Three Words of Advice

I just finished editing another book and there are three things that stand out. Do these and your writing will be better.

1. Use fewer words. Most writing is loaded with redundancies. Chop it out.

2. Write shorter sentences. Even when you have cut your word count, prefer two or three short sentences to one long, convoluted sentence. As much as you admire the apostle Paul, don't try to write like him.

3. Take it easy on exclamation points! If you use too many of them, they lose their meaning when you really need to use them!!!!!!

Avoid long sentences.

Avoid long, involved sentences. It may have worked for the apostle Paul, but your writing is not quite on that level. Fifteen words or less is a good target, though definitely not a hard, fast rule. The point is not that you should count the words in your sentences, but that you should be economical in using them, clear and to the point. You don't want your readers wandering in a maze of confusing clauses.

Short Sentences

“Write short sentences, verbs close to the front.” —C.M. Ward

New writers frequently submit articles with long, involved sentences. Even if the sentences are grammatically correct, most of the time that's a no-no. Short, forceful sentences pack more punch, aid comprehension, and keep people reading.