Original Writing

Writers are flooded with advice about how to conform to the trends and standards of the day. This advice is rife with tips for writing what publishers want and readers want. But it is clear that what publishers and readers really want is not conformity to standard, but rather commitment to boldness, honesty and originality. If your particular gift as a writer happens also to conform with traditional standards, then so be it. But if your uniqueness is off those standard charts, even quirky, and it produces great writing, then standards don't matter. Excellent writing does matter. To produce excellent writing, you must be true to your own voice. What makes your writing original is the totality of your experiences, your sensitivities, your worldview, and your manners of expression. These are the qualities that infuse richness and breathe life into your writing. Don't ever sacrifice that to conformity to standards. You must first and foremost be you on the written page. Write like you think, like you talk, like you arrange the bits and pieces of your world. But make it meaningful to others. That's the caveat. Be original, but be relevant. Doing this will make your writing more exciting for you and more memorable for readers.