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The Only Two Rules of Good Writing (That Actually Matter)

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Over the years, I’ve been asked the same question again and again. Often in emails from students, sometimes over coffee with friends, and occasionally by strangers at writing events who lean in like they’re about to hear a deep, dark secret. “Rob,” they ask. “What’s the golden rule of good writing?” And my answer is always the same. There are only two. Just two rules you ever need to remember. I know, I know—there’s a whole industry built around rules. Adverbs are bad. Show don’t tell. Use active voice. Kill your darlings. Avoid the passive. Don’t start with weather. Never open with a dream. And for heaven’s sake, don’t end with a twist. But I’m here to tell you: most of those rules are guidelines, not gospel. When it comes to writing that really works—writing that readers devour and publishers pay for—there are only two things you need to get right. Let’s break them down. Rule One: Be Clear This is the big one. This is the hill I will die on. If your writing isn’t clear, no...
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Writing - It's All In Your Mind!

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  Think on this. Our brains are sophisticated organic computers that work all day long, 24-7, to provide us with a model of the universe in which we may thrive and prosper.  We survive on the basis there is a reality ‘out there’, outside of our bodies, despite this being an illusion created by the mind inside our heads. We live in a mental construct, the outside world being only a reflection of the world we want to see. Therefore, if we want to change our world, we need to change ourselves first. If we crave success, or need to accomplish great things like write a book, or a series of bestselling books, then first we have to fine tune our brains into accepting a new reality: one where we have a better attitude toward our writing, an improved relationship between our beliefs about what is not possible and what is, and an alteration to our self-image that best accommodates a writer’s lifestyle. Essentially, I believe, we are what we want to be. We become what we focu...
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Ancient Mysteries and the Art of Timeless Inspiration

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  There’s something intoxicating about the unsolved. The unanswered. The ancient . Whether it’s a weatherworn monument, a forgotten artifact, or a half-scorched scroll that no one can decipher, there’s a whisper of eternity behind every mystery the past has left us. And if you’re a writer—especially one prone to the delicious intoxication of story—those whispers are gold . You see, most stories are built around questions. What if? Who did it? How could this be? What happens next? But sometimes, the best stories begin with a question no one has answered in real life. That’s where ancient mysteries come in. They’re like little narrative time bombs, ticking in the background of history, waiting for the right writer to come along and say, “I’ve got it. I know what really happened.” Take the Baghdad Battery , for instance. Discovered in modern-day Iraq, this humble clay jar—housing a copper tube and an iron rod—dates back over two thousand years. Add vinegar or lemon juice, and presto...
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