Category Golden Rule of Writing

Imagine, if you will, a world in which people follow a simple eleven-word lesson.

This lesson is almost universal. Religions and ethical systems across the world embrace this ideal. It is so simple that even small children understand it. And when followed, even imperfectly, it guides people to live well and to take care of each other.

I am talking, of course, of the Golden Rule: “Do under others as you would have them do unto you.”

The power of the Golden Rule lies in its call for empathy. When trying to decide whether to commit some act, imagine how you would feel if someone else took the action. The Golden Rule is the ultimate lesson in empathy, in caring for others. If we all followed it, the world would be a better place.

Under the Golden Rule, we don’t have to love everyone—we only need to respect everyone. That should be easy enough, right?

A Golden Rule for Writing

Now imagine, if you will, another, even simpler imperative to guide writers. This one is just eight words long. It has two parts, each four words. Those two parts are really just statements of the same idea from different angles.

• Make everything a journey.
• Start strong, finish strong.

This imperative—which I call the Golden Rule of Writing—will not solve all your problems.

You still need to understand your topic, figure out what to say, and gather ideas and evidence. These and other writing skills take time and effort. Anders Eriksson, a famous Swiss psychologist, estimates that mastery in any skill requires 10,000 hours of deliberate practice.

The Golden Rule of Writing doesn’t offer any magic. But it does offer an approach that—if you use it—provides the basic focus and ideal you need to thrive as a writer. If you consciously follow this simple little rule—as you compose and edit sentences and paragraphs, and then organize those pieces into sections and whole pieces—you can’t fail.

Here’s how to do it …