The written word holds a power both bewitching and dread. The right words can topple kingdoms, grant immortality—even change the course of the world. Join me in The Laboratory as I delve into the foundations and principles of writing, from developing ideas and crafting an authorial voice to caring for yourself and building your community as a writer. New episodes are released every other Wednesday. Pull up a chair and settle in amongst the bubbling brews and frothing phials of the writer’s craft.
Is that My Voice? How to Tell if Your Writing Is Flat
Is a piece of writing interesting? Does it have depth? These are issues that can be especially tricky for writers to spot in their own work, but there are tools to rely on.
In this episode, I’ll go over how to put your writing to the test, exercises to start understanding your own unique style, common features of unengaging writing and the importance of clarity in a narrative. Tune in to learn more!
What Is a Style Sheet?
Editors, especially copy editors, use what’s called a style sheet when working on new projects, though style sheets are not exclusive to the editorial profession. Style sheets can actually benefit writers as they write. Let’s look at how we can make use of them.
Passive & Active Voice
Why is it that people laud active voice while passive voice is derided? Is it a rule or preference to favour one over the other? To put it simply, if there wasn’t a use for a particular style, it wouldn’t exist, so let’s examine these more closely.
How to Write Captivating Sentences
A writer might be describing the best thing since sliced bread, but if their sentences are dull, readers aren’t likely to stay engaged. The way the words sit on the page and on the tips of our tongue can enchant a reader.
Though some kinds of writing are meant to be perfunctory, there is room for art in many instances.
Should I Hire an Editor?
At some point you might ask yourself: should I hire an editor? Though there are a few factors to consider, hiring an editor is an investment in your project that helps ready it for publication. So where do you start?
Writing Fundamentals: Know Thyself; Know Thine Audience
This week’s topic is style, the elusive face of writing.