Focusing once more on the golden rules of writing

[John Dean]

I have today started teaching a new creative writing class at Kirkudbright Galleries and, as ever when starting new classes, it has focused my mind on my golden rules for writing, which have been learned from watching skilled editors at work on my manuscripts over the years:

* Consider the reader - do not write for yourself, always write for the reader.

* Be disciplined - you may wish to pack lots of information in but does the reader need it?

* You may not have put enough information in - you can imagine where a scene is set but have you given the reader the information they need? You may have drawn a character but can your readers see them?

* Be brutal - if you have overwritten, chop out the fat.

Abide by these rules and you will not go far wrong.