Many of you who know me well are aware of my admiration for Mark Twain. I have always considered him my mentor. Ernest Hemingway believed, and I agree, that all great American writing evolved from his pen. And fortunately, he left behind a great body of work, including some tips on good writing. For example, he shared this observation in his autobiography:  “I made the great discovery that when the tank runs dry you’ve only to leave it alone and it will fill up again in time, while you are asleep – also while you are at work on other things and are quite unaware that this unconscious and profitable cerebration is going on. ” Here are a few of my other favorites:

1)                  Use the right word, not its second cousin

2)                  Use plain, simple language, short words and brief sentences. That is the way to write English – it is the modern way and the best way. Stick to it; don’t let fluff and flowers and verbosity creep in

3)                  A successful book is not made of what is in it, but what is left out of it

4)                  As to the adjective: when in doubt, strike it out

5) I never write metropolis for seven cents because I can get the same price for city. I never write policeman because I can get the same money for cop

6)                  Get your facts first, and then you can distort them as much as you please

7)                  You need not expect to get your book right the first time. Go to work and revamp or rewrite it. God only exhibits his thunder and lightning at intervals, and so they always command attention. These are God’s adjectives. Use thunder and lightning too much, the reader ceases to get under the bed, by and by

8)                  The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and the lightning bug

9)                  Substitute damn every time you’re inclined to write very; your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be

10)              The time to begin writing an article is when you have finished it to your satisfaction. By that time, you begin to clearly and logically perceive what it is that you really want to say

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