The Write Way | ✔︎

0.5 | DISCLAIMER

     Let's get two things out of the way. First, which I already acknowledged in this book's description but felt the need to reiterate, I don't believe that the contents of this book and the advice that can be found here are the law. I'm not the best writer, nor has anyone given me the authority to talk about writing, but I've written long enough to know a few things at least, and it's those few things I will be talking about here. All that is to say you are welcome to disagree with me, and/or disobey the rules. The most innovative writers I know do so.

     Second: this is not a grammar book. As much as I would love to talk about the intricacies and rules of the English language (read: I don't), if that is what you're looking for, then this is not the book for you. I can try and teach you how to write an interesting story from experience, but I can't teach you how to write. Unfortunately, that is up to you (and your English teachers).

     I will say, however, that if you wish to improve your syntax and vocabulary, the key is to read and write. A lot. Read extensively: read good books, read bad books, read poems, articles, and anything you can get your hands on. Look up words you don't know and try to be conscious of how authors construct their own sentences.

     Read anything you like? Try emulating it in your own writing. This isn't me giving you permission to steal other people's works, but rather me telling you to figure out what about their writing style you like and try to apply that in your own writing to see if it sticks. My humor stems from all the Cracked.com articles I've read growing up, and while it wasn't a conscious decision for me to take something away from their articles other than a good laugh, you'd be surprised by how much like a sponge our brains are when you keep it constantly engaged.

     And also, for the love of God, unless you know precisely how to use a word, don't rely on the thesaurus to inject depth into your work. Most people can see right through it and it doesn't make for a natural flow. If you want to sound intelligent, them remember this: the intelligent man can tell you about a complex topic in simple terms, showing you his understanding of it without inundating you with terminology, whereas his counterpart, the bumbling idiot, will jump at any chance he can get to show off what he knows, because he knows very litte.

     Harsh? Maybe. But the most important thing I can tell you about syntax and grammar and your vocabulary is this: learn the rules so you can break them effectively.