Do: Use your judgement when making references… will it hold up in 10 years? Does that matter to you? Will someone from a different location understand the reference?
Do: Have some fun when writing… what is his mustache like? Is it… as John McPhee puts it “Florescent?” or is it (McPhee was confused by this term): “Sincere?”
Do: Start writing. Even if it is just one sentence. John McPhee’s original sentence in his cover story on Mort Sahl was: “The citizen has certain misgivings.” From this he built the rest of his five thousand word piece… which brings me to my next “Do”
Do: Build a framework, and then compartmentalize your notes into different parts of said structure (e.g. Beginning, middle, end.)
Don’t: Expect it to be perfect. Or even good. Just get anything out onto the page; you can always edit later.
Don’t: Use “Kedit.” It’s old.
Don’t: Try and be someone else. Everyone else’s voice is already taken.
Don’t: Ask Tom Cruise to do your writing for you.
