The document provides 12 maxims or rules for writers, including getting the pencil moving quickly, being direct and brief, saying things in new ways, leaving out parts readers skip, rewriting more than writing, leaving time between writing and editing, treating every writing opportunity as if it is the last, and getting words on the page. The maxims advise writers on techniques for clear, concise, and impactful writing.

1. 12
Writers'
Maxims

2. Get the pencil
moving quickly.

3. Be direct, simple,
brief, vigorous, and
lucid.

4. Say an old thing in a
new way or a new
thing in an old way.

5. Try to leave out the
part that readers
tend to skip.

6. Murder your
darlings.

7. Never use the
passive where you
can use the active.

8. Do not let the beginning
of your sentence lead the
reader to an expectation
which is contradicted by
the end.

9. Write less; rewrite
more.

10. Leave a decent
space of time
between writing
something and
editing it.

11. Improve every
opportunity to
express yourself in
writing as if it were
your last.

12. Ignore all proffered
rules and create
your own, suitable
for what you want to
say.

13. Get black on white.