Jane Austen was one of the most beloved authors of the 19th century. She wrote all her novels by sitting in company and paying attention to what people said.
Be like Jane Austen. Before you start to write, listen. On social media, in person, every way you can: find out about your audience and what moves them.
Ernest Hemingway was one of the most read authors of the 20th century. When he sat down to write, he chopped away adverbs, adjectives, and description. He told the whole story through dialogue and action.
Be like Ernest Hemingway. Whether you’re writing a newsletter, blogging, using social media, or asking for money, be brief. Leave out everything your audience doesn’t care to read.
Listen like Austen, to catch every detail. Write like Hemingway, to be read.
Is the sentence I wrote grammatically correct? Why or why not?
To be fair, we might understand the meaning better in context. Also, sometimes a writer should ask the reader to work a little harder, but only for a reason. Generally, I advise writers aiming at a contemporary audience to listen to other people as if…