Alexis is obsessive.

1. If you approach writing as a mystical event where you sit down at a blank page and expect to be visited by divine inspiration, you’re fucked. Writing is not a talent, it is a skill. It is a muscle. If you don’t use it, it dies.

2. Be comfortable with writing absolute garbage. Get all your thoughts down: write shit. Then edit; devote 50% of your time or more to editing. This is when you write your thesis. This is when you decide where paragraphs are.

3. Know how to use a comma. If you use more than two in a sentence, it’s too many. You’re doing something wrong. In American writing, beauty is not in the length and complexity of a sentence. Beauty is in short sentences, with a variety of structures.

4. If you can cut a word, cut it. Ask yourself, do I really need all these words? Keep only what is necessary, leave room for the important stuff.

5. Avoid canned expressions. The phrase ‘a needle in a haystack’ was effective the first time it was used in an essay – it no longer is. It would be better to write the most boring sentence than to write a cliche metaphor that serves no purpose.

6. When you use the word “which” you should probably be using the word “that.” If you don’t know, assume it should be “that.”

7. Avoid obscure vocabulary or jargon. Obscure vocabulary displays nothing about your intelligence or academic success.

If you know a person’s deadname, don’t use it.

Don’t say “their real name is [deadname], but they prefer [actual name]”

Also, don’t ask what their “real name” is. Don’t insist. Their real name is the name they chose, and this goes for when you’re asking about someone’s trans friend/partner too.

you’re an! get cha! go! ey! you’re a! get the sh! get ey! all that glisto! shoot staa go moe…

it’s a -tsk- and they colder! you’re now, wait older! but the men beg to, judging by the h. satellite. the ice we’s. getting pretty, waters getting might as well. worlds on! how bout. thats the way never get

you’re an! get cha! go! ey! you’re a! get the sh! get ey! all that glisto! shoot staa go moe…

(random discordant whistling and record scratches)

you’re an! get cha! go! ey! you’re a! get the sh! get ey! all that glistooo!!! shootn staa….

some once a spare change for need to self a this place. i said ye! what a cons. i could you a fuel mas. we could use a…CHAAAAAY! WELL!  they coming and coming, rules and out running! temps not to bun, you’re pot but you’re dumb. so do so muh so whats wro aching the. and if you don’t. (GO!) and if you dont!!!