CONFUSION
I Followed Every Bit of Writing Advice Ever Written. Wanna Know What Happened Next?
Every journey starts with a single step, often into traffic
Write more
What does it look like I’m doing here?
Quality over quantity
Doesn’t this contradict the advice just above to “write more?” Well, no matter.
Here’s one example of my latest quality writing. I’m still refining these opening lines, but I do think I’m on to something.
It was the acme of times. It was the least good of times. It was the age of smartness. It was the age of idiocy. It was the era of blind faith. It was the era of disbelief …
Still refining here, but this passage seems perfect as the opening lines to my new book, “A Story of Two Towns.”
Don’t write listicles
Why?
- cheap
- boring
- overused
- not real writing
- no one likes them
- only rookie writers write them
- famous authors don’t write them
- no one likes them, really they don’t
Otherwise, listicles seem perfect. I pounded this one out in mere seconds. What’s better than that?!
Format your shit properly
Although I will say that formatting errors can lead to some fascinating back-and-forths with pub editors who oftentimes love communicating with authors who can’t or won’t follow simple instructions.
Trust me, I know.
And finally, always include a “takeaway” or WIIFM for your readers
This “What’s In It For Me” approach is critically important since the dolts on Medium can’t be expected to simultaneously read, think and process your stories AND extract a meaningful message for themselves.
So, just like good speechification, your writing should …
Tell ’em what you’re gonna tell ‘em
Then tell ‘em
Then tell ’em what you told ‘em
Clear?
And, that’s all the wisdom I have to share with you today.
Oops! Forgot one
Include a captivating image!
