Advice from Kurt Vonnegut

Vonnegut’s books are so easy to read.  He has been generous with advice to aspiring writers.  The one that stuck with me most was ‘pity the readers’.  I am guilty of writing for myself and often forgetting the audience.  I leave out explicit information that they may need.  I have to be careful about that and not assume the reader knows what I know.  Like Naipaul he touches on the simplicity of language.  Small words.  Short sentences.

1. Find a subject you care about
2. Do not ramble, though
3. Keep it simple
4. Have guts to cut
5. Sound like yourself
6. Say what you mean
7. Pity the readers