C.S. Lewis' Advice For Writers

Years ago a young school girl wrote C.S. Lewis for writing advice. In timeless fashion he wrote back:

"It's very hard to give any general advice on writing. Here's my attempt."

1. Turn off the radio.

2. Read all the good books you can, and avoid nearly all magazines.

3. Always write (and read) with the ear, not the eye. You should hear every sentence you write as if it were being read aloud or spoken. If it does not sound nice, try again.

4. Write about what really interests you, whether it is real things or imaginary things, and nothing else. (Notice this means that if you are interested only in writing, you will never be a writer, because you will have nothing to write about...).

5. Take great pains to be clear. Remember that though you start by knowing what you mean, the reader doesn't, and a single ill-chosen word may lead him to a total misunderstanding. In a story, it is terribly easy to forget that you have not told the reader something that he wants to know--the whole picture is so clear in your own mind that you forget that it isn't the same in his.

6. When you give up a bit of work, don't (unless it is hopelessly bad) throw it away. Put it in a drawer. It may come in useful later. Much of my best work, or what I think is my best, is the re-writing of things begun and abandoned years earlier.

7. Don't use a typewriter. The noise will destroy your sense of rhythm, which still needs years of training.

8. Be sure you know the meaning (or meanings) of every word you use.

What do you think, does his advice hold up? Any bits you find particularly helpful or insightful?

*I had to chuckle at #2 where he says: "...and avoid nearly all magazines."

Letters to Children by CS Lewis © copyright 1985 CS Lewis Pte Ltd. Extract used with permission.