Writing Rules

It has been a long time, no writing in the Literary Zone, because I have been busy with various writing projects.

Whenever I write, I try to follow to follow these three rules:

Write naturally. In the 1960s, the Beatles covered Buck Owens’ song “Act Naturally”. With writing, I try to write naturally. I don’t write on subjects I know little or nothing about, like calculus, arcane science fiction, Luxembourg politics, the eating habits of hobbits, myxomycetes, Sumerian philosophers, alchemy, and yak ranches. Instead, I just write on subjects that interest me.

The WISDOM (Write Interestingly, Succinctly, Directly, Okay Moron) Principle. Academic writing is notorious for being obtuse and for using incomprehensible jargon; that is why very few people willingly read scholarly journals and dissertations. I try to write simply and clearly. Sometimes, I even prefer using slang words rather than the words used in the National Spelling Bee to get my point across. I know that will make grammar teachers retch, but a good deal of slang words sound cool, dude.

Writer’s Block is common, and I try to cope with it as best as possible. There are some writers who can write a novel at the speed of light. Then are writers like me who become a blockhead when I am unable to write Dick and Jane sentences for hours. I am not a writer who turns to John Barleycorn or Mary Jane to overcome writer’s block. Instead, I eat a few snacks and take a nap.

Of course, I frequently do not follow these rules. Whenever that happens, I carry on writing after a cry and a few dozen temper tantrums.

Thought From This Blog

Be a writer–the more, the merrier, especially if you’re funny.