Vigorous writing is concise. A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a

paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should

have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts. This requires not

that the writer make all his sentences short, or that he avoid all detail and

treat his subjects only in outline, but that every word tell.

As a rule, begin each paragraph with a topic sentence; end it in conformity with

the beginning.

Fortunately, the act of composition, or creation, disciplines the mind; writing                                                

is one way to go about thinking, and the practice and habit of writing not only                                                

drain the mind but supply it, too.

A careful and honest writer does not need to worry about style. As you become                                                  

proficient in the use of language, your style will emerge, because you yourself                                                

will emerge, and when this happens you will find it increasingly easy to

breakthrough the barriers that separate you from other minds, other hearts -

which is, of course, the purpose of writing, as well as its principal reward.                                                  

Your whole duty as a writer is to please and satisfy yourself, and the true                                                    

writer always plays to an audience of one.