Every once in a while I get correspondence from someone chiding me for the way I write — in particular the informality. I received one the other day complaining about sentences that begin with “but” or “and.” There is, however, a reason I write this way.<\/p>\n
You see, the things I write about are very important; they affect lives and the destiny of nations. But despite that, economics can all too easily become dry and boring; it\u2019s just the nature of the subject. And I have to find, every time I write, a way to get past that problem.<\/p>\n
One thing that helps, I\u2019ve found, is to give the writing a bit of a forward rush, with a kind of sprung or syncopated rhythm, which often involves sentences that are deliberately off center.<\/p>\n
More broadly, the inherent stuffiness of the subject demands, almost as compensation, as conversational a tone as I can manage.<\/p>\n
More here<\/a>, with credit to Michael Roberts<\/a>.<\/p>\n Here is more excellent advice on writing, albeit not from Paul Krugman: “25 Things Writers Should Stop Doing (Right F***ing Now)<\/a>,” and “25 Things Writers Should Know about Rejection<\/a>.” The language is NSFW, but the content is excellent.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Every once in a while I get correspondence from someone chiding me for the way I write — in particular the informality. I received one…<\/p>\n