The first rule of effective writing is not to try to do too many things at once.
For example, if you wish to write a poignant celebration of the human triumph that Lance Armstrong has achieved over adversity and the best cyclists in the world, go right ahead. Or if you'd like to write some pungent derision of the French who watch like cross ants each year as he tramples their little Alps, be my guest. But please, please, don't try to do both at once.
An egregious violator of this sacrosanct principle has penned this screed in today's American Spectator.
(1) Does AmSpec pay by the pun instead of by the article? If so, I want in.
ReplyDelete(2) Have you ever considered writing ad copy for Don Beyer Volvo?
Jay has a special deal. Instead of the usual, he gets a sliding scale based on the relative cleverness of each pun and/or language novelty inserted in the text. It's nerve-wracking to calculate, but very, very fair.
ReplyDeleteIt's beginning to dawn on me that these might be compliments. Since no one else has said a nice thing to me all day, I suppose this is my full complement.
ReplyDelete