Write the Vision and Make It Plain or Get Dizzy Trying
Ever try to write a vision, a dream, or message, and make it plain enough that folks can understand it? I’ve been working on updating my books into ebooks and new paperbacks.Yet, as a dyslexic writer, I often find myself spinning words around in my head that dizzily land on the page. Not good when you are trying to “write the vision and make it plain (Habakkuak 2:2).So when I came across this list from William Safire's book, Fumblerules, I just had to share it with you.What’s a fumblerules, you ask? They are mistakes that call attention to the rule.See how well you know the rules and fess up if you ever break them. I never do . . . . *rolls eyes and looks dizzy*
- Avoid run-on sentences they are hard to read.
- No sentence fragments.
- It behooves us to avoid archaisms.
- Also, avoid awkward or affected alliteration.
- Don’t use no double negatives.
- If I’ve told you once, I’ve told you a thousand times: Resist hyperbole.
- Avoid commas, that are not necessary.
- Verbs has to agree with their subjects.
- Avoid trendy locutions that sound flaky.
- Writing carefully, dangling participles should not be used.
- Kill all exclamation points!!!
- Never use a long word when a diminutive one will do.
- Proofread carefully to see if you any words out.
- Take the bull by the hand, and don’t mix metaphors.
- Don’t verb nouns.
- Never, ever use repetitive redundancies.
- Last, but not least, avoid clichés like the plague.
Are these rules you ever break? Do you have a favorite fumblerule you could share with us? We’d love to smile with you.
In Him together, Susan Gaddis