🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <ap76438@pro-harold.cts.com> chrisc@pro-harold.cts.com (Chris Carstens) writes:
>1)  Kill your darlings.  If is sounds wonderful, like it could simply not
>be said any better, it's probably something you read.  Sometimes you work
>an entire paragraph around one ever so clever sentence -- kill em, and
>write straight prose.

While agreeing with some of your comments I don't agree with this one.
Of course you should watch out for creating overly flowery, overwrought
prose, but if you come up with something clever, use it.  However, be
open to criticism if someone else doesn't find it clever.  B.t.w.,
I believe the expression "kill your darlings" was used by Faulkner
as an approach to writing _movie_ scripts, since Hollywood rarely
lets you get away with a lot of things (sad endings, controversial
issues, etc.).

>5)  Trying to write non-fiction without a complete written outline is like
>trying to drive from Los Angeles to Dubuque without a map.  It can be done,
>but it's not sensible.

As long as you know your destination, you can follow the road signs.
It is highly individual how well you mesh with outlines.  But you
should indeed know the ending -- or _an_ ending:  you may change your
mind half-way through the story.

-- Ojvind