C.S. Lewis on developing a style in writing

From http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2013/09/25/the-best-writing-advice-you-will-hear-today/

C.S. Lewis's last interview was on May 7, 1963—six months before he died. Sherwood Wirt (1911-2001) asked for his writing advice: "How would you suggest a young Christian writer go about developing a style?"

Lewis responded:

The way for a person to develop a style is

(a) to know exactly what he wants to say, and

(b) to be sure he is saying exactly that.

The reader, we must remember, does not start by knowing what we mean. If our words are ambiguous, our meaning will escape him.

I sometimes think that writing is like driving sheep down a road. If there is any gate open to the left or the right the reader will most certainly go into it.

—C. S. Lewis, "Cross-Examination," in C.S. Lewis: Essay Collection and Other Short Pieces, ed. Lesley Walmsley (London: HarperCollins, 2000), 555.

Think Critically & Creatively, communicate effectively, and be well-rounded

From http://chronicle.com/article/EmployersPublic-Favor/141679/

Americans adults and employers want colleges to produce graduates who can think critically and creatively, and can communicate orally and in writing, according to the results of a public-opinion survey released by Northeastern University here on Tuesday.

[N]early two-thirds of adults and three-quarters of employers agreed with the following statement: "Being well-rounded with a range of abilities is more important than having industry expertise because job-specific skills can be learned at work."