The Writing Loft

All boats leak.
There’s always a defect, always a slow drip, somewhere. Every plan, every organization, every venture has a glitch.
The question isn’t, “is this perfect?” The question is, “will this get me there?”
Sometimes we make the mistake of ignoring the big leaks, the ones that threaten our journey.
More often, though, we’re so busy fixing tiny leaks that we get distracted from the real goal, which is to go somewhere.–Seth Godin
“Apple is like a boat with a hole in it, leaking water. My job is to point the boat in the right direction.” –Steve Jobs

Bear that in mind that you will lose the uniqueness of your voice when you attempt to imitate your favorite writers. Readers don’t want a clone of H.G. Wells, Jules Verne, Candace Bushnell or James Patterson . They want unique and compelling writing. They want intriguing plots, three-dimensional characters, and a captivating writing style. You can only give them that if you know how to use your words. Spend time learning your craft.  Learn to use words that send readers on incredible adventures; force them to love your writing.

Hint: Write concisely. Never use two words when one will do.  See how many words you can delete from a sentence and still keep the meaning.

Can You Fix These Sentences? Try repairing them before you look below.

• I work with people who are providing a much-needed service, but are struggling to get the resources they need to continue providing those services.
• The reason the approach presented in this book has held true—and has proved effective— with such diverse projects as mentioned is because the basic principles for procuring the funding you need are the same, regardless of the uniqueness of your service program or your setting.
•  The pillar shielded me from that, but it was a time sensitive space so I couldn’t linger there and I could see that a line of travelers were gathering to show their identification, step out of their shoes and place their belongings the conveyer belt.

The Fix:

• I work with organizations struggling to get the resources they need.
• The approach presented in this book is effective because the basic principles for procuring funding are the same regardless of a service’s uniqueness or setting.
• The pillar shielded me, but it was a time-sensitive space.  I could see a line of travelers gathering to show their identification, step out of their shoes, and place their belongings the conveyer belt.

Let me know how you did.

Writing is an honorable occupation and an avocation you can take seriously.  What you write is worth the effort.  So, don’t procrastinate.  

Here are tips to keep you going:

• Abandon the idea that you are never going to finish.  Don’t allow the pressure of finishing to distract you.  Forget about the 300 pages you need to write and think: “I just need to write one page a day.”  Just one written page a day means you will write at least one chapter every ten days and consequently a full 10-chapter book in five months.  So, concentrate only on today.

• Forget your generalized audience.  Don’t write for a nameless, faceless audience.  It will scare you to death.  Instead, think of your audience as one single reader.  Choose someone you know (not a family member) and write to him or her.

• Bypass any scene or section that gets the better of you.  Leave it and go on. Come back to it later.  Ponder why it gave you trouble at that time and then consider that maybe it doesn’t belong in the piece at all.

• Fire the invisible committee.  Invisible committees are composed of family members, pastors, teachers, children, etc., that cause you to edit your words before you write them.  Erase them from your mind every time you think of them. 

What keeps you from writing consistently? How do you get past it?

There is much about how writing is done that is myth. Okay, not so much myth as much as a disseminated recipe with a few ingredients missing. Here’s the truth: The most important ingredient that how-to books leave out is exactly how a writer can create compelling material; to make sure the reader gets involved in the story. And, contrary to popular opinion, flowery, adjective-laden description just doesn’t do it. Here is one of five ways ot achieve writing that is compelling enough to ensure reader reaction: 1. Careful attention to word choice (strong verbs and specific nouns). Close your eyes and imagine the following sentences: “He walked to the store.” (foggy picture). Now what do you see if I say. “He meandered to the store.” (a little clearer); the underlying message in this sentence is that he doesn’t want to go. Try this, “He skipped to the liquor store.” Ah, clearer still. This sentence has undertones of explanation I don’t have to describe. Therefore, to achieve impact in your writing, use strong verbs and specific nouns. Hint: People don’t read words; they hear the words and see the pictures. We’ll cover the role rhythm plays in getting the reader to experience the story in our next post.

A powerful opening sentence is the hook that captures interest and compels a reader to enter the story. Powerful openings create excitement, anticipation, and a desire to know more. It’s the author’s promise of a good story. A good lead line suggests that your book, story, or article will be worth the read.

Works of great fiction hook the reader in the very first sentence and explain later. Readers respond to that kind of skill, as do agents and editors. So, don’t overlook the importance of a great first sentence and a great first paragraph. Boring and insignificant leads signal a lack of skill and creativity on the part of an author. It takes practice to create leads that make a statement, but it’s worth the effort.

Start your story with a hook, set the tone, and above all, make sure the reader wants to continue to the next sentence. No, a powerful opening doesn’t guarantee you’ll write a bestseller, but it does get you off to a great start.  A lead line often determines whether a book is worth reading or purchasing. So, show the reader you have what it takes. Dazzle your readers. You’re planning to write an amazing work, so start with a great first sentence.

Below are three well-known lead lines. Each one compels us to want to know more. They all sound as though they start in the middle of something, not at all like beginnings. The authors start with an intriguing statement and go from there. They also don’t explain the features of the story or give away the storyline. Remember, the first sentence is to hook the reader, you can proceed with unfolding the story later.

“All children, except one, grow up. They soon know that they will grow up, and the way Wendy knew was this.” Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie

“Marley was dead to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that. The register of his burial was signed by the clergyman, the clerk, the undertaker, and the chief mourner. Scrooge signed it.”  (Note how word repetition helps get the point across—Marley is definitely dead.) A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

“Where’s Papa going with that axe?” Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White

Now you try. Here are two made-up book scenarios. You write the first sentence. Don’t forget, a good lead line never tells the reader what the book is about.  1) A story about an unusual serial killer who goes around killing the cats and dogs in his neighborhood. 2) A story about a woman who never leaves her house. Now, go for it!

Need examples? Take a look at these: Famous Lead Lines    Now, go for it. Show me what you’ve got!