In a recent blog, I shared a range of writing tips and received this comment from Parag Shah, a creative writer: “I observe a lot, I get a lot of ideas, but I struggle with converting them into a story. I hope the challenge I'm facing inspires you to write a blog post on this topic.” So I decided to accept the challenge of addressing Parag’s challenge. As I have said before, anything can be … [Read more...] about How do you take an idea and convert it into a story?
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Why is writing a book so hard? Plus other FAQs about being an author
I'm not a seasoned author, but I have written three books. I finished the first one 15 years ago (it remains unpublished); the second was a short e-book about storytelling that I published on Kindle a few years ago; the third is a work in progress (I am working on a second draft). But in my capacity as a developmental editor I am currently working with several authors to help them write business … [Read more...] about Why is writing a book so hard? Plus other FAQs about being an author
Can writing be taught? Plus other FAQs about writing and storytelling
I was recently made aware of a website called AnswerThePublic, which is essentially a database in which you can enter a key word and receive a report based on every phrase or question that the public are currently asking about that word on search engines such as Google. It’s aimed at marketing people but is also a useful resource for anyone wanting ideas for content. You can only search for a … [Read more...] about Can writing be taught? Plus other FAQs about writing and storytelling
Write for the hell of it, and other tips from an old-school journalist
I posted a blog on LinkedIn the other day and Riccardo, one of my connections/friends, commented: “Where do you find time to come up with such amazing pieces of writing?” I immediately thought – great, thanks Riccardo! You’ve given me the topic of my next blog. So where do I find time? If you love writing as much as I do, you will always find time. Author, scriptwriter and creative … [Read more...] about Write for the hell of it, and other tips from an old-school journalist
Strenuous striving for satisfaction vs calm cultivation of contentment
I am fascinated by words and their meanings – both original and contemporary. I like to look at words from all sides and reflect on their impact – on me personally as well as collectively. Two words that have registered with me a few times over the past week are content and its close relative, contentment. The French origin of the English word contentment dates back to the mid-15th century … [Read more...] about Strenuous striving for satisfaction vs calm cultivation of contentment
Why you have to let the white space speak
A few years ago, I read an interview with one of Obama’s speechwriters. I’ve forgotten their name, but I’ll never forget their quote: “You have to let the white space speak.” It’s a quote I often share with participants in the public speaking trainings I facilitate, to illustrate the value of pacing and pausing, and the fact that the space we put around our words is as important as the words … [Read more...] about Why you have to let the white space speak