by John Wesley


As the world becomes increasingly digital, writing becomes more important. This is especially true for non-writers. If you work in an office, the majority of your communications are made with text by email or IM.

Whether you like it or not, your ability to exchange ideas, collaborate with others, and ultimately succeed, hinges on the ability to write effectively.

Earlier this week, K. Stone laid out a process to help you write faster, better, and easier. To follow up, here are 10 timeless tips to help you improve style and substance, straight from the pens of humanity’s finest authors.
(See:  http://www.pickthebrain.com/b...d-easier/)



1. Cut the boring parts
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        "I try to leave out the parts that people skip."   ~   Elmore Leonard

        Unless you’re writing for personal reasons alone, you need to consider the            
        attention of your readers. There’s no point is publishing content that isn’t useful,
        interesting, or both.


2. Eliminate unnecessary words
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        "Substitute “damn” every time you’re inclined to write “very;” your editor will
         delete it and the writing will be just as it should be."   ~   Mark Twain

        I used to feel that using words like “really”, “actually”, or “extremely” made writing
        more forceful. It doesn’t. They only get in the way. Cut them and never look back.


3. Write with passion
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        "Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart."   ~   William Wordsworth

        It’s not hard to realize that unless you’re excited about your writing no one else
        will be.


4. Paint a picture
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        "Don’t tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass." 
                                                                                                                    ~  Anton Chekhov

        Simply stating something is fine, but when you need to capture attention, using
        similies, metaphors, and vivid imagery to paint a picture creates a powerful
        emotional response.


5. Keep it simple
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        "Vigorous writing is concise."   ~   William Strunk Jr.

        Maybe it was all those late nights, struggling to fill out mandatory 10 page papers,
        but many people seem to think that worthwhile writing is long and drawn out. It’s
        more difficult (and effective) to express yourself in the simplest possible manner.


6. Do it for love
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        "Write without pay until somebody offers to pay."  ~  Mark Twain

        When you’re just starting out it’s hard to decide where to begin. So don’t. Just
        start writing. A blog is a good place to start. The most valuable benefit is the        
        feedback.


7. Learn to thrive on criticism
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        "You have to know how to accept rejection and reject acceptance."  
                                                                                                       ~   Ray Bradbury

        Writing means putting yourself at the mercy of anonymous hecklers and
        shameless sycophants. Learn to make the most of the insults and distrust
        the praise.



8. Write all the time
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        "Quantity produces quality. If you only write a few things, you’re doomed. " 
                                                                                                                ~  Ray Bradbury

        The way you define yourself as a writer is that you write every time you have                 a free minute. If you didn’t behave that way you would never do anything.
                                                                                                                ~John Irving



9. Write what you know … or what you want to know
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        "If any man wish to write in a clear style, let him be first clear in his thoughts;                 and if any would write in a noble style, let him first possess a noble soul."                                                                                                 ~   Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

        "Learn as much by writing as by reading."   ~   Lord Acton

        Successful writing is all about trust and authority. It makes sense to write about                     your area of expertise. If you don’t have an expertise, reading and writing is the                 best way to develop one and put it on display.



10. Be unique and unpredictable
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        "I owe my success to having listened respectfully to the very best advice,                 and then going away and doing the exact opposite."   ~   G. K. Chesterton

        "Consistency is the last refuge of the unimaginative."   ~   Oscar Wilde

        "Zest. Gusto. How rarely one hears these words used. How rarely do we
        see people living, or for that matter, creating by them. Yet if I were asked
        to name  the most important items in a writer’s make-up, the things that
        shape his material and rush him along the road to where he wants to go,
        I could only warn him to look to his zest, see to his gusto.   ~   Ray Bradbury


        Following what works will only get you so far. Experiment with new styles, even if
        it means taking criticism. Without moving forward, you’ll be left behind.