Writing: Quirks and Perks
It is now necessary to warn you that your concern for the reader must be pure: you must sympathize with the reader’s plight (most readers are in trouble about half the time) but never seek to know the reader’s wants. Your whole duty as a writer is to please and satisfy yourself, and the true writer always plays to an audience of one. Start sniffing the air, or glancing at the Trend Machine, and you are as good as dead, although you may make a nice living.
— E. B. White, Approach to Style in Strunk & White
In other words, stop trying to imitate J. K. Rowling or Stephen King; their duty is to themselves, your duty is to yourself.
A bit of motivation for all those (in the complement of Rowling and King) who are planning to write this weekend.
Reading recommendations
- The Elements of Style, by William I. Strunk and E. B. White.
- Essays of E. B. White, by E. B. White.
- My other two blog posts on White’s work: Avian Black Humour and Rosebuds Bow Courteously.
Originally published on Wordpress
In favour of hendiadys, synaesthesia, and the transferred epithet. You, too? Follow me on Twitter.
