Monday, November 12, 2007

Writing 101, according to Anthony Brandt


While perusing the latest issue of Poets & Writers, I came across words of wisdom penned by Anthony Brandt, a longtime magazine journalist and former Pushcart Prize essays editor.

Brandt said that he learned much about the art and craft of writing from his Esquire editor, Betsy Carter.

"You have to make a piece interesting to the reader immediately. That's Writing 101. If you can't be interesting right away you probably can't be interesting at all. You don't save it up for later; you spend it, if you're any good at all, with the faith that where that came from, there will be more."

(from Brandt's column in P&W, p.96-97)

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