If Ben Franklin were alive today, he would be...uh, very old. But his writing style would be as current as e-mail, yet as timeless as the man himself.
This great American championed succinct writing, and his epigrams became part of our national heritage. Before discussing his classic quotes, let's first examine how he grew into an acclaimed wordsmith.
Apprenticed as a printer's helper, Franklin studied the handbills and circulars his shop printed. When newsletters and newspapers began in the colonies, Franklin submitted letters or witty sayings under a pseudonym.
More and more of his short sayings began to appear. People enjoyed them, so Franklin decided to publish even more with the creation of "Poor Richard's Almanac." What attracted readers to him?
a. He wrote simply. He knew his audience, and focused on basic words and ideas.
b. He wrote briefly. The Almanac itself emphasizes frugality and brevity. "Silence is not always a sign of wisdom, but babbling is ever a mark of folly," Franklin said.
c. He used humor. Franklin's sayings are among the most quoted in history.
d. He spoke of moral truths, and offered valuable advice.
Next time you sit down to write, remember that the reader's very busy. So deliver your message simply and memorably.
Rix Quinn wrote the book "Words That Stick," which offers lots of writing advice for both students and professionals. It's available through your local bookstore, or Ten Speed Press. http://www.tenspeed.com/catalog/all/item.php3?id=1661
cheap limo service Lombard .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareYou are far more likely to successfully write and publish... Read More
Clustering, also called Mind Mapping, is a great way to... Read More
With the advent of email communications in the workplace, it's... Read More
In the ten years that I've taught people how to... Read More
If your cash is running out fast and you have... Read More
This article contains a short guide on how to edit... Read More
Connectors -- conjunctions, punctuation, and transitional phrases -- allow readers... Read More
Human beings seem to be born with a gene for... Read More
Sailors had it for years. Great explorers had it as... Read More
Far too many inexperienced writers create flat, stereotypical characters: the... Read More
It was reported that the great American author Sinclair Lewis... Read More
Every writer knows that the urge to write is not... Read More
I asked several writers how long it took them to... Read More
Have you given up on getting your book out of... Read More
It would be very selfless or noble of me to... Read More
Beyond three and four act story structure, lies the Hero's... Read More
In the beginning of your story you have to grab... Read More
So you've decided to crown yourself with a title that... Read More
You know you've got writing talent. Others enjoy your work... Read More
At some point, every serious writer is forced to sit... Read More
Interested in breaking into writing or breaking into a new... Read More
My article this issue is an excerpt from a book... Read More
Listen, consider this scenario.You have a deadline to honour. Time... Read More
Once you've plotted out your book, developed the characters and... Read More
It would be very selfless or noble of me to... Read More
limo O'Hare Glen Ellyn ..The hardest part of nonfiction writing is finding a subject... Read More
So, you want to freelance as an editor, writer, copy... Read More
What does one do as a writer who loves writing... Read More
Writers are an insecure lot.It's easy to understand why. You... Read More
Language Training - A key to Global CommunicationLanguage Training is... Read More
The Hottest Word on the WebDid you know marketing people... Read More
In large publishing houses, many manuscripts penned by first-time authors,... Read More
Griselda spent hours polishing up her resume. No detail was... Read More
Originality emerges from structure. Once you have a story idea,... Read More
Writing papers and book reports has long been the bane... Read More
Kallu was a tenant of Santosh Kumar Nayak. Santosh Kumar... Read More
Short Story Writing Tips ?We all have different tastes in... Read More
We've all been told that we need to use all... Read More
My bookcase take up one whole wall in the family... Read More
The only way to become a writer is to write.... Read More
Writers are notorious collectors of slips of paper. They tear... Read More
In his book, "Achieving Financial Independence as a Freelance Writer,"... Read More
All writers should use a plan whether written or reflected.... Read More
When most people consider writing a book, they don't think... Read More
Way back in your early school years, you were probably... Read More
In order to be successful with a newsletter, specialize in... Read More
I'm willing to bet that quite a number of you... Read More
The Scanning ReaderWriting for the Web is different than writing... Read More
The Big IdeaOkay. So youve figured out that you would... Read More
Ever wonder what an author's life is like? What that... Read More
Writing |