COMPOSITION 1206
  • Home
  • Portfolio
  • Blog
  • ABOUT/CONTACT
  • Storytelling

A road map to better writing

9/16/2021

 
close up of map, compass rose
A road map to better writing

Fran Lebowitz is an acclaimed author and speaker. In the Netflix documentary, Pretend It's a City, by Martin Scorsese, Scorsese talks to Lebowitz about her life.

When Scorsese asks, "What's the worst thing you could say about a book?" Lebowitz says, "I forgot I was reading it."

Ouch.

Let's not let that happen.

A lot of people talk about how writing is hard. And it is. But writing is also an orderly business:

- Start with an opening that catches your reader's attention.
- Watch your timeline ... when, where, and how things happened.
- And pay attention to detail.

Map it out
Think of your writing as a road trip. Start with the action, experience, or lesson you want to tell your reader about, then back up and tell them how it came to be. Write about where you started, why you took that left instead of a right, highlight a few attractions along the way, and talk about the traffic jam that caused a delay.

If it starts well, follows a logical thread, and offers insight, they'll be with you to the end. If not, they'll disembark before you turn the next corner.

Don't let that happen.

If you need help getting started or help editing your work, let's talk.

Panting Dogs and Misconceptions

8/7/2019

 
Picture
I don't know about you, but I always thought The Dog Days of Summer were those days when it's so hot, all the dogs are panting.

Well, the heat does make them, and most of us, pant. But that's not where the name comes from.


Unexpected Insights
No, the term comes from ancient forecasters and astrologers who noticed the seasonal alignment of the Sun and Sirius (the Dog Star constellation). They believed the combination generated more heat and called the stretch between July 3 and August 11, The Dog Days of Summer.

My curiosity about The Dog Days of Summer started with the August edition of my Riddle Me Mail project. I was searching for a theme and decided to go with what I thought I knew about The Dog Days of Summer.


Picture
Connecting the Dots
So why do The Dog Days of Summer matter? They're a good example of how often we think we know something, but don't know the whole story.

How one thought leads to another, and how unexpected connections can generate new interest in a familiar topic.

What About Your Book?
What information could you share or clarify? Is there a backstory about your business or story people would find interesting?

Are there ways you might simplify your message?

Could you present it in a new format or context that would generate new interest?

If I can help, let me know.



    Book image
    Title: 5 Compelling Reasons to Write That Book
    Get your copy today.

    Categories

    All
    Beta Readers
    Book Design
    Book Development
    Books
    Content
    Copywriting
    Cover Design
    Design
    Editing
    Email
    How To
    Infographics
    Legacy
    Project Management
    Storytelling
    Web Design
    Writing

Composition1206.com and WaystationWhistle.com give you the tools you need to identify, write, and publish your stories.
Christine Richards
email

©2022 / Composition1206 LLC
Mailing Address:
Composition 1206 LLC
PO Box 5290
Portland, ME 04101

Book Development
Editing Services
Book Design
Privacy

Home
Portfolio of Work
About/Contact
Services
Blog

  • Home
  • Portfolio
  • Blog
  • ABOUT/CONTACT
  • Storytelling