WRITING WiTH STYLE

Keep it simple: During a job interview years ago, a sports editor told me that I had the simplest writing style he'd seen. He didn't see tangled webs in my sentences, and I took that as a compliment.

Recently, one of the readers of this blog commented: "I like your no-nonsense writing style, and appreciate your generosity on this blog."

I can't compare myself to Ernest Hemingway, but I've always used his approach: "My aim is to put down on paper what I see and what I feel in the best and simplest way," he said.

That said, my advice is to use your natural style; don't try to imitate an established writer. If you write like Hemingway, more power to you; just don't leave any guns lying around.

Book him, Dano: I haven't read The Craft & Business Of Writing yet, but you might check it out.

The letter: Here's an example of a great query letter to an agent.

EMAIL: tgilli52@gmail.com  TWITTER: EDITORatWORK

MORE EDITOR@WORK BLOG ENTRIES

• You really DO need an editor

• Reminders for would-be novelists

• What I do when I'm editing

• What I charge (it's a deal) and what I edit

• Slogging through the Internet

• J-school: More eyes on your stories

• J-school: Go out and learn

• Rookie mistakes for magazine writers

BLOG ENTRIES BY TOM GILLISPIE

• Resume for a writer and editor

• An editor's views on powerful writing

• Advice for be and would-be novelists

• Links to TG's stories online

• Favorite quotes

• What I do when I'm editing

ANECDOTES BY TOM GILLISPIE

• Wipeout at Death Valley

• Days with rainbows

• A desperate writer working in the dark

• Yer OUTTA there!

ENTRIES FROM THE DOG BLOG

• Katie cried

• Growl and pull

• 13-plus years with my dog Lady

• ... said the spider to ...

• The Dog Diary (2014)

• YIP! YIP! The stereo-sound huskies

• What Lady and Michael Jackson had in common

BLOG ENTRIES FROM THE AUTO RACING JOURNAL

• Angel in Black: Remembering Dale Earnhardt Sr.

(a book of great stories about the Intimidator)

• Then Junior Said to Jeff...

(the book of great NASCAR stories)

• My best day as a sports writer

• Jeff Gordon's milk toast to Dale Earnhardt

• Wayne Auton: A life in racing