Writing is something that is more than just a job for some of us, it is more of a calling. It has also been called a “craft”, meaning that there is a set of skills that can be learned and practiced. While this is true to an extent, the “art” of writing is more subtle and [...]
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What I am going to tell you here will be obvious to some readers, but to others, perhaps not. There are two objectives that any piece of writing has, only two, and this is true for either fiction or non-fiction. All writing exists either to: 1. Educate (self or others); and/or, 2. Entertain (self or others). That’s it. That is the bottom line. You can think about any piece of writing from the cave paintings in Lascaux France to the operators manual for the Superconducting Supercollider, and they were all written to educate or entertain. My view is that if the writing does both then it is better. So what has this got to do with keeping the end in mind? What I mean is, have a clear objective when you start writing something, whether that objective is written down or just in your mind. A clear objective, a destination, saves time and makes your writing better. Let me give you an example from my own work. Continue reading Writing 101: Start With the End in Mind (Write to Educate, Entertain, or Preferably Both) Writing, like any other activity humans engage in, is a target for procrastination. You might wonder how something as simple as placing words down on a page or up on a screen in a particular order would be a cause for consternation and procrastination, but it is. Every writer knows this. If you are reading this, maybe you have a writing project or two that is not moving forward. Here are six tips to jump the fence and plough the writing field. 1. Break out of whatever procrastination pattern you are in and establish a new pattern. If you find yourself sitting down at work or at home to write and you are drawn into the internet or email. DO NOT get on the internet to “Check just one thing.” That is a trap. Recognize it and stay clear. additionally, this is not the time to re-grout your bathroom or de-flea the cat. recognize distractions for what they are. Continue reading Beat Writing Procrastination With Five Good Minutes or One Good Sentence |
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