Thursday, August 29, 2024

Advice I Give My Workshop Students

I'm always telling them to trust their readers -- that is, to believe that their readers will pick up what they're putting down; but I like this advice better:

 

Can't remember who came up with this, but it remains one of my favourite pieces of advice for writers of fiction: Write as if your reader is cleverer than you.

— Simon Spanton (@simonguy.bsky.social) Aug 29, 2024 at 6:32 AM

(Skeet: Can't remember who came up with this, but it remains one of my favourite pieces of advice for writers of fiction: Write as if your reader is cleverer than you.)

I also tell my writers that they can't write for their worst readers. Don't dumb that shit down, don't try to keep your bad-faith readers from being offended. Write like the world's on fire and you're the only one with water. Give the readers that water.


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