3 Weird Writing Tips
But weird in a good way.
TL;DR Version:
Writing is weird. But usually in a good way.
#1. Stop writing in the middle of a thought. Great way to stave off ye olde Writer’s Blockage. Stimulates your brain to finish the thought.
#2. Read aloud. Not just for kids. Engages multiple senses.
#3. Avoid paragraph repetition. Don’t start consecutive paragraphs with the same letter or word. It’s makes for a weird visual and usually means you’re getting too locked into a pattern.
Regular Version:
Writing is pretty weird by nature. It comes from the Old English word wyrd, meaning “fate” and “personal destiny.” So as far as I’m concerned, that means these weird writing tips are here to help you fulfill your fate.
Alright, enough preamble. Let’s go.
#1: Stop in the Middle of a Thought
If you don’t want to get stuck, then stop in the middle of a thought. When I’m writing, I almost never stop at the end of a section or chapter. I make myself write the first part of the next section, even if it means I literally only write half a sentence.
What problem does this solve? Page Fright. (Some people call it “Writer’s Block.”)
Why does this work? Because your right brain likes order and completion. But you need your left brain for creative thought. So when you stop writing at a “logical” place, you’re right brain is happy and checks out.
But if you leave a thought unfinished, your right brain perks up and gives the left brain a kick, saying, “Hey, wake up! You got work to do! I need to know how this is supposed to end.”
Give it a shot.
#2: Read Aloud
Read aloud isn’t just for kids. It’s for you. At least, if you want to be a better writer. Know what I’ve been doing with my upcoming book Start With Story? Reading it aloud. It’s helped me catch so many mistakes and create more clarity.
Why does this work?
Because our brains don’t always process in a linear fashion. So when we write our thoughts down, sometimes our neural non-linear-ness (that a word?) finds its way onto the page. But when you read aloud, you engage multiple senses: Sight, Sound, Hearing, even Taste—which makes you more alert.
Honestly, this tip isn’t all that weird but you might feel a little weird doing it at first.
#3: Avoid Paragraph Repetition
What’s paragraph repetition? It’s when you start multiple paragraphs with the same letter or word. Like so:
Paragraph 1: “I looked up and saw Grandma smoking…”
Paragraph 2: “Instead, she should have been drinking…”
Paragraph 3: “Is that a flame thrower?”
While there’s nothing inherently wrong with starting multiple paragraphs with the same letter or work, it creates a weird reader experience when they see it on the page.
More importantly, it tells me I’m not being creative enough. I’m getting locked into a pattern which will become B-O-R-I-N-G for the reader. So when I catch myself doing this, I stop, go back to each paragraph and ask, “How else can I say this?” If I can find another way (and I pretty much always do), then I change it up.
Obviously, there are exceptions, such as rhetorical symmetry: “Get a grip. Get a job. Get a life.” But in general, this is a weirdly easy way to catch dull writing and spice it up.
If your project feels like it’s getting weird (and not in a good way), then book a free 20-minute Q&A and let’s chat about it.
And if you’re interested in being part of the Launch Team for my upcoming book Start With Story, let me know. You’ll get some content before everyone else does. jonathan@wordrobemedia.com.
Until next time, keep telling your story.
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