Writing
Lately, when I’m stuck on a piece, I will print everything I’ve written and re-read it with a pair of scissors in hand. As I go, I will cut out the pieces that feel like they’re working: a phrase here, a sentence there, entire paragraphs if I’m lucky. Then I’ll lay out all the cut-out pieces on my desk and move them around, trying to find the right... See more
Mason Currey • Seek funny leaps
To be brief on the sentence-level, remove words that don’t add necessary context. Extra words cause readers to slow down and do extra work. That makes it harder for them to recognize the sentence’s point. And when you exhaust readers, they quit reading.
Julian Shapiro • Writing Well - Part 3 - Rewriting and Editing
If you’re not sure what a word means, don’t use it. If you’re struggling to structure a sentence, break it up. Simple writing is easy for you, as well as your reader.
Doug Kessler • How to Write Clearly
My version of the inverted pyramid uses the ‘five Es’: Essentials: What the reader absolutely must know about your message (from the plan you made in chapter 3) Explanation: More detail to fill out the reader’s knowledge, including links to what they already know (chapter 14) Examples: Different perspectives (chapter 15), metaphors (chapter 13) or
... See moreDoug Kessler • How to Write Clearly
All writing is ultimately a question of solving a problem.
William Zinsser • On Writing Well, 30th Anniversary Edition: An Informal Guide to Writing Nonfiction
Examine every word you put on paper. You’ll find a surprising number that don’t serve any purpose.
William Zinsser • On Writing Well, 30th Anniversary Edition: An Informal Guide to Writing Nonfiction
the curse of knowledge. It’s almost impossible to imagine not knowing what you know. Therefore, it’s a challenge to put yourself in the same position as your reader.
Doug Kessler • How to Write Clearly
Every piece of writing offers the reader a deal. In return for their time and attention, they receive some sort of value.