What to Write
“Find a subject you care about and which you in your heart feel others
should care about. It is this genuine caring, and not your games with language,
which will be the most compelling and seductive element in your style.
“I am not urging you to write a novel, by the way — although I would not
be sorry if you wrote one, provided you genuinely cared about something. A
petition to the mayor about a pothole in front of your house or a love letter to
the girl next door will do.”
—Kurt
Vonnegut Jr. (1922-2007), writer (Vonnegut’s writing tips)
• Editorial Comment: Even an email or a tweet or haiku, if you do it right.
PeezPix. ted.pease@gmail.com
TODAY'S WORD ON JOURNALISM is a free “service” sent to the 1,800 or so misguided subscribers around the planet. If you have recovered from whatever led you to subscribe and don’t want it anymore, send “unsubscribe” to ted.pease@gmail.com. Or if you want to afflict someone else, send me the email address and watch the fun begin. (Disclaimer: I just quote ’em, I don’t necessarily endorse ’em. But all contain at least a kernel of insight. Don’t shoot the messenger.)
Ted Pease, Professor of Interesting Stuff, Utah State University, Logan, Utah. ted.pease@gmail.com. (Be)Friend Dr. Ted, Professor of Interesting Stuff
“Words are sacred. They deserve respect. If you get the right ones, in the right order, you can nudge the world a little.” —Tom Stoppard
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