Saturday 21 June 2008

WRITING TIPS - From George



George Orwell: "Politics and the English Language" published in 1946


1. Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.

2. Never use a long word where a short one will do.

3. If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.

4. Never use the passive where you can use the active.

5. Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.

3 comments:

  1. Hi David.

    Of course you can link to my blog and I'll add you to my exchange list. Never hurts to drive the numbers up.

    Thanks for the heads up on Sonar too. I've been using a spreadsheet for the last year or so. Something a little more professional won't go astray. If it's okay with you, I might even add a link back to your post on Sonar (for credit).

    Keep on writing.

    BT

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  2. Yeah Sonar is great.

    I also use YWriter from the same bloke. I'll do a review on that when I get a chance. It is very handy for anything over 2000 words.

    Felicity swears by Duotrope but I'm not a fan of its submission tracking. It doesn't have every market (eg Dark Animus) and isn't as flexible as SONAR IMHO.

    And sure link away.

    Cheers,

    D

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  3. Yeah, you're absolutely right about Duotrope not having every market. But it feeds my obsessive need to track other things, so I still lurve it. :p

    I have been contemplating forming my own central database to cater to other needs, so maybe I will tentatively fiddle with Sonar also.

    (Fear not, Duotrope - I shall still not forsake you!)

    And thanks for the dose of George. He wasn't the most cheery fellow, but God...he blew/blows my mind.

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