Useful tips for writers
Master The Art Of Visual Narrative When you craft your story you have to offer a visual experience for the reader, making the story and characters vividly burst to life in their minds-eye. As a novelist and screenwriter, your first reader is not the person purchasing your book or watching the movie, but a professional reader, who will give their approval or dismissal to publishers and studio executives. This is an important decision-maker in the publishing and film/television industries. Read more
Show Don’t Tell The phrase “show, don’t tell” reminds writers to immerse the reader in the story rather than simply telling readers what’s happening. To show rather than tell is the first rule of writing, and for good reason. Read more
Regulate the Heartbeat of your Story If your story has a healthy heart, it will result in happy readers and audiences. Writing is an organic process that needs lots of blank space to grow. Your writing will be at its best if it’s driven by raw emotion, by inspirational personal experiences that shaped your life, reflecting your true self. Read more
Manipulate Emotions The storyteller is the puppet master of emotions. A writer is the puppet master of emotions, the dictator of reason, and can make anything happen in a fictional reality where everything is possible and extreme gratification is your only goal, and the audience’s ultimate payoff and reward. Read more
Don’t Get Stuck On The First Chapter Trying desperately to write the perfect story, it is easy to fall into the trap of only seeing the first chapter, constantly rewriting and rewording it to be word-perfect, and not seeing the story as a whole, complete with a beginning (set-up), middle (confrontation) and ending (resolution). It is not difficult to overcome this blinding obstacle. The first step to completing the story is to write a story outline. Read more
Bring Your Story To Life With The Right Words Word choice is an important aspect of writing that should never be overlooked. It can significantly impact the effectiveness and clarity of your writing. Through the deliberate selection of precise and evocative language, you have the power to craft enthralling and immersive content that captivates your readers / viewers / listeners and leaves a lasting impression. Strong word choice can unlock images, emotions, and more. Read more
Expose The Heart And Soul Of Your Story A story is lifeless without a heart and soul and as its creator, the writer has to bring it to life. The writer is responsible for the birth of a story, its lifespan, and the everlasting emotional impact it must have on its readers and viewers. It all begins with the written word and ends with an emotionally rewarding and fulfilling story that lives on in the minds of those who experience it. It is important for the writer to make the audience experience the story as a visceral and breathing organism. Every story has a life and it’s not simply you as a writer telling the story, but creating its vitality. Read more
Sharpen Your Instinct and Intuition When it comes to expressing inner values and establishing a personal perspective on a story, writers are often guided only by their instinct or intuition and a little luck. Instinct and intuition are essential for getting to the more meaningful, authentic aspects of a story. The starting point for any artistic creation is always at the level of intuition, because its where new ideas are conceived. New ideas seldom rise to the level of consciousness fully formed. Read more
Stop Manipulating Your Characters Everything will fall into place in your story once you allow the characters to be who they are, and not what you want them to be. As a writer, you’re a passenger on your character’s respective journeys, the creator who has to put all the pieces of the puzzle together naturally, instinctively, without too much interference and unnecessary meddling. Once you set your characters free, and allow them to reclaim their authentic selves, your true nature (and function) as a storyteller will gracefully emerge and you’ll fulfill the task of great writers, craft your story to the best of your artistic abilities, without conceit or misinterpretations. Read more
Write Your Story From The Inside Out Stop obsessing over writing a film, bestseller or play and focus your attention on writing the ultimate story. Don’t place your story into a box and smother it with conventions, rules and pre-conceived perceptions. Your story is a living, breathing organism. Let your story breathe. Writing your story is an organic process that feeds off inspiration and is fueled by passion. Read more
Explore The Thematic Purpose Of Your Story Until you know what you are trying to say, your story isn’t complete. The writing process is a search for meaning, a theme, what the story is really about, what gives it meaning and a purpose for being, besides making millions of dollars for stars and movie studios. The theme is a unifying idea or motif, repeated or developed throughout a work. Once you have something you want to write about (Idea), defined the Premise and Concept, and know what your genre is, you need to know what the intention, objective or controlling idea – theme – of your story is. Read more
Maximise Your Creative Expression All writing is discipline. Writing is a day-by-day job: you write the story scene by scene, page by page, day by day. It is an experimental and learning process involving the acquisition of skill and coordination. When you are in the writing experience, you are near your loved ones in body, but your mind and concentration are a thousand miles away. You cannot break your concentration to deal with snacks, laundry, meals or shopping. You need space, private time, support, encouragement and understanding. Read more
Sign A Contract With Yourself If you need some motivation, here’s a handy note to paste next to your bathroom mirror so that when you look at yourself in the mirror each morning, you are reminded of why you write. Say it out loud! Read more