Sunday, December 7, 2008

This one's for the editors...

One might wish to live by one's words, but language or style that is less engaging, less stimulating than the competition, is, frankly, dead on arrival. Imagine legions of writers setting off on the marathon run to success. Among them are thousands who have mastered the basic skills of composition. Should you need to catch up, scores of worth grammar/style books are standing by to help. But if your goal is to break away from the pack, some uber-force has to inhabit your writing....

Not that I claim a hound's quickness in seizing the prize; but I do have one special gift, perhaps the odd fruit of a life as editor, author, and reader: I see dead writing.

No comments: