KISS

Short sentences. Simple words. Use adjectives and adverbs sparingly and be interesting when you do: avoid clichés like the plague, and remember that mixed metaphors are the black kettle in the glass house. Structure your paragraphs so that they flow. If you can't say a sentence aloud in a single breath, as slowly as you would if delivering it to an audience, then it's too long. The sentence I just wrote is about the outer limit, for example. If you have to think about how the emphasis would work within the sentence when delivering aloud, restructure. Good architecture requires no signage: classically constructed buildings direct function through form. Good writing is the same.

Unbelievably, I have been published a few times, so this is not from a perspective of *total* ignorance.

Posted By: thesmallchap on March 1st 2007 at 09:48:00

Message Thread

FAO my less-than-adoring public (NCFC) - thebigfeller, Feb 28, 20:43:24
- KISS (NCFC) - thesmallchap, Mar 1, 09:48:00
- one comment from a sem-professional subeditor (NCFC) - elk, Feb 28, 23:02:52
  - some bloody editor. SEMI (n/m) (NCFC) - elk, Feb 28, 23:03:56
- Bit late mate but cheers (NCFC) - Tomblander, Feb 28, 21:34:26
- Christ..... (NCFC) - Johnny Comecardiff, Feb 28, 21:28:32
  - Overall...... (NCFC) - Johnny Comecardiff, Feb 28, 21:35:11
- Good article, big feller ! (n/m) (NCFC) - colincanary, Feb 28, 21:17:43
- My approach to brevity is to print out every article I write, as a first draft (NCFC) - Ottosson Foxtrot, Feb 28, 20:52:28
  - Blaise Pascal (NCFC) - yarmyyarmy, Feb 28, 21:13:36
    - LOL! Now there was a man who knew what he was talking about (n/m) (NCFC) - thebigfeller, Feb 28, 21:15:40
  - Yep, agreed: was a good night Otto, and great meeting you! (n/m) (NCFC) - thebigfeller, Feb 28, 21:12:26
- not sure what the criticisms were exactly (NCFC) - Dave in France, Feb 28, 20:47:26
  - Me too. Except the 'This observer notes....' I hate that. Monbiot wouuld never do it. (n/m) (NCFC) - The Editor of Milk, Feb 28, 21:16:11
  - Thanks! (n/m) (NCFC) - thebigfeller, Feb 28, 21:12:45
  - Me too. (n/m) (NCFC) - Arganth, Feb 28, 20:57:01
    - yep, I like the read too! (n/m) (NCFC) - admckechnie, Feb 28, 20:59:19
    - ...and with rest of message... (NCFC) - Arganth, Feb 28, 20:58:56
      - Not yet: jambocanary, if you're out there, send me an email (NCFC) - thebigfeller, Feb 28, 21:11:56
        
        Also JP, can you send Harry & Penny an email too ? (NCFC) - Arganth, Feb 28, 21:14:00

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