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“Il faut cultiver notre jardin,” —Voltaire
For those of us who don’t do fancy French, this means:
“We must cultivate our garden,” says Pangloss at the end of Voltaire’s Candide.
No sentiment could be truer for women who write. Stop focusing on the whole wide world. Instead, maintain a space that is your own and encourages the fruits of your labors to blossom.
But the process of growing our garden requires the right tools. Reading this blog and learning how to revise your own stories could help you cultivate your garden, obtain peace of mind, and establish your writing legacy. Happy reading and writing!
Looking for a specific writing topic? Search the entire blog below.
Why I Quit My Writing Group
I’ve bailed on not one, but several writing groups. (And not over the lack of good snacks, either.)
What was that famous Groucho Marx line? I wouldn’t join any group that would have me as a member.
I left one group because I didn’t want to read my miscarriage story to a room full of men. I’ve left others because the focus was solely on socializing.
“Can encouragement and practical advice exist side-by-side?”
Who’s Your Best Reader?
Who should read your writing first?
Only your ideal reader, right?
Wrong answer.
Your ideal reader plays a huge role in the construction of your story.
But guess what?
If you plan to put that story out on the market, you’re gonna have a lot of eyes on your work before that ideal reader ever shows up.
Sesame Street, Nudists, and Your Unintended Audience
Sesame Street may appeal to children and adults alike, but adults were never Sesame Street’s ideal audience. So how has this long-running show not only captured the interest of children since 1968 but their parents’ interest, too?
The answer is: ignoring them.
Sesame Street never needed us, adults. At least not initially.
Who Are You Writing For?
Don’t ask yourself, “what kind of writing is best?” Ask yourself, “what kind of writing is right for me?”
You need a clear understanding of the different types of writing before you know your intended audience or how to produce content for them effectively.
Here are three writing categories that often get confused:
Therapeutic Writing
Creative Writing
Copywriting
Economy of Words: How to Cut the Crap
I see it every week in some Facebook group.
A writer posts that they’ve reached a specific word count. YAY! Shoot the confetti cannon! You made it!
They are so excited for their accomplishment. And they continue to make announcements as their counts climb higher and higher.
“That rising word count is addictive. ”
Sorry to be a buzzkill, but when I see someone broadcasting their word count, I think, “great, now you’ll have even more words to edit out.”