Transitions—Moments that Make or Break a Story

Transitions—Moments that Make or Break a Story

There are moments in a dance that instantly distinguishes a great dancer from a mediocre one. It’s the same type of moment that differentiates a choppy film from one that sweeps you away.

I’m talking about transitions. Those tiny moments between movements and scenes. The seconds hidden in the in-between spaces. A great dancer will use those transitions to make the dance flow seamlessly. A filmmaker uses transitions to hide cuts and let the story feel whole.

Hubris, Bravado & Vulnerability: Three Traits of a Writer

Hubris, Bravado & Vulnerability: Three Traits of a Writer

Writing is a combination of hubris, bravado and vulnerability. You have to possess all three to succeed. Selling your ideas isn’t easy. Selling yourself is even harder. Showing your work is anxiety-inducing. It takes a tough skin to be in this business where criticism and rejection are as common as commas. But you can’t harden yourself and your emotions if you want to write with honesty and connect with your audience. It’s a balance between self-esteem and vulnerability.

Writing is a tough gig, but a worthwhile one. If you want to write, then you will need to learn how to embrace the big three traits. Let’s break them down:

Finding Your Writing Mojo

Finding Your Writing Mojo

There are days I don’t want to write. No matter how I struggle, the words don’t want to come. Every syllable I manage on those days feels forced onto the page like Sisyphus with his boulder. Those are the days I wish I had picked another profession, one where I could punch the clock, do my task and go home without another thought. I even look back fondly on those days in college when I worked as a waitress.

Luckily those days are rare.

Research: Planning Your Research (Blog 1 of 4)

Research: Planning Your Research (Blog 1 of 4)

Writing requires research. It’s a nature of the beast and it doesn’t matter whether the work is fiction or nonfiction. Story relies on a strong foundation built from knowledge.

Sometimes we know the subject sufficiently to begin immediately. Other times we are creating a fictional world with fictional people. But it doesn’t seem to matter in the end. Inevitably we will need to ferret out some obscure fact to make our words ring true.

What to Say or Write—Tips for Developing Articles and Speeches (Part 3 of 4)

What to Say or Write—Tips for Developing Articles and Speeches (Part 1 of 4)

Before you can write, you have to have something to say. It’s a pretty simple concept of putting ideas before words. Still it’s funny how often people sit down at their computer and expect to write a flawless article or speech without first considering how to develop their idea.

Now I get the whole “pantsing” it idea, but when it comes to writing short form pieces, it pays to get the idea clear in your head before you begin.