Maybe it is my computer programming and management background, but I approach writing as I do a development project. I spent far too many years treating writing as a hobby. This attitude led to my acceptance of the myth “creativity cannot be turned on like a tap.” Yes, it can…
Tag: planning
These tips for writing for a general audience are derived from various books by writers and personal experience. Write in “plain” English: reduce jargon, clichés, and regional elements to those essential to the text or story. Write dialogue like a person might sound: few people speak “proper” English and even…
Choose the best form and genre for your story. Every story has a natural shape based on its length and genre. Some stories require a thousand pages, while others require only a one-page poem. Knowing your genre and carefully selecting a proper form help your story’s appeal. Form-Fitting A form describes…
Beat sheets, outlines, storyboard, and other tools help me organize my thoughts when writing. Too many writers stick with word processors as their sole “digital tools” when many other great applications exist — and “applications” for various applications, too. How can you use a spreadsheet to write? And why might…