When I was in school, I found math to be easier to understand than writing. After all, in math, the answer to any question was either right or wrong. (Not that I was a whiz and got everything right, mind you.) Not only that, the answer could be proven right or wrong, once you knew the rules.

Writing, on the other hand, doesn't seem to have black and white rules. Yes, words must be spelled correctly. Grammar should be good. But after that, are there any rules or formulas for good writing?

After years of writing books, I've discovered I do rely on some rules-rules I wish I might have had during my time in school. These are rules you can apply to any piece of writing-fiction or non-fiction to make it better.

1. Put a picture into your readers's mind
   
   If you tell us that someone is weird, we don't see a picture of "weird." If you show us the person squeezing mustard onto his chocolate bar, however, then we will "see" what you are trying to tell us. (The person is, most definitely, weird!) In short, don't tell us, but show us.
   
   
2. Describe the unusual
   
   If you're going to describe a cat, you don't need to tell us every last detail about the feline. We all know that cats have four legs, four paws, two ears, two eyes, a nose, a mouth and whiskers. So don't tell us things that we already know. We'll get bored.
   
   Instead, try to imagine the scene and then describe the unusual aspects. If you tell us the cat's left ear is missing and that its fur is covered with pink paint, we add your details to the mind picture that has already come up when you spell the word cat.
   
   
3. Pretend you're a video camera
   
   I like to give my descriptions as if I were a video camera zooming in on its subject. Or maybe zooming out. Moving from top to bottom of the scene. Or from side to side. To be sure, it really helps your reader when you don't jump around with your descriptions.
   
   
4. Use all five senses
   
   This one is the most fun for me. It seems we always describe the way things look. But as soon as you throw in a smell, or sound, or taste, or touch, your writing will really come alive. (Plus it is a relatively painless way to add description whenever your teacher asks for more details!)
   
   

So, the next time you are feeling stumped as to where to begin in the writing maze, refer back to the hints that I have just given you. There may be no "right" or "wrong" methods for writing, but these four tips are certainly a good place to start.