A Few Thoughts on Writing

[Jimbo3948]

I am not an author or a story teller, but I know a good story when I read one (and I am also listed as a volunteer editor on LitErotica).

Recently, I found this article by one of my favorite writers and deep-thinkers - Morgan Housel - who, interestingly, mostly writes articles on finance, but who I believe has mastered the fine art of explaining everyday concepts that are really important to know. I have lost count of the number of times I have read things from Morgan's site that have simply astonished me with their brilliance and their ability to make me think to myself afterwards "Wow! Why didn't someone tell me this before?"

One of his articles is entitled "A Few Thoughts on Writing" and, as usual, contains some very important concepts on how to write something that will capture the reader's attention and, most importantly, get them to read the entire story. I hope it is useful to all you authors who are constantly looking for ways to help you master your craft.

You can find his article here:

https://www.collaborativefund.com/blog/writing/

Good luck, and don't stop writing...

 

[HectorBidon]

A Few Thoughts on Writing by Morgan Housel.

Thanks for sharing this excellent article. Here is a snippet that rang true for me:

Writing for yourself is fun, and it shows. Writing for others is work, and it shows.

 

[8letters]

From the article:

I actually think there’s one [rule to good writing]: write the kind of stuff you like to read. Writing for yourself is fun, and it shows. Writing for others is work, and it shows.

Maybe I'm a little weird, but I don't write the kind of stuff I like to read. My stories are too long for me. I write more the kind of movies I'd like to see.

 

[SamScribble]

Think. Write. Repeat (many, many times).

‘True ease in writing comes from art, not chance,
As those move easiest who have learn'd to dance.’

― Alexander Pope

 

[TadOverdon]

I was amused enough by the "three rules" to try to investigate the quote. Link.

"Novelist William Maughan" is probably an erroneous attribution, as the quotation has previously been attributed to Somerset Maugham:

“There are three rules for the writing of a novel.
“Unfortunately no one knows what they are.”

 

[Bramblethorn]

I was amused enough by the "three rules" to try to investigate the quote. Link.

"Novelist William Maughan" is probably an erroneous attribution, as the quotation has previously been attributed to Somerset Maugham:

His full name was "William Somerset Maugham", but is usually given as "W. Somerset Maugham". So the "William" is at least technically correct, though "Maughan" is misspelled.

 

[TadOverdon]

His full name was "William Somerset Maugham", but is usually given as "W. Somerset Maugham". So the "William" is at least technically correct, though "Maughan" is misspelled.

That would explain it. I've never seen him listed by all three full names. Thanks!

I was somewhat confused in my Googling by the existence of an Australian writer named William Maughan, as well as an illustrator of the same name who has book credits.

 

[SweetWitch]

From the article:

Maybe I'm a little weird, but I don't write the kind of stuff I like to read. My stories are too long for me. I write more the kind of movies I'd like to see.

Funny thing: Back in the day, when I first started here, I found an editor who wrote children's stories. He even wrote a couple of exclusive stories for my kid. He edited my work. I edited his and really enjoyed it. I never enjoyed editing from my own genre. It's weird how that works.