to modifiers. If you modify everything, then you modify nothing.
@KristenLambTXYes–Study Marshall McLuhan. The medium is, indeed, the message.
@DeffreeRead your work out loud. Holds true for fiction, blogs, articles, everything. If it sounds wrong out loud, it needs editing.
@kimswitzerDon’t use the qualifier ‘very.’
@geoffrey_littleOne that gives me the most trouble – Write now, rewrite later. Don’t try to do both at the same time.
@1stineIf an adjective or adverb adds no higher value to the sentence, get rid of it.
@lightherlampLess is best. Be concise.
@DJordanLaneMy rule – know your audience.
@MaestroDSCHTry second person in article or blog ledes.
@DavidRutsala“Be specific.” Vague sentences don’t work when you’re limited by time. You can’t be James Joyce on social media.
@Veronica_JarskiNo secret – describe w/verbs. “He dashed out the door.” Not “He ran quickly out the door.”
@Gary_at_PROSOCOMy Fav !! Keep the sentences short
@cothrustTell the truth. Or go into advertising.
@DitchwalkGive your characters depth; emotion, struggles, challenges, reasons, bring them to life. Quality before quantity.
@BuddhistKnightExpect re-writes and edits, they’re not a negative, they’re an essential. Go back, make it better when ideas call
@BuddhistKnightIf you lack motivation; set yourself a minimum of say one quality page a day, it releases pressure, then expand.
@BuddhistKnightThe five paragraph essay. Never fails me.
@booksquareGet who vs whom right, and don’t confuse bring with take; then make each sentence so beautiful that I wish I had written it.
@askjohnaboutPlus, if it doesn’t sound like something you would actually SAY, then it probably won’t seem very authentic. Use your voice.
@askjohnaboutKeep cutting until you get message across with lowest possible word count. Simplicity is an art!
@BucksWriter
@DazyDay – Excellent question! I think most of them would prefer NOT to write. Most are far more interested in other aspects of media creation/production (the visuals, the sound).
Jane, would love to know sometime how your students feel about writing. Are they excited, intimidated, or just thrilled to be learning? Do they inspire you w/their enthusiasm for writing?
Great list!
And probably a fun day in class as well.