Below is a short article that contains wonderful writing advice the author received from Knopf’s Charles Elliott.

A variation on this advice came from a teacher I’ve worked with but I cannot recall which teacher. His/her advice was, “Pretend you have a camera on your shoulder and let the reader see exactly what the camera sees. With this approach, all general statements go out the window, and in their place are specific details of what the writer can see, hear, taste, touch, and smell. The writing goes from the general to the specific instantly. For example, if I were following my own advice right now, I’d write, my black terrier Frankie is curled up at the end of our walnut Victorian bed and her black body is in sharp contrast to my white counterpane. The fan that faces me from across the room is whirring and snippets of conversation from the television set in the next room let me know that Ray is watching some tense drama.

Read the article below for more information.

I think anyone who enjoys writing can benefit from Iyer’s observations.