The Ultimate Compact Writing Guide

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The Ultimate Compact Writing Guide

@Cian

12 Memos

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The secrets to honing your writing – one bite-sized lesson at a time.

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The most painful lessons I’ve learned about creative writing

Starting a novel can be more than you bargained for… unless you know what to expect. What follows are the toughest lessons I've taken from working on writing/editing every day for years...

2 min read

@Cian

The George Saunders guide to writing good stories

If I had to choose one living author to take writing advice from, it would be George Saunders: Booker Prize-winner, New York Times bestseller, English professor at Syracuse University. Thankfully, he put out a book in 2021 that distils all that experience

9 min read

@Cian

The one skill that turns good writers into great ones

It may seem like the hardest part of writing a book is completing a first draft. A publisher will take care of the polishing, right? No. Your manuscript needs to stand out from thousands of others to stand any chance of being published. That requires meticulous editing.

2 min read

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What are the essential elements of storytelling?

We’re taught to believe that all stories have a beginning, middle, and end. That may be true, but it’s not enough to form a gripping narrative...

2 min read

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The best advice from award-winning writer Colum McCann

Colum McCann once scrapped 18 months of work, calling it the most liberating moment of his career. That’s exactly the kind of candid (and reassuring) insight you find in his book of writing advice, Letters to a Young Writer. I’ve ready it many times and these are my highlights.

4 min read

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Hemingway's 'iceberg' theory – and how to use it in your writing

What made Ernest Hemingway one of the most celebrated writers in history? His use of language was clear, concise, and yet profoundly evocative. Much of that ability stems from a technique known as the 'iceberg theory’ of writing.

2 min read

@Cian

The simplest (and best) writing advice from Natalie Goldberg

When you sit down to write, let go of any expectations. Tell yourself: “I am free to write the worst junk in the world.” This helps to lower inhibition and avoid disappointment.

2 min read

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Writing advice from Anne Lamott: The key themes of 'Bird by Bird'

Make lots of mistakes. Sign up to activities you know you’re going to suck at. Embrace these messes until you’re unafraid to be embarrassed. This is a proven antidote to the number one killer of creativity: fear. It’s also a key takeaway from a gem of a b

2 min read

@Cian

What’s a foolproof way to structure a story?

Stories are like cakes. They can come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and flavors – but they’re usually made from the same basic ingredients: characters, plot, structure, and conflict.

2 min read

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Want to attract more readers? These tweaks work magic...

The language of experts and educators couldn’t be more different from the kind of writing that connects with the wider world.

3 min read

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The real reason our creative spark goes out

Let’s say you dream of making a film or writing the next great novel, but you just never get very far with it. This experience is called resistance.

3 min read

@Cian

Why being edited should feel like a luxury... not torture!

It’s going to happen: no matter how much experience you have as a writer, your work will be edited – and you may not like how it feels. Here are some important things to keep in mind…

2 min read

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