Phil on writing

[Mike McKeown]

To follow on from the cover photo thread, I would love to know a few of the tips Phil might have on writing???

I got a great one from a local editor.
“Only ever use two examples of something, three is too many and the reader looses focus, one doesn’t get them thinking.”

What other quick and easy pointers can we get?

[Phil Monahan]

Just off the top of my head, without thinking about it too much:

1. Learn what the passive voice is and avoid it at all cost.

2. The simplest way to say something is usually the best way.

3. Learn to use a dictionary and a thesaurus, and be aware that you never use a thesaurus without also using a dictionary. I once had a student describe a rock as “suave,” and it took me a couple minutes to realize that he had chosen the word from a list of synonyms for “smooth.”

4. Spell-check does not catch words that are spelled correctly, but are not the right words. (viz. “looses” for “loses”

[Mike McKeown]

Thanks Phil !

[Randy Kadish]

Right on, Phil. Good advice.

Randy

[J.T. Griffin]

There was a great Seinfield about the exclamation involoving Elaine as an editor.

Thanks for sharing these thoughts Phil.

[Author]

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