Lies, lies, lies..

So as I began to ponder what it meant to write, and then what it would mean to be a writer of media, one thought reverberated in my mind: LIE. To write is to spin a web of deceit, in hopes of capturing innocent bystanders minds. Honestly, it is so fake. Is there inspiration in writing? Is your own experience replicated in writing? You know what I was told all through high school in preparation for every important test? Just write whatever sounds the best, they won't know the difference! Well that sounds like a solid example of great morals to me. Not. But anyway, back to the most current expectation of my Media Communication major; scriptwriting. My Christian college is going to encourage me to learn the trait of beguilement. Awesome.
Okay, fine; I will present my reasoning for such sharp criticism of the art of writing. Maybe I do not find delight in activities that highlight my diminutive abilities. Or maybe I just desire some clarity. You see, I do not like to participate in things unless I understand what is expected of me. Considering Media Scriptwriting; what is best? Do I write for myself? Am I writing from me to you? Am I writing to you all? Is what I write to be defined by my own strengths and weaknesses or distorted? Now to get all churchy.. Should I be writing for the world or do I write a message into the world? I mean, duh, obviously the latter but you know why I asked. Am I creating a product for the profit or am I creating it out of a gift? As a writer, am I supposed to become vulnerable? Should my work be somewhat translucent? All of these questions were adapted from a message I heard on Sunday, but I can't help but set it against this whole writing thing. To put words on a page is a powerful thing. To shape other's thoughts and impose opinions has the potential to be a great tragedy.

Philip K. Dick said, "The basic tool for the manipulation of reality is the manipulation of words. If you can control the meaning of words, you can control the people who must use the words." See?! I told you!!

So after all of this I decided to try to look for some pointers, and this is what I discovered:

Do not put statements in the negative form.
And don't start sentences with a conjunction.
If you reread your work, you will find on rereading that a
great deal of repetition can be avoided by rereading and editing.
Never use a long word when a diminutive one will do.
Unqualified superlatives are the worst of all.
De-accession euphemisms.
If any word is improper at the end of a sentence, a linking verb is.
Avoid trendy locutions that sound flaky.
Last, but not least, avoid cliches like the plague.
~William Safire, "Great Rules of Writing"