- Joined
- Jul 28, 2013
- Messages
- 1,278
Rep Bank
$2,355
$2,355
User Power: 171%
If you are anything like me, you will have a tendency to ramble to get the words onto the page.
The first rule of writing is, it isn't professional writing until it goes through a process of design (not grammar or editing as thats easy stuff). So thats kind of what these tips will be about. It will be a few small hints to help you do that without getting too overwhelmed.
My first book, was a ramble fest, but my HEART was in it. I used another book to structure the points of design, I used a friend who was a graphic artist to design the cover, and I made over 5000 euros in sales. Was a pretty big success for a guy that had never written before.
My process for writing the book was to essentially ramble about a point to get it out of my head, and then I got the idea of what it was saying and used my feelings to create a message for the audience in each chapter. The book was both a proud thing, and a painful thing. Proud because I poured so much into it, painful because a lot of reviews came back saying "they didn't get it". After a couple more years, I realised that the book didn't really say what I wanted it to say other than in brief moments and the reason for that was because I was rambling not writing.
Writing is about understanding that you want the MESSAGE to be heard, not the BOOK (with all those words) to be written.
My next book I attempted to give my message across in as little words as POSSIBLE. I felt horribly uncomfortable "calling it a book", because what is a book without many words? Its junk right?
I trained myself to be COMFORTABLE leaving the WORTH of a book hanging like the sword of damocles, I made the points all rely on a single clear sentence. I never sold that book.
Within these two attempts I started to realise that the worth you feel you can express in your writing, must not lean or push, or sway in any extreme. Your words must have a purpose that is their own; not to create content, not to avoid it. And that is my first tip.
Accidentally writing huge books:
The thing about content is, it is innevitable, so don't fear it. It is very hard to express YOUR points in the time you have within a book. You can write 30 000 words and only have really written 3 short scenes, and wonder about "how the hell my story is going to fit in a book?". Words can TRULY get in the way of a message so to avoid this mistake write a whole paragraph, and make it into ONE sentence that says it BETTER.
Then write another paragraph off THAT, and say that in one sentence, it is about then you will start writing paragraphs with the right amount of content for a properly paced book.
Half way summary:
Don't just ramble to give size or it won't give across your message (all words that don't express your message will tie it up in knots) and you will regret that eventually (it takes serious design work to get messages across).
Learn to put your faith in a sentence.
Make those sentences from GREAT paragraphs.
My view on paragraphs:
I was taught in school to open, to write in some explaination, and to close, but my view has now changed.
1) Sometimes I must simply tell a story
2) Sometimes I must help a reader feel s/he understands what is happening
3) Sometimes I must use a medium of writing to achieve a certain affect for them
When I think about paragraphs I remember that, the open signals your intentions, the middle allows them to understand in their own way or remember that concept, and the end sentence is finally to HIT them with the last line.
If you let people know where you are going, give them freedom, and then tell them your point in a remarkeable way, you will create paragraphs that are like perfectly designed bricks, where you move from EACH concept you NEED to express, and lay them down into a whole chapter (which itself consists of a middle open and ending).
To design a book, I use these bricks, and signal them with one concept, I then organise these bricks to express the MESSAGE best. And then I "glue" them all together by writing in the melody and flow tweaks.
Writing an ending:
The ending is about putting the WHOLE BOOK, on one strand of hair.
EVERY CONCEPT, is said BEST by this sentence.
Writing an opening:
This tells you EXACTLY what you are getting into.
The content:
All the concepts you need to organise to make the last line perfectly contextualised.
To really write, you don't need to "control" your writing, you just need to harness it into design segments, so you can manage the end task of succintly displaying your points and "hitting the mark" with the audience.
PS: Writing is frustrating... Do a layout, and good work on the first write up, and then come back later to "kill your darlings" and use your newly found objective standpoint to clean it up. (I might show you an example of that, by posting a second version of this above post in a properly designed format *can't right now though*)
Manage your frustration by making your standard for a first draft fairly high (squeaks by, by its chinny chin chin), and then later come back and CONSOLIDATE, by removing all the confusing parts and tightening the design.
The first rule of writing is, it isn't professional writing until it goes through a process of design (not grammar or editing as thats easy stuff). So thats kind of what these tips will be about. It will be a few small hints to help you do that without getting too overwhelmed.
My first book, was a ramble fest, but my HEART was in it. I used another book to structure the points of design, I used a friend who was a graphic artist to design the cover, and I made over 5000 euros in sales. Was a pretty big success for a guy that had never written before.
My process for writing the book was to essentially ramble about a point to get it out of my head, and then I got the idea of what it was saying and used my feelings to create a message for the audience in each chapter. The book was both a proud thing, and a painful thing. Proud because I poured so much into it, painful because a lot of reviews came back saying "they didn't get it". After a couple more years, I realised that the book didn't really say what I wanted it to say other than in brief moments and the reason for that was because I was rambling not writing.
Writing is about understanding that you want the MESSAGE to be heard, not the BOOK (with all those words) to be written.
My next book I attempted to give my message across in as little words as POSSIBLE. I felt horribly uncomfortable "calling it a book", because what is a book without many words? Its junk right?
I trained myself to be COMFORTABLE leaving the WORTH of a book hanging like the sword of damocles, I made the points all rely on a single clear sentence. I never sold that book.
Within these two attempts I started to realise that the worth you feel you can express in your writing, must not lean or push, or sway in any extreme. Your words must have a purpose that is their own; not to create content, not to avoid it. And that is my first tip.
Accidentally writing huge books:
The thing about content is, it is innevitable, so don't fear it. It is very hard to express YOUR points in the time you have within a book. You can write 30 000 words and only have really written 3 short scenes, and wonder about "how the hell my story is going to fit in a book?". Words can TRULY get in the way of a message so to avoid this mistake write a whole paragraph, and make it into ONE sentence that says it BETTER.
Then write another paragraph off THAT, and say that in one sentence, it is about then you will start writing paragraphs with the right amount of content for a properly paced book.
Half way summary:
Don't just ramble to give size or it won't give across your message (all words that don't express your message will tie it up in knots) and you will regret that eventually (it takes serious design work to get messages across).
Learn to put your faith in a sentence.
Make those sentences from GREAT paragraphs.
My view on paragraphs:
I was taught in school to open, to write in some explaination, and to close, but my view has now changed.
1) Sometimes I must simply tell a story
2) Sometimes I must help a reader feel s/he understands what is happening
3) Sometimes I must use a medium of writing to achieve a certain affect for them
When I think about paragraphs I remember that, the open signals your intentions, the middle allows them to understand in their own way or remember that concept, and the end sentence is finally to HIT them with the last line.
If you let people know where you are going, give them freedom, and then tell them your point in a remarkeable way, you will create paragraphs that are like perfectly designed bricks, where you move from EACH concept you NEED to express, and lay them down into a whole chapter (which itself consists of a middle open and ending).
To design a book, I use these bricks, and signal them with one concept, I then organise these bricks to express the MESSAGE best. And then I "glue" them all together by writing in the melody and flow tweaks.
Writing an ending:
The ending is about putting the WHOLE BOOK, on one strand of hair.
EVERY CONCEPT, is said BEST by this sentence.
Writing an opening:
This tells you EXACTLY what you are getting into.
The content:
All the concepts you need to organise to make the last line perfectly contextualised.
To really write, you don't need to "control" your writing, you just need to harness it into design segments, so you can manage the end task of succintly displaying your points and "hitting the mark" with the audience.
PS: Writing is frustrating... Do a layout, and good work on the first write up, and then come back later to "kill your darlings" and use your newly found objective standpoint to clean it up. (I might show you an example of that, by posting a second version of this above post in a properly designed format *can't right now though*)
Manage your frustration by making your standard for a first draft fairly high (squeaks by, by its chinny chin chin), and then later come back and CONSOLIDATE, by removing all the confusing parts and tightening the design.
Dislike ads? Become a Fastlane member:
Subscribe today and surround yourself with winners and millionaire mentors, not those broke friends who only want to drink beer and play video games. :-)
Membership Required: Upgrade to Expose Nearly 1,000,000 Posts
Ready to Unleash the Millionaire Entrepreneur in You?
Become a member of the Fastlane Forum, the private community founded by best-selling author and multi-millionaire entrepreneur MJ DeMarco. Since 2007, MJ DeMarco has poured his heart and soul into the Fastlane Forum, helping entrepreneurs reclaim their time, win their financial freedom, and live their best life.
With more than 39,000 posts packed with insights, strategies, and advice, you’re not just a member—you’re stepping into MJ’s inner-circle, a place where you’ll never be left alone.
Become a member and gain immediate access to...
- Active Community: Ever join a community only to find it DEAD? Not at Fastlane! As you can see from our home page, life-changing content is posted dozens of times daily.
- Exclusive Insights: Direct access to MJ DeMarco’s daily contributions and wisdom.
- Powerful Networking Opportunities: Connect with a diverse group of successful entrepreneurs who can offer mentorship, collaboration, and opportunities.
- Proven Strategies: Learn from the best in the business, with actionable advice and strategies that can accelerate your success.
"You are the average of the five people you surround yourself with the most..."
Who are you surrounding yourself with? Surround yourself with millionaire success. Join Fastlane today!
Join Today
