Chris Stralyn's Blog, page 8

Writer’s Wisdom -Rule #46- For Speed in Communication, Write Clearly.

Writer’s Wisdom -Rule #46- For Speed in Communication, Write Clearly. "Remember, you’re not building a rocket ship, you’re composing a book. Given the choice between elaborate, complicated expression, and straightforward clarity, go with clarity. It’s easier, and it will get you a wider audience.”

Taken from The Writer’s Book of Wisdom - 101 Rules for Mastering Your Craft, by Steven Taylor Goldsberry, (http://www.amazon.com/The-Writers-Boo...

Writer’s Wisdom -Rule #45- Be Brief.

Writer’s Wisdom -Rule #45- Be Brief. “Hemingway’s first editor gave him this style
  sheet: ‘Use short sentences. Use short first paragraphs. Use vigorous English. Be positive, not negative.’ Hemingway later referred to that list as ‘the best rules I ever learned for the business of writing.”

 Taken from The Writer’s Book of Wisdom - 101 Rules for Mastering Your Craft, by Steven Taylor Goldsberry, (http://www.amazon.com/The-Writers-Book-Wisdom-Mastering/dp/1582974942)

Writer’s Wisdom -Rule #44- Collect Good Titles and Practice Writing Your Own.

Writer’s  Wisdom -Rule #44- Collect Good Titles and Practice Writing Your Own. “The
title might be the last thing you add to a manuscript, but it’s the first thing anyone sees of your writing. As such the title constitutes an advertisement for your skills. It’s also a sign - a signal fire brighter than those merely flickering titles - and a promise to the reader that here is a book worthy of their time, a bit of brilliance to light their way.”

 Taken from The Writer’s Book of Wisdom - 101 Rules for Mastering Your Craft, by Steven Taylor Goldsberry, (http://www.amazon.com/The-Writers-Boo...)

Writer’s Wisdom -Rule #43- Play With Words.

Writer’s Wisdom -Rule #43- Play With Words. “Will word play make you a better
 writer? Absolutely. It sharpens the wit and gives you practice with metaphor. Do crossword puzzles. Invent spoonerisms. Write acrostics. Make up riddles. Write jokes. Create definitions. Play with words everyday.”

 Taken from The Writer’s Book of Wisdom - 101 Rules for Mastering Your Craft, by Steven Taylor Goldsberry,  (http://www.amazon.com/The-Writers-Boo...)

New Release Schedule for 2014

After many, many requests.... I've added a New Release Schedule
to the website. You can check it out here.

If you would like to receive an automatic email when my next book is released, simply sign up with the form below.  

Your email address will never be shared and you can unsubscribe at any  time. #mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; } /* Add your own MailChimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block. We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. */ Be the first to know about each of my new releases. Sign up now to receive my "New Release News" email, sent out just prior to the release of each new title!

Writer’s Wisdom -Rule #42- Avoid Repeating Words that Sound or Look Similar

Writer’s Wisdom -Rule #42- Avoid Repeating Words that Sound or Look Similar. “Reading aloud will help you catch most of the similar sounds and close line  edits should prevent repeating structural groupings, like, for example, using the words onion, lion, nation, ionize, elation,, minion and diction in the same short paragraph. Keep your words as varied as the scenes they depict.”

 Taken from  The Writer’s Book of Wisdom - 101 Rules for Mastering Your Craft, by Steven Taylor Goldsberry,(http://www.amazon.com/The-Writers-Book-Wisdom-Mastering/dp/1582974942)


  

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Add your name to my mailing list, you will be the first to know about special promotions, new releases, and upcoming events!  Simply sign up using the form below. Be assured that your  email  address  will never be shared and you can unsubscribe at any  time. #mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; } /* Add your own MailChimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block. We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. */ Be the first to know about special promotions, new releases, and upcoming events! * indicates required Email Address * First Name Last Name Email Format html text mobile

Writer’s Wisdom -Rule #41- Be Mindful of Your Diction

Writer’s Wisdom -Rule #41- Be Mindful of Your Diction “Make your word selections with care. A single work, like a drop of iodine in a gallon of water, can change the color of your entire manuscript. Much about this rule follows common sense. Change the word water in the above sentence to wine and the image fails.”


Taken from The Writer’s Book of Wisdom - 101 Rules for Mastering Your Craft, by Steven Taylor Goldsberry,  (http://www.amazon.com/The-Writers-Boo...)

Writer’s Wisdom -Rule #40- Don’t Overuse Negatives

Writer’s Wisdom -Rule #40- Don’t Overuse Negatives “Yes, you see 6he contradiction in those three words, but the rule is written that way so you won’t forget.  Negatives have their place sometimes, to create a dark mood or contradictory tone. But remember that the psychological effects of ‘no’ are cumulative. They build subliminally and can wear down an audience.”


Taken from The Writer’s Book of Wisdom - 101 Rules for Mastering Your Craft, by Steven Taylor Goldsberry, (http://www.amazon.com/The-Writers-Boo...)

Writer’s Wisdom -Rule #39- Trust the Precision of Your Nouns and Verbs

Writer’s  Wisdom -Rule #39- Trust the Precision of Your Nouns and Verbs “Adjectives and adverbs are often forms of excessive manipulation, superfluous deductions made for what the author assumes are stupid readers. Trust your audience. Hemingway once said about adjectives, ‘When in doubt, don’t.’ Same goes for adverbs.”


Taken from The Writer’s Book of Wisdom - 101 Rules for Mastering Your Craft, by Steven Taylor Goldsberry, (http://www.amazon.com/The-Writers-Boo...)