[PRL] VS Naipaul’s Seven Rules for Beginners

[Mitch]

  Sent to you by Mitch via Google Reader: VS Naipaul’s Seven Rules for
Beginners via Wadler's Blog by Philip Wadler on 4/25/11

Following yesterday's post on Alfred Kahn, here is advice from VS
Naipaul, winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2001.VS Naipaul’s
Rules for Beginners

1. Do not write long sentences. A sentence should not have more than
ten or twelve words.

2. Each sentence should make a clear statement. It should add to the
statement that went before. A good paragraph is a series of clear,
linked statements.

3. Do not use big words. If your computer tells you that your average
word is more than five letters long, there is something wrong. The use
of small words compels you to think about what you are writing. Even
difficult ideas can be broken down into small words.

4. Never use words whose meaning you are not sure of. If you break this
rule you should look for other work.

5. The beginner should avoid using adjectives, except those of colour,
size and number. Use as few adverbs as possible.

6. Avoid the abstract. Always go for the concrete.

7. Every day, for six months at least, practice writing in this way.
Small words; short, clear, concrete sentences. It may be awkward, but
it’s training you in the use of language. It may even be getting rid of
the bad language habits you picked up at the university. You may go
beyond these rules after you have thoroughly understood and mastered
them.







Things you can do from here:
- Subscribe to Wadler's Blog using Google Reader
- Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your
favorite sites
-------------- next part --------------
HTML attachment scrubbed and removed