Your Idea Place

Where do you do your best thinking?

Yesterday morning, I had no idea what I’d write next. So I visited my idea place. In less than ten minutes, I had the kernels of three things to write.

At the same time, I took a shower.

I don’t use idea shampoo. But for as long as I’ve been writing, it seems my best ideas come … Continue reading

Force Yourself to Write

Do you impose your own deadlines?

This past Saturday, I planned to work eight hours for my client. My estimate fell short. Eight hours put my goal in sight, but not yet reached. So after dinner, I worked another hour or two until I finished those pages.

Because of that, Monday I was free to start the next section — one step closer to the project’s completion.

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Must You Write Tightly?

Don’t try this in your initial draft.

Forget tight writing and let your book’s first draft flow. Then practice tight editing. As Strunk & White advise in The Elements of Style, retain only those words that earn their keep. No freeloaders.

In the process you’ll find many candidates for deletion.

  • Replace adverb and adjective phrases with vigorous verbs and evocative nouns.
  • Zap empty expressions, … Continue reading