Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Five Successful Writing Strategies for Non-Fiction

January 9, 2010 by  
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Five Strategies to Write Reports, Essays, & Non-Fiction

Many people cannot get started writing because they do not know where to start. In this brief article, I share insight from years of teaching students and professionals of all ages how to prepare professional work.

Which one of the following applies to your struggle with writing?

  • Beginning to write;
  • Finding a unique angle for your next writing project or
  • Discovering a path through the writing process?

The great news is that guidance for all of these concerns are included in this one brief article.

Strategy 1: Research.

Regardless if one is writing fiction or nonfiction, the author must do sufficient research to provide substantial background for the work ahead. This research can take many forms, depending on the type of writing, but it is absolutely necessary to have deep, broad information to provide full detail and accuracy in the account.

Strategy 2: Determine Your Angle.

Once you, the author, have the information, it is critical to determine your unique perspective or angle to approach the topic. How will you introduce your reader to this portrayal in unique way which will sustain his attention through a compelling account? Developing such an approach is a vital starting point.

Strategy 3. Discovering Your Concept Maps.

In order to determine your unique approach, it may be helpful to write key points of information on paper or digital note cards. Examine the information and look for trends, patterns, and groupings of themes or topics. See if you can………………….

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Five Roadblocks to Successful Writing

December 23, 2009 by  
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Knocking Down Roadblocks to Successful Writing

Having assisted writers for the last 20 odd years in many different capacities (such as professor, coach, and colleague), I have worked with a lot of frustrated and stymied writers. In addition, I have written 17 books and have encountered many writing roadblocks myself which had to be conquered.

Along the way I have developed five favorite ways to successfully knock down those roadblocks and continue the writing journey. Join me as we explore these strategies.

It dawns on you one day….. You might not realize you are confronted with a roadblock. All you know is you cannot write, or you do not know where to start. Or perhaps you cannot figure out how to make the writing gel so that it is compelling on the page…. These, my dear fellow authors, are all different forms of roadblocks. Now don’t be fooled, there are many roadblocks you encounter along the journey of writing. However, the good news is that the strategies we develop, the momentum of success which we build from conquering even these first five, will strengthen us for the marathon ahead. This article will help you buzz by those roadblocks in order to charge ahead towards success.

The roadblock counter-strategies which I share in this brief article take the form of techniques. Indeed, I divulge some of my trade secrets which I use to assist students, faculty and business people to break the chilly stalemate between the keyboard and the blank screen. Be diligent, keep this list close at hand, give these strategies a try, and be ready to choose a remedy when you encounter your next writing emergency. This is your survival kit. Therefore you must become familiar with it in a non-stressful situation; please consider the following points.

Fingers poised over the keyboard…and begin…

Roadblock 1: I can Say it, but I cannot write it.

Sometimes a piece that we are writing just lends itself more to telling. Sometimes we are more gifted as a storyteller or orator than a writer! Nonetheless when we have to put that same account into written form, what are we to do? One solution is so simple people miss it because of that point. Speak the piece aloud! You might use a recorder, voice activated software, or perhaps a really great friend will take notes or transcribe. Basically, the process is the same in all three methods: speak the project, rather than write it. It is amazing how this strategy can unjam the writing roadblock for people. Some authors even discover it moves them towards developing better writing skills over time.

Roadblock 2: Who is my Audience?

As Featured On EzineArticles

Road block 2 oftentimes lurks at the crux of Roadblock 1. However many of us never learned (or in deference to our English teachers don’t remember learning) about audience. Without this understanding, it is very difficult to have a clear view of who we are writing for in our literary eye while we write. However, this trick works wonders for many people with whom I have shared it: when you sit down to work on your writing, close your eyes for a minute and imagine your readers sitting in chairs in front of you. Perhaps they are ……………..

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Writing Your First Book

December 21, 2009 by  
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h1>Five Myths to Overcome when Writing Your First Book

As Featured On EzineArticles Many people live exciting lives, have great vision or imagination and are compelled to seek the long road of writing a book. Writing your first book is an especially daunting task. Where to start? How do you proceed? What if writer’s block hits? And will I ever find a publisher? These are just a few of the myriad of questions that keep would-be authors away from the keyboard and awake at night as they wrestle with conquering the page.

This brief article is the first in a series which provide guidance for new authors. In addition, perhaps it can also provide inspiration to experienced authors. With this first installment I will begin from the rejection pile as it were: Things Not To Do.

My reasoning is simple, if we can help you eliminate some lethal, bad habits, maybe we can free your fingers so they can dance joyfully over the keyboard once again. Are you game?

Myth 1: Writing a book is like giving birth- one word at a time.

Please let go, live free, and anticipate that this will be the first of several, if not many books. Do not agonize over each word. Let yourself experience the process of writing, revising, writing, and revising. Because after months of careful planning and work you must realize that at a certain point you have to kick that book out of the nest and let it fly.

Myth 2: Writing a book is ugly business.

Enjoy the writing and when you get stuck, no longer are enjoying it, or are otherwise bogged down, change your scene, write a different section, go outside, or sing a song. You have hopefully elected this process of writing, therefore enjoy it. It could be so much worse, imagine if you were digging trenches with your bare hands. This is easy in comparison. Enjoy! Change the …………………….

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