To Write Or Not To WriteWritten by Mallory York
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If you usually outline and now find yourself at a dead end, try spontaneously writing something--without an outline. Anything will do. Write random scenes and keep them all in a folder or journal to read later--who knows, one might even inspire a new story for you. For those who usually write spontaneously and are at a dead end, perhaps you should experiment with outlining. I used to swear I would never outline. But when I gave in and tried it, I did get some good results. If outline seems too rigid, you might try what works for me--which is to put less detail into outline. I have a very detailed writing style, so it's natural for me to want to note every little thing in outline. But that was a mistake. I've learned to write outline with just enough detail so that I will know what will happen, when and how, and then move on to actual story-writing. So answer to 'to outline or not to outline?', at least as far as I'm concerned, is 'to outline--loosely, and only if it works well for you.? In closing, here are some tips for writing a more flexible outline: 1) Keep it simple. You don't need to write outline with perfect grammar and punctuation, or from your point of view character's perspective. Remember, this is just a generalized guide. 2) Try not to get too detailed about what happens in any one particular scene. Just figure out where they are in beginning ('They're slogging along roadside in rain.') and where they are at end ('They finally decide to stop and rest, so they make a tent out of umbrella and blankets and go to sleep') and fill in blanks when you actually write scene. 3) Write it in present tense. That seems to make it easier to feel more in immediate "now" of story, and seems more natural to me. Even though I always write in past tense in my stories (present tense actually annoys me in stories, but that's just my preference I guess) I always write my outlines in present tense. The outline seems more immediate and real when written in present tense, and helps me stick with it and develop outline all way to end of story. I suppose you could write your outlines in whatever tense you like, but this is just another way to distinguish real writing of story from outline-writing. 4) Enjoy yourself. A writer's mood translates through in their word choice, so if you're writing humor but are actually feeling angry, funny story may seem a little forced. While not always true--I frequently write angst and sad stories even though I'm generally happy--the truth is that if you don't enjoy writing your stories, what was point? And if your answer was 'money', perhaps you should try a different profession and just pursue fiction writing as a hobby. Happy scribblin'! Mallory York
Mallory York has been drawing since before she knew how to date a picture, and has been creating anime art for four years. Among her favorite anime series are Fushigi Yuugi, Gundam Wing, and The Slayers. You can read some of her fanfic at Fanfiction.net and view more of her artwork at HTTP://WWW.L7S.NET and also at HTTP://WWW.ELFWOOD.COM.
| | In Praise of Personal PronounsWritten by Robert F. Abbott
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In using personal pronouns, we also make our writing more like our spoken communication. Listen to almost any conversation and you'll notice frequent use of 'I', 'you', and 'we'. It's quite natural to speak that way. One more point: When we use personal pronouns, we're more likely to use active verbs and less likely to use passive verbs. By passive, I mean 'to be' verbs, including 'is,' 'are,' and 'be.' When we replace these verbs with verbs that do something, we increase readability. Try personal pronouns yourself. Take a document that you want others to read and rewrite it to include more of them. In process of doing that, you're bound to make it more readable. What's more, you'll also make your words more effective.
Robert F. Abbott writes and publishes Abbott's Communication Letter. If you subscribe, you will receive, at no charge, communication tips that help you lead or manage more effectively. Click here for more information: http://www.CommunicationNewsletter.com
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