It’s so
easy to get lost in a longer writing project like a novel, screenplay or
non-fiction book that I find it useful from time to time to get some
perspective by asking these three questions:
1) What is the big benefit I want the reader or viewer to get from this project? (It could be making them laugh, giving them a scare, or informing them about how to do something, for instance.)
2) How is the scene, chapter, or section I’m working on right now contributing to that?
3) Am I staying true to the work? (If
it’s fiction, are my characters doing what real people would do in that
situation, rather than just serving my plot? If it’s non-fiction, am I making
it easy for the reader to apply this information to his or her life?)
If you think they might help you, too, put these three questions on an index card and keep it in view.
(For more tips on how to be more creative and productive, sign up for my free monthly Brainstorm e-bulletin. Just send an email request now to [email protected]. You might also find my book, “Your Writing Coach,” helpful.)
