Strings of life

"For a creative writer possession of the "truth" is less important than emotional sincerity."
- George Orwell.
George Orwell (Pen name. Actual name: Eric Arthur Blair) definitely qualifies as one of the finest writer of 21st century. If you've read 'Animal Farm' or '1984' you might be aware of the genius. Any writer will ask following questions before writing anything.

1. What am I trying to say?

2. What words will express it?

3. What image or idiom will make it clearer?

4. Is this image fresh enough to have an effect?

And he will probably ask himself two more:

1. Could I put it more shortly?

2. Have I said anything that is avoidably ugly?

One can often be in doubt about the effect of a word or a phrase, and one needs rules that one can rely on when instinct fails. Following rules will cover most cases:

1. Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.

2. Never use a long word where a short one will do.

3. If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.

4. Never use the passive where you can use the active.

5. Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.

6. Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.