Introducing a series of essays about how to sharpen your writing.
One Christmas, when I was in sixth or seventh grade, my parents gave me fat book with the Sherlock Holmes tales – all four novels and 56 short stories. I read until the wee hours and finished the book in a week.
I’ve been a reader as long as I can remember. I’ve been a writer nearly as long.
Reading and writing. The two belong together, as Stephen King noted in his book “On Writing”:
“If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot. There’s no way around these two things that I’m aware of, no shortcut.”
The best writers do something else. They work continuously, repeatedly, unceasingly to improve their craft. They never think they’ve achieved perfection.
In that spirit, I start a 30-Second Read series with my 11 tips for better writing. I’ve presented them before, in listicle format. Now, in single 180-word essays about each tip and probably others, I’ll say more.
Not because I’m perfect.
Goodness, I’m not.
No.
Because writers should help writers.
NOTE: We’ll publish a 30-second writing tip every Wednesday while the supply lasts. We’ll welcome your tips too – presented, of course, in 180 words.
I’m leading a writing seminar next week. These may find their way to a slide. With full credit, of course. Great stuff.
Thank you, Steve!