In the late nineties, I listened to an interview with Kurt Vonnegut Jr. Asked to explain why he said that Timequake would be his final novel, he replied: "It is said that, if you sat a million monkeys before a million typewriters, eventually they would type the works of Shakespeare. Well, the Web disproves that."
Wow... what a way to start a blog... by insulting anyone with a keyboard.
Henceforth, this will be my place to weigh in on communication, advertising, branding, and other issues of social import. Not that I occupy the chair of wisdom... on the contrary. I'm just a guy with an opinion, a keyboard and the fervent intention to take a few minutes out of his day to write down a few sentences on something I feel strongly about.
Since clients pay me to help them develop communications materials, maybe there's a shred of truth to what I say. Here's hoping that it's more than a shred.
Fact is, I like to write. I spend most of my days doing it. E-mails, articles, instructions, proposals... if you believe that writing is like exercising a muscle (and I do), it has become easier for me to do over the years. Here are some lessons I've learned about writing over the years:
- There are times of the day when you are in peak writing condition. Words fly off your fingertips and writing seems effortless. My time of the day is early morning.... like 5:30 a.m. I think it's because my mind is unencumbered and I am not fatigued.
- Write in the idiom. To me, that means two things: write as you would speak, using language and terminology you're comfortable with. Too many people agonize about writing because they ascribe to write at a level higher than they would normally communicate and get hung up on selecting just the right word, or trying to impress the reader with flowery language. Relax, Write as you would speak.
Secondly, it's OK to break some of the rules of grammar as you write. Like using staccato sentences. And beginning a sentence with the word "and". Hell, even the New York Times does it. Just be sure your meaning is not lost on your reader when you bend the Associated Press Style Guide around a tree. Or the stem of a wine glass.
- Good writing is good editing. If you can find someone who will edit your work (and you trust and respect them), engage them. It will elevate the quality of your writing by a factor of two. (This blog is unedited... just me and Google, helping me spell words like "staccato").
- Write from the heart. A phrase written with passion and conviction is worth ten times a phrase written just because you have to fill a space. It may be grammatically correct, but it's lifeless. Don't be afraid to spill your guts or display your emotions. It usually makes for a better read.
I'm going to pause here, as I don't want to blow my wad on the first couple of passages.
Stay together, America.
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