Alexis Dawes

I like straight forward, shoot-from-the-hip advice. Give it to me organically, without all the additives.

And Paul Graham has answered my prayers in that department.

He has penned what I consider to be a miniature goldmine of tips to help writers craft better prose.

Here are a few of his verbatim suggestions…

* “Develop a nose for bad writing, so you can see and fix it in yours.”
Interesting because I do have a small swipe full of writing that I think is horrible. I scan through it periodically to make sure I’m not treading in the same waters.

* “Expect 80% of the ideas in an essay to happen after you start writing it, and 50% of those you start with to be wrong.”
I agree completely with the 80% part. Some writers just need to sit down and start writing, for the ideas to flow.

But I find the part about 50% being wrong, to be untrue for me.

* “Write for a reader who won’t read the essay as carefully as you do, just as pop songs are designed to sound ok on crappy car radios.”
You’ve heard me say it before - just get your project done, and stop sweating for perfection.

Perfection technically never happens. And you can still get paid with imperfections and all.

I printed out Writing, Briefly and pinned it on my bulletin board. Great stuff.

Become a better writer and grow rich,

Alexis Dawes