If your reader puzzles over a word or thought ever so slightly, if she is distracted by just one unnecessary word or phrase, you have lost her concentration.
The best writing has precision, which is, simply put, the exact word in its proper place. 'The limits of my language marks the limits of my world.' Ludwig Wittgenstein
Use words that reflect the strength of your feelings. Words change the world. Words teach. Words unleash their power when they are shared. In a study carried out by Alexander Penney, it was found that people with high verbal knowledge are better at remembering past events and bringing them back to life through details. Collect words! Keep a list in the back of your notebook. Writing is nothing more than a guided dream. Those who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream by night.
Just write. Don't wait. For if you wait, you may never start. take what is nearest at hand, accept it and then work hard to transform it. Write as if in a trance. Always say ‘yes’ and write without censoring. Don't block anything. Hold the door open for your self to surprise you.
Only the next sentence matters, not the last. You can always go back and edit, but in this moment, all you need to do is to move forward. Mix handwriting with typewriting. Go backwards and forwards. Write the first draft on the computer, then write it out by hand. I find that in the gap between the two sometimes magic happens and new ideas are born. Last thing at night, as you put your head on your pillow, think briefly about what you want to write tomorrow. Then, rise early, drink a glass of water and write.
Writing feels so much easier in the morning. Ideas come more naturally. One sentence spurs the next and the remnants of your dreams may infuse your writing with something special. |