{"id":4729,"date":"2017-01-13T13:57:49","date_gmt":"2017-01-13T18:57:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.laserfarm.com\/?p=4729"},"modified":"2017-01-13T13:58:59","modified_gmt":"2017-01-13T18:58:59","slug":"daily-transmission-13-dans-100-writing-rules-24-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.laserfarm.com\/?p=4729","title":{"rendered":"Daily Transmission #13: Dan’s 100 Writing Rules (24-1)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Continued from yesterday. <\/p>\n

24. Try writing longhand.<\/strong> And then you’ll realize what a crap-show that is when your hand cramps up and everything is slow and AGH<\/em>! Go back to electric wording. It’s better. <\/p>\n

23. Writing about gadgets and tech is harder than you think.<\/strong> <\/p>\n

22. Don’t brag about seeing a movie early.<\/strong> That doesn’t suddenly make you King of Entertainment. <\/p>\n

21. How much have your written today? <\/strong>If the answer is less than 1,000 words, you\u2019re not trying. Writing is work. Take it seriously. Get to it! <\/p>\n

20. Try your best to never begin a headline with \u201cHere.\u201d <\/strong><\/p>\n

19. Even terrible websites and magazines are staffed by smart, creative people.<\/strong> They know how crappy their product is and are doing the best they can. <\/p>\n

18. Writers groups are mostly depressing<\/a>.<\/strong> <\/p>\n

17. Make a glitter jar.<\/strong> It’s jar filled with water and glitter and when you shake it, it looks amazing. This is my glitter jar.
\n\"\"<\/a>I added glitter glue with warm water in a jar and let it cool. I shake it nearly every time I sit down to write. I love my glitter jar. It helps to have something to look at when thinking. <\/p>\n

16. No one has a clue how to make consistent money on the internet. <\/strong><\/p>\n

15. Not every detective in the world is a super genius who can notice 12,000 things in an instant. <\/strong><\/p>\n

14. Nothing Taco Bell does is surprising and worthy of a thousand-word article.<\/strong> Do not fall for their hype. This also applies to Burger King and whatever the hell Oreo just announced. <\/p>\n

13. Don’t be so negative just to seem smart. <\/strong>Don’t pretend that Titanic <\/em>was a bad movie. Stop being such a snob. It’s a great movie! And the finale of Lost <\/em>was good. Some writers love to pick things apart because disagreeing with a thing makes them look more intelligent. Do not fall for it. Do not succumb to it. Admit when things are good. <\/p>\n

12. But avoid hyperbole.<\/strong> Deadpool<\/em> was a cool movie. Deadpool<\/em> was not the reason God gave humans eyes and ears. <\/p>\n

11. Odd numbered lists get more clicks than even numbered lists.<\/strong> <\/p>\n

10. Rocky was not a real boxer from Philly.<\/strong> That was just a movie. <\/p>\n

9. Unless they are truly life-changing, stop writing about life hacks.<\/strong> We don’t really need a new way to hold a straw in a can of soda or a mind-breaking way to eat cupcakes. We can handle that. You’re wasting words. <\/p>\n

8. People love life hack stories.<\/strong> It’s sad how fast people will click something with “life hack” in the headline. <\/p>\n

7. Are you still reading this?<\/strong> You should be writing. Don’t waste time reading about writing. Write. <\/p>\n

6. Check and make sure the article is attached in the email.<\/strong> I forget to actually attach the story to the email about 56-percent of the time. And every time it happens, I feel like an ass. <\/p>\n

5. I like ranch dressing in my shoes.<\/strong> This isn’t a rule. It’s just a way to see if this story gets stolen and pops up on other websites. If this mistakes appears elsewhere online, I’ll know they just copy-and-pasted my work. Neat trick, right? I’m a pretty neat guy.<\/p>\n

4. Interview subjects do not get editorial approval.<\/strong> <\/p>\n

3. It can take three months to get paid for a freelance assignment.<\/strong> Adjust your budget accordingly. (Though some, awesome, places will pay you within the same month.)<\/p>\n

2. Do not assume coffee will help.<\/strong> Sometimes it does, sometimes it does not. <\/p>\n

1. Be good at it.<\/strong> <\/p>\n