Learn the Rules

Good writing is authoritative. It knows what it wants to say, and then it says it. simple as that. Bad writing, on the other hand, winds, dips, and dives through various, disconnected thoughts… never getting to a point, and never giving anything of actual value to the reader.

What does this have to do with writing rules, and knowing the rules of writing? Well… putting top-quality words to page isn’t all that different to putting formal fork-and-knife to filet mignon: you may want to break the rules (like using that smaller fork because it works better for this course), and you should if it feels right. But you want to know the rules to start with too. If you know the rules, you can use them - and break them - with some authority.

What’s my point? You gotta know the rules of writing to write good copy. And no, that doesn’t mean you have to make flash cards out of your high-school English text book. But it might mean you should take a peak. Or at least take a copy of Elements of Style out of the Public Library. Learn what a semi-colon actually does (and doesn’t do). Learn when to use a parentheses, and when to just use a comma. Learn other stuff. Learn to write with authority.

Then, find your natural voice.