Becoming a good writer is a lot like becoming a good mathematician. It takes years of studying and hard work. But according to Ann Handley, there are nine simple rules that you can follow to become an excellent writer. The first thing is to ask yourself these four questions often as you are writing: “What am I trying to say? What words will express it? Is this image fresh enough to have an effect? Can I put it more shortly?” George Orwell, author of “The Animal Farm” said he asked himself these questions every time he finished a fourth sentence. The first rule to becoming a good writer is to anticipate your reader’s questions. “Good writing serves the reader, not the writer” Handley said. “Good writing anticipates what questions readers
