Writing Tips

Writing is a process. The biggest step is just sitting down and starting!

There are many different ways to PRE-WRITE:

• take a walk and think about what you want to write about your topic– your serviceman or woman
• research your topic — your son or daughter’s service and deployment  by looking at emails, letters, books, the Internet, or special things they’ve sent you
• look at photos
• talk to a writing partner–a friend– about your story
• doodle and draw symbols, shapes, words (drawing is the first form of storytelling ) to get your ideas flowing

Now you have to start WRITING. Find a quiet place and some time when you don’t have to rush. Write down everything you can think of about your story. Don’t worry about:

• spelling
• grammar
• sentence structure
• order

Just write until you can’t write anymore. This may take days or as long as you need.

Then you become what a real writer is–a REWRITER.

Look at what you’ve written. Circle or highlight things that you like. The power of the story is in the details.

Next look at the lines that are circled or highlighted and start your ROUGH-DRAFT. (One of many.)

Think about where you will begin your story. Start with a “hook”. Pull your readers in, so that they want to know “what happened next.” Continue putting your circled or highlighted lines in an order that makes sense and makes the story flow. Try this activity:

• write on one side of a sheet of paper
• cut the page up into individual paragraphs
• rearrange the paragraphs on the table
• find an order that appeals to you
• tape the page back together
• make another draft

PLAY WITH THE WORDS.

Decide where you need to take out unnecessary words and where you need to add details so that your story is easy to understand.

Finish your story with a strong ending. Tie up all the loose ends so that your audience doesn’t  have any questions.

Read your work to a WRITING PARTNER.  (This can be done with email or face to face.) Listen for suggestions and questions your partner may  have. EDIT your story so that it flows. READ your story OUT LOUD. LISTEN to your words. Make sure when your audience reads your story they can’t put it down until they reach the end.

PROOF READING

Check for correct spelling and grammar.

The last step of the writing process is your PUBLISHED WORK.

Share your story.