Becoming a Better Writer

In his memoir On Writing Stephen King writes:

While it is impossible to make a competent writer out of a bad writer, and

while it is equally impossible to make a great writer out of a good one,

it is possible, with lots of hard work, dedication, and timely help, to make a good writer out of a merely competent one.

For those of us in that category—competent writers who want to become good writers—I would recommend Douglas Wilson's short new book, Wordsmith: Hot Tips for the Writing Life. You can read some samples at the link. It contains Wilson's trademark way of saying wise and insightful things in a punchy and memorable way. For example:

"If everything you write smells like a library, then your prospective audience will be limited to those who like the smell of libraries."
"Read until your brain creaks."
"Only an insufferable egoist expects to be brilliant first time out."
"The brain is not a shoebox that 'gets full,' but is rather a muscle that expands its capacity with increased use."

And that's just from the first two pages!