Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Become aBetter Writer
WWW.BECOMEABLOGGER.COM
How to
from an interview with Paula Pant
WWW.BECOMEABLOGGER.COM
GET INSPIRATIONSTEP 0:
take in lots of ideas and informationfrom outside sources.
A big part of the writing process is“synthesizing many different thoughts andideas that you learn from the outside world,and pulling that all together andcontextualizing it within your ownframework.” - Paula Pant
WWW.BECOMEABLOGGER.COM
GET INSPIRATIONSTEP 0:
take in lots of ideas and informationfrom outside sources.
A big part of the writing process is“synthesizing many different thoughts andideas that you learn from the outside world,and pulling that all together andcontextualizing it within your ownframework.” - Paula Pant
Read a lot, and listen a lot.
WWW.BECOMEABLOGGER.COM
BRAIN DUMPSTEP 1:
Allot a particular time each day tobrain dump your ideas.Not everything in your brain dump willget published.Good writing is a combination ofthree things: reading, writing, andediting.
WWW.BECOMEABLOGGER.COM
SHELVE IT.STEP 2:
Set your brain dump aside for at least24 hours.Stepping away before editing allowsyou to look at the piece with fresheyes. You’ll see it more clearly.
WWW.BECOMEABLOGGER.COM
START EDITINGSTEP 3:
Know what you are looking for.If you have access to a talentededitor, send your articles to thatperson before you publish them.Read books about how to be a betterwriter and then consciously applythose tips during the editing process.Edit more than once.
EDIT
WWW.BECOMEABLOGGER.COM
EDITING TIPS
WWW.BECOMEABLOGGER.COM
"KILL YOUR DARLINGS"1.
Just because you’ve spent a lot oftime working on something doesn’tmean it should get published.
- Stephen King
WWW.BECOMEABLOGGER.COM
GET RID OF ADVERBS2.
He shut thedoor quickly.
He slammedthe door.
WWW.BECOMEABLOGGER.COM
BE JUDICIOUS ABOUT ADJECTIVES3.
Twelve rescueambulances stood by torush injured people tonearby hospitals.
Twelve ambulancesstood by.
WWW.BECOMEABLOGGER.COM
REMEMBER THE FUNDAMENTAL SENTENCE STRUCTURE4.
WHEN IN DOUBT
STICK TO THE BASICS*subject, verb, object
WWW.BECOMEABLOGGER.COM
DON’T START A SENTENCE WITH A DEPENDENT CLAUSE5.
is a part of your sentence that can’t stand on its own.It wouldn’t be a full sentence if you ended it with a
period instead of a comma. It depends upon the restof the sentence.
A dependent clause
WWW.BECOMEABLOGGER.COM
DON'T EDIT DURING YOUR BRAIN DUMP6.
EDITX
WWW.BECOMEABLOGGER.COM
RECOMMENDED BOOKS TO READ
MORE ON THIS AT WWW.BECOMEABLOGGER.COM
