"The Lucky 13" … ways to become a good writer

1. Realize you are human and will make mistakes. So that means that you need to self-edit. Remember what Ernest Hemingway said: "Prose is architecture, not interior decoration." Think what that means to you.
   
2. Always get the names right. Ever had your name misspelled?
   
3. Double-check your facts. Mistakes will be made, but careful writers and editors catch as many as possible. They also always double-check sentences that they've rewritten.
   
4. Know grammar. Didn't listen to your English teacher? Well, there are lots of books to help you catch up.
   
5. Use simple words. Clarity in writing is vital, and the basic components of clear writing are simple: brevity and simplicity.
   
6. Use those simple words correctly. Mark Twain said, "The difference between the right word and the almost-right word is the difference between the lightning and a lightning bug."
   
7. Shorten your sentences. Your stories should contain sentences with a variety of lengths, but most should be fewer than 30 words.
   
8. Listen. Ever know a person who didn't listen? Good interviewers ask well-prepared questions, then listen for answers.
   
9. Use great quotes! Don't use them for facts; use them for emphasis and flow.
   
10. Think, write and rewrite. First prepare for your story through research, then write it and then rewrite it. The rewrite may be most important.
    
11. Just write! After you've done your research, then write. Let your rewrite become your masterpiece.
    
12. Be original and relate to your reader. The best writers eliminate clichés, journalese and jargon and find ways to explain and use elements that readers will understand.
    
13. MOST IMPORTANTLY: Feature people, not things. People add life to stories, help people relate to statistics, help them form opinions about issues.