Write Naturally

Great advice from Truman Capote:

Since each story presents its own technical problems, obviously one can't generalize about them on a two-times-two-equals-four basis. Finding the right form for your story is simply to realize the most natural way of telling the story. The test of whether or not a writer has divined the natural shape of his story is just this: after reading it, can you imagine it differently, or does it silence your imagination and seem to you absolute and final? As an orange is final. As an orange is something nature has made just right.

And Buck Owens made a similar point, with a good deal more humor:

They're gonna put me in the movies

They're gonna make a big star out of me

We'll make a film about a man that's sad and lonely

And all I gotta do is act naturally

Well, I'll bet you I'm gonna be a big star

Might win an Oscar you can never tell

The movies gonna make me a big star

'Cause I can play the part so well

Well I hope you come and see me in the movies

Then I’ll know that you will plainly see

The biggest fool that ever hit the big time

And all I gotta do is act naturally

We'll make the scene about a man that's sad and lonely

And beggin down upon his bended knee

I'll play the part but I won't need rehearsin’

All I have to do is act naturally