collected wisdom that may help you write better or more
effectively.
And if you are an experienced writer, I hope you
rediscover the glee and joy of honing a craft.
One final thing: I've organized this book as a series of
so-called rules because I wanted to offer useful and (I hope)
memorable how- tos. I also wanted to differentiate these
ideas from the general motiva- tional aphorisms that pass
for most writing advice. Part I is a gaggle of helpful how-tos
specific to the writing process and organization of a piece
(it's less boring than it sounds), as well as advice for livelier
writing. Part II will cover grammar and usage, framed for a
marketing audience.
In any case, these "rules" are intended to be functional
tools, not prescriptive rules. So, as we wrote (in a different
context) in Content Rules, any rules here are less hard-and-
fast writing rules than they are a handy set of guidelines.
Think of them more as bumpers on a bowling lane that
nudge the ball away from the gutter and greatly increase the
odds that the ball you throw will land a strike.
Of course, you can break the rules (or ignore the tools)
as you wish. Isn't every rule made to be broken? Doesn't
Writing Rules: How to Write Better
