Well, I’ll be damned! I thought I was the only one who thought this way! There’s at least one other person out there who thinks the same.
In the February 2011 Writer’s Digest, on page 23, is the article “25 Ways To Improve Your Writing in 30 Minutes a Day.” There’s some great stuff by a couple people, notably one from David Morrell, whom I met and sat by at a dinner at the PPWC a few years ago, about “Flow” (the first of 25), but also one by Art Spikol (whom I’ve never met…), #9, “Word Choice.” Mr. Spikol said that he doesn’t “like” rules for writers, except for one:
Don’t bore anybody.
Cheers to that, Frank! 🙂
Thanks, Mark. Though I thoroughly understand the need to study and learn the mechanics of writing, I think this simple little reminder needs so much more air time. I feel far too many writers get WAY too bogged down in the mechanics–not that a good, solid “mechanical foundation” certainly wouldn’t hurt anything….
Checked out your blog. Good work and best of success to you and “The Father’s Child”!
Hahahaha… too true.
I read the WD cover to cover every time it comes – great delay device for me. I’ve found flow happens when I take out my little notes I’ve made over time, see one that sparks my imagination then write my page or two on it, find the scene hiding in there..then of course, it is time to decipher my handwriting…another challenga altogether! I also ate with Morrell – maybe we were at the table together. I remember him saying how disappointed he was in the Rambo series as movies since they dropped an important character – the best friend. Is that when you were there?
Karen! Yes, it was–and I remember that conversation as well! I was really impressed wirh Mr. Morrell. He was extremely approachable, well mannered, and quite the gentleman!
Love it!