Kanji Stroke Order
Clay: Kanji
stroke order is very important:
You: Why?
Clay: Because, well, it just is!
BETTER REASONS: 1) By following the set order, kanji will look more like it should and therefore be easier to read & 2) you can remember new kanji better by knowing the order to write them & 3) Kanji dictionaries often list kanji by stroke number & 4) kanji is an art form in Japan and they will know when you cheat! :)
If you only have time to remember one thing get this:
START FROM THE TOP-LEFT OF THE KANJI AND WORK DOWN TO THE BOTTOM-RIGHT
RULE #1 : From top to bottom
三 san
(three 3) 
言 (to say) 
RULE #2 : From left to right
州 (state) 
And when you have both a vertical & horizontal go horizontal first
十 (10) 
But it wouldn't be fun without exceptions!
田 (rice field) 
王 (king) 
RULE #3 : If you have left, right and center options, work from the center
水 (water) 
糸 (thread) 
RULE #4 : If there is an outside bit surrounding an inside bit, the outside comes first
国 (country) 
風 (wind) 
Except when the outside is shaped like a "C"
区 (district) 
RULE #5 : If there is a vertical line going through other parts, it comes last or at least later
中 (inside, middle) 
書 (write, writing)
And if there is a horizontal line that overlaps other parts, it goes last
女 (woman) 
RULE #6 : If there is an "X" or a crossing of diagonals the top-right to bottom-left goes first
文 (literature) 
人 (person) 
RULE
#7 : If there is a 
,
it goes last:
進 (proceed) 
These 7 rules will not cover all kanji, but knowing these rules will help to figure out most kanji
