Writing
One executive suggests a discipline — putting down first what you want the reader to do, next the three most important things the reader needs to understand to take that action, then starting to write. When you’re done, he suggests asking
Kenneth Roman • Writing That Works
#084 ✰ are you an essentialist?
Good editing means taking away things that don't help the story so the important parts can shine and feel alive.
Most first drafts can be cut by 50 percent without losing any information or losing the author’s voice.
William Zinsser • On Writing Well, 30th Anniversary Edition: An Informal Guide to Writing Nonfiction
Next the lead must do some real work. It must provide hard details that tell the reader why the piece was written and why he ought to read it.
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
Maria Popova • How to Read Like a Writer
writing wasn’t easy and wasn’t fun. It was hard and lonely, and the words seldom just flowed.
