Wise words from George Orwell

George Orwell -- novelist, essayist, journalist and critic -- is commonly ranked as one of the most influential English writers of the 20^th Century.  His works Animal Farm and 1984 are widely regarded as among the best ever written.   

 

Born in India, Orwell suffered from tuberculosis and died at the young age of 46 in early 1950, shortly after 1984’s publication.  

He said and wrote many, many quotable things, one which was included on a list called "24 Quotes That Will Inspire You To Write More," thoughtfully sent to me by my friend Danielle Yeager.  

Here was what Orwell said about crafting words into "writing":

“A scrupulous writer, in every sentence that he writes, will ask himself at least four questions:

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?”

 

Good questions and wise words worth sharing.

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