That is the question.

[prillalar]

Writing advice I'm now trying to follow:

Substitute "damn" every time you're inclined to write "very;" your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be. -- Mark Twain

Writing advice I gleefully ignore:

It's often wise to cut down on verbs of being, replacing them (whenever possible) with action verbs; that'll make your writing punchier.

I loooooooooove the verb "to be". It's my favourite verb. I work those predicate nouns and adjectives as hard as I can. I like the flatness of it, the plainness.

What's your favourite writing advice? Or your favourite advice to ignore?

Comments

[musesfool.livejournal.com]

"Omit needless words" is my favorite. I try to say as much as possible in as few words as possible.

Which could explain why I can't write long stories. *g*

And also, cutting back on the adverbs.

The rule I ignore- and I don't think it's always detrimental - is "show, don't tell".

Some things aren't worth the time it takes to show them. *shrug*

[prillalar]

I thought that Orson Scott Card had some interesting things to say on the subject of telling vs showing.

Some things, like motivation, can't be shown -- they must be told.