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WRITING ADVICE — April 2019

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Another April submission:

Things To Consider During Revision

 

Questions to consider as you revise:

  1. What do you already like in this piece?
  2. What questions come up about this piece?
  3. Where can you go deeper?
  4. What is the purpose of this piece (1 sentence)?
  5. How is this story or essay personal?
  6. How is this story or essay universal?
  7. What do you like about this piece?
  8. How would you alter this piece to publish or republish it?
  9. What questions do you have about what’s on the page?
  10. What questions is the audience likely to have about this piece?

What else should writers think about as they revise? Please share in a comment. Thanks!

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April Submission:

What Should I Write About Today?

 

The two most common tips for writers that I’ve gotten from the authors I interview are write daily and read in your genre.

 

They’re common because they work. When you write daily, you’re practicing your craft. When you read in your genre, you’re seeing how others handle the situations that slow you down.

 

Write anything.

 

  1. Write a letter to a friend you haven’t seen in 25 years.
  2. Write a letter to your partner—your real one or an imaginary one.
  3. Write a description of your workspace, or your favorite outfit, or a neighbor.
  4. Write a description of one of your children’s teachers, or the teacher you best remember, or the editor who made your career, or the one who turned you down.
  5. Write about the news of the day.
  6. Write a letter to you (the author) from your narrator.
  7. Write about the best birthday, or anniversary, or job, or vacation you ever had.
  8. Write about the job or vacation you want to have.
  9. Write about something you don’t remember well. Write about the feelings these memories give you.
  10. Write about being a seventh, eighth, or ninth grader.
  11. Write about a subject you want to write about.
  12. Write about a subject you don’t want to write about.

 

If these topics aren’t right for you, make up some of your own. If they are right for you, make up more along these lines. You could even spend a day writing topics if you want to.

 

Own your writing, but before you do that, write something . . . anything. Share it in comments if you’d like. I’d be happy to tell you what I like.

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