The pen is mightier than the sword

The old adage has never been more true than it is today, when the Internet makes it possible for millions of people around the world to read the words of a published writer (just like the millions of you reading this blog right now). In the same amount of time it takes to write a hurried essay, probably the best you could do with a sword is kill 15, maybe 20 samurai. Big deal.

So I'm going to share a few writing tips here for the following reasons: 1) I like writing and think it's important, useful and enjoyable; 2) Kari Masson asked me to; 3) I know nothing about swordplay, as my alternative topic given the title I've selected; 4) to piss off Mickey, who don't need no stinking writing tips.

Seriously, aspiring writers please disregard the preceding two paragraphs of garble. I haven't blogged in more than a week, and I have a backlog of mindless crap clouding my writer's judgment. Kari and Meaghan have each shared some great tips for beginning writers looking to get published, and I shall endeavor to come up with some slightly different ones, so as not to be totally redundant (and further piss off Mickey, I'm sure).

For starters, I'll confess that almost all of my published writing has been for a full-time employer, not as a freelancer, so I'm not sure I can offer anything specific to catching an editor's eye. I'll focus instead on some basics of good writing, which should go a long way toward catching said eye.

Step one: Cut a hole in a box. Wait, no, that's the wrong set of instructions.

Step one: Plan, research and write with focus. This goes hand-in-hand with Kari's tip regarding organization. Your article should have a strong sense of focus. Know precisely what you're writing about and what you're trying to say. Then, say it. Narrowing your topic is a key part of this concept. If you think you're going to publish a 500-word magazine article about Christmas, you're in trouble. It's way too broad to be focused (or interesting). 'Christmas trees' is getting closer, but still pretty broad. A brief history of the evolution of local Christmas tree traditions, as told by a few local holiday decor shop owners = much more focused.

Readers (and editors) shouldn't scratch their heads trying to figure out what an article is about. (And yes, I realize this post is a rather poor example of writing with focus. I'm trying to turn things around in the latter half.)

Step two: Avoid the cliche. I mean this in two ways: the cliche words and phrases that get overused to the point of losing their meaning, and the cliche article topics that get overused to the point of no longer being interesting.

On the first point, some editors/writers will disagree and say cliches can be a quick, even catchy way to communicate an idea or sentiment. I'll concede that is true in some cases, but more often cliches are just lazy devices that make your writing sound just like everyone else's writing (or speech). If you use cliches, make sure you do it for good reason. Otherwise, replace them with a clever original phrase, or even just plain old real words that literally mean what you're trying to say (see the "precise language" section below).

Secondly, don't write the same old article idea you've read a dozen times somewhere else. If you've read it a dozen times, then your would-be editor has probably had it pitched to her a hundred times. It's boring. Now, this doesn't mean you should find a completely bizarre topic. If you go too far, the readers will find it utterly foreign and irrelevant to them. (See Meaghan's point on knowing your audience) But you can bring them a fresh perspective on a familiar subject.

Step three: Use precise language. In addition to the point about cliches, carefully read your writing to make sure it means exactly what you intend it to mean. Consider your word choices, the order of words and phrases and even your punctuation, which can all lead to a potential misreading of your sentences. Slang can be OK, depending on the style of publication and your knowledge of your audience (again), but when in doubt just use direct language to say what you mean to say. Second-guess yourself, asking: does this sentence mean what I intended it to mean?

Step four: Read it aloud to yourself. You've probably heard this one before, but I think it can be very helpful, especially for beginning writers looking to crack into the craft. By reading aloud, you hear sections of the text that sound awkward and notice the places where you stumble over the wording. If you (the writer) stumble over a section while reading it aloud, you can be sure the reader will stumble over it.

Step five: Read, read, read. Here I'm not talking about your own text, but rather other people's writing. It's really the best way to improve your writing. Read online news sites, short feature articles, long articles, humor pieces, serious pieces, and so on. The more you read, the more you'll notice the way other writers compose their thoughts, vary their sentence structures, employ different styles and voices (depending on the subject matter and the audience). You'll improve your vocabulary and spelling skills. Also, you'll gain a general knowledge of the world around you, and without that you've got nothing to write about. If you have a certain magazine in which you're trying to get published, read that to see the writing styles and topics that are commonly included.

I've gone on too long and am certainly in no position to instruct on being concise, although that is helpful in many instances. I hope these tips will be helpful to someone and not too elementary. (Mickey, if he's still reading, is bored out of his mind, I am sure. That cliche is dedicated to you, Mickey. Merry Christmas.)