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The Only General Writing Advice You Will Ever Need
You already know this, but repetition is good. Repetition helps us grow.
- Writing and Editing are two separate, and different processes.
- Writing and Editing are two separate, and different processes. It is that important.
- Write first. Edit later.
- Write first. Edit later. It is that important.
- Outline only if it works for you.
- Write every day.
- Write what you want to read, not what you think someone else will.
- Keep a ritual.
- Stick to it.
- When you are not writing, read.
- Read a lot.
- Read everything: comics, newspapers, novels, magazines, screenplays, poetry, billboards, tattoos, mustard wrappers, everything.
- Read your own writing. Out loud.
- Read other people’s writing. Out loud.
- Don’t read to comprehend. This is about writing.
- Read to write. Notice the context, flow, and tone.
- Listen to people speak.
- Don’t listen to comprehend. This is about writing.
- Notice the context, flow, and tone.
- Write with different tools: keyboard, pencil, ink pen, crayon, dirt, whatever.
- Write on different mediums: grid paper, lined paper, blank paper, cardboard, LCD, canvas, dirt, whatever.
- Write in different places, but keep and maintain a Writing Home.
- Tell everyone you write: your family, your friends, the postman, the prostitutes, everyone.
- But don’t tell anyone exactly what you are writing: not even the prostitutes.
- Strike dead every should you have about writing.
- Put aside this list, and every other piece of advice, or book, or adage about writing ever offered.
- And write every day.
Update: My apologies, but I trashed the PDF referenced below by mistake. Because a few people mentioned printing up this list, I created a simple PDF of it. Nothing fancy, just a serif font on white background, but if you’d like a copy then head to the PDF Section of the Downloads Page and snatch one up. You may do whatever you’d like with the PDF. I release it under the the Griffin Proxy Free to Be You and Me License, an obscure and utterly meaningless license with one line of text that reads, “Know thyself. You are your own council, go forth, and make merry.“
Further Reading
So Sorry
But comments are currently disabled while I work out some bugs and explore the feasibility and wisdom of implementing the Intense Debate comment system. I apologize for being a buzzkill, but they'll be back up soon. You can always contact me if your about to burst with a classic riposte or feel a pressing need to reach me.
