No one reads to hear someone complain about the weather or how poorly their children are behaving. You have to give the readers a reason to turn the page. As a writer you have to invite someone to turn the page. And that is a skill you have to refine. That is why you have to read. You have to read to learn what it is that makes people turn the page.
David SedarisAt first, writing for The New Yorker was very scary to me. I couldn't imagine anything that I would write in that typeface.
David SedarisHe looked as though his life had not only passed him by but paused along the way to spit in his face.
David SedarisI would start by writing to an adult, maybe a high school teacher, or maybe an aunt or uncle, and writing and telling them why you want to go to a particular university. That's probably what you would actually sound like. Then write your letter to the university, and put those 2 versions in front of you, and look at the difference between those 2 things.
David Sedaris