The following is an exercise I share with my teen writing students. I use it primarily with the research paper and essay writing classes as a means to help them consider their content from a new angle.
- Step One: Take the first paragraph from your research paper, and write (or type) each sentence on a separate line from top to bottom. Examine each sentence separately, then consider them as a whole. Do they fit together and make sense as a unit?
- Step Two: Try this with your second and third paragraphs too. It's a good way to get a better and more objective look at your content and how/if it relates together, and to make adjustments as necessary. Were there any surprises? Do you need to make any revisions? Did it reveal anything interesting to you?
I've used this exercise with students for years - just came up with it one day because I thought it would make them think. (I like to encourage them to develop critical thinking and related writing skills.)
After I posted it on the class forum last week, I was reminded that it can be a useful tool for us adult writers too. When writing a blog post for a client, for example, I often mentally do this as means of stepping outside my head and gaining perspective. You know how it goes - things can sound super fabulous or extremely lousy in your own head sometimes. And breaking it down into smaller pieces helps view its cohesiveness, or not, and adjust accordingly. The reassembling can bring new clarity that works toward a polished, finished product.
What do you think? What helps your writing come together? Do you employ any similar exercises when writing, editing, or are just plain stuck on a certain piece?
Happy writing,
Karen
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Great tips, Karen. I may try it for my articles that I write for my job. It's always a good idea and step back to see if we can write better. This sounds like a good way to do this.
ReplyDeleteI like that suggestion. I've heard about reading a book backwards as you'll focus more on sentences, but that always felt weird to me.
ReplyDeleteNatalie,
ReplyDeleteThank you! Glad you liked it. Hope it's helpful with your work.:)
Alex,
Thanks a bunch. I've heard of that backwards thing too. It does seem weird. But hey, if it works, right? :)
Happy writing,
Karen
It took me a long time to figure out why I could read a scene 30 times and not catch issues. Then I'd post a short snip of it somewhere and right away see them. It's very helpful to pull out and read over shorter pieces in any sort of writing. Great advice.
ReplyDeleteHi Karen! I love how you pointed out that my writing can either sound just amazing or awful in my own head. Getting some kind of organization to it all would really help. I think I do have a little formula in my head when I write, and I try to write in time increments. I break down an hour talk into ten minute clusters that have a full thought developed. So there would be six of those in the time allowed.
ReplyDeleteWith blog posts, it's a little different. 500 words goes pretty fast so I have to edit like crazy!
I like the idea of all the paragraphs relating to each other...much better flow that way.
Blessings,
Ceil
This is a great idea, Karen! Often, I just write down what comes to mind, and then set it aside for a day or two. This really gives me a fresh perspective on my words and ideas before I edit and put into final form.
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
I try to write and set them aside for a day or so, just like Martha. Sometimes, however, I am unable to do that. I had to learn to do this the hard way.
ReplyDeleteOoo! I like that tip. Especially good when you're in the almost done phase.
ReplyDeleteHi Karen - I inadvertently do that with posts I'm drafting up ... sometimes they never get to the blog ... but occasionally I manage to rewrite and it gets posted.
ReplyDeleteMy main thing is I need an introduction, then the middle and details, finally the tying up of whatever I've written ...
Always tips and ideas we can pick up - thank you ... cheers Hilary
This is a great technique for handling any paragraph that feels slightly "off" anywhere in a manuscript. Examine the parts, and often the "bent" part will show itself.
ReplyDeleteTara,
ReplyDeleteIt's funny how we can be so close to our writing and not see these things. And all along a little distance is what we need to smooth it out. :)
Ceil,
I like your idea about putting together a talk. Will have to remember that. :) It's all a process, isn't it? Fun and not so fun on occasion, I'm thinking. But all good in the end!
Martha,
Thank you! Glad you liked it. Setting it aside is always a good idea. A fresh perspective never hurts! :)
Cecelia,
Letting it rest is a wonderful idea too. I guess that depends on how much space we allow between the draft and deadline, right? :)
Holly,
Glad you like it! It's helped me, and I'm always a little surprised at how much it helps my students. But I guess I shouldn't be, right? :)
Hilary,
Ah, I have some of those drafts that don't make it to the blog too! :) Some may never see the light of day. lol You are more than welcome. I so appreciate everyone's support!
Laurel,
That's a great way to put it! Awkward things reveal themselves in this process, don't they?
Happy writing,
Karen
And now you offer yet another great writing tip. This is an excellent exercise and I'm sure your students benefit. Me, too!
ReplyDeleteGreat tips Karen, not only for youngsters. I often write something, struggle with it, put it away, read it again and then ask someone else to read it (often my husband, because he knows how to give critique).
ReplyDeleteI like this idea Karen. For past papers I'll write sentences separately and then place them under sub headings, and then work on making them flow together. I think your idea is good thing to do for life too! Separate all and then see if each area fits in the whole, and harmonize the ones that do!
ReplyDeleteSusan,
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked it. :) I'm all for things that help us write better!
Marja,
That's another good tip! You're blessed to have an in house editor. :)
Lynn,
I like your idea too! "Harmonize" is a good description for our finished work. :)
Happy writing,
Karen
Karen, this is a great technique. When I taught, we called it chunking. Always in need of tips. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThis is a new one for me, but I'll try it!
ReplyDeleteThanks for this lovely idea, Karen! I have an article I've nearly finished and I'm not happy with the ending. I'm going to try this and make it work!
ReplyDeleteHappy Weekend, Jen
Linda,
ReplyDeleteYes, I've heard of that but didn't draw the connection. Whatever you call it, it can help! :)
Lisa,
Hey, give it a try and then let us know how it went! :)
Jen,
You are welcome. Maybe this will lend the help you're looking for! :)
Happy writing,
Karen