Wallace Entertainment’s Post

Yesterday I talked about the ways a Writing Group can be unhelpful. But if used correctly, it can also be a valuable resource! Here are some ways to utilize a Writing Group: 1 - Ask for specific feedback. Rather than just sending your pages and asking, "What do you think?" Ask your group to answer specific questions: - Who is the main character of the story? - What is their goal? - What are their stakes? - Do you care about their goal? - What is their backstory? - Where did you laugh? - (Anything else that you specifically want feedback on). With guidance, your group understands how to be helpful to you, and it focuses attention on the areas you need insight on. 2 - Organize a table read. Rather than an unstructured conversation, suggest alternating each week with printing out script pages and assigning roles to your group members. It is extremely helpful to hear your script read out loud. You can hear the dialogue and hear what readers stumble on. Make sure you assign the Action Lines (not yourself!) As the writer, you should be in the position of listening and taking notes on what you need to fix. 3 - Have a Blue Skies brainstorming session. Whether you're talking to comedians or amateur internet sleuths, try having a guided conversation for brainstorming characters or set pieces. Instead of asking for specific story solutions (puzzle pieces you can work out on your own time), choose a bucket for the group to discuss. Have everyone throw out wild stories from their lives, joke ideas, or things they've read about. Assign someone the role of taking notes. Then later when you're choosing plot points, you have a wealth of inspiration to draw from. This is beneficial when you've been spending too much time holed up in your house by yourself banging your head against a wall. Screenwriting is a collaborative medium, and it's best when there are people working together in an inspiring way. Working with other writers can be a boon for a creativity. You just want to make sure that you're structuring these conversations with a specific, helpful agenda, or you risk wandering about wasting each other's time with unhelpful conversations. *** If you don't have a Writing Group, you can book me for an individual one-on-one consultation! Link in the comments below.

As a beginner creative writer, I realized that developing my writing skills requires intentional planning and discipline. So I decided to incorporate these strategies into my journey to becoming a better writer. Here are some strategies to help you carve out time for writing:   1. Set clear goals:    -Define specific writing goals, such as finishing a poem, writing a chapter, or completing an article.    -Break larger goals into smaller, manageable tasks.    2. Create a Schedule: To follow through with your goals, you need a schedule.     -Dedicate specific times in your daily or weekly schedule exclusively for writing.    -Treat these writing sessions as non-negotiable appointments.   3. Establish a routine:    -Develop a consistent writing routine, such as writing first thing in the morning or before bed.    -Stick to your routine, even if you can only write for a short period of time.    -Create a dedicated writing space that minimizes distractions.   4. Learn to prioritize writing.    -Identify and eliminate or reduce activities that consume your time but add little value, such as excessive social media use or watching TV.    -Replace these activities with writing time.   5. Set deadlines:   - Establish self-imposed deadlines to create a sense of urgency and accountability.    -Consider joining writing groups or workshops that provide regular deadlines and feedback.   6. Limit perfectionism:    -Allow yourself to write imperfectly. Focus on getting words on the page rather than striving for perfection in the first draft. Note that it can’t always be perfect all the time.    -Revisions and editing can come later.   7. Stay Motivated:     - Reward yourself for meeting writing goals, no matter how small.     Seek inspiration from reading books, articles, and poetry, or by attending literary events and workshops.   If you've gotten to this paragraph, I've got to tell a little truth. I’ve not followed these strategies religiously, but I’m getting there. So far, a few of these have helped in my journey. I hope you find this helpful too. #Beginnerwriter #writer #creative #writing

I usually find joy in the messy first drafts, knowing refinement will follow... For me, writing isn't just putting words on a page. It's the process of translating thoughts into a meaningful story. Writing is more than just a skill. It's a journey filled with ups and downs, moments of clarity, and frustrating creative blocks. It’s the way to: - Capture my ideas, - Shape my voice, - And connect with readers on a deeper level. In a world where stories shape understanding, writing plays a vital role in delivering the message. Embrace the reality of writing, and you can: ✔ Overcome writer’s block with patience & persistence.   ✔ Share your unique perspective in a way only *you* can. ✔ Strengthen your voice through the act of rewriting & editing.  Remember, writing isn’t just about perfection, it's about progress. Every draft, every word, is a step closer to that final piece. So, the next time the words don’t come easily, remind yourself—it’s all part of the process. What’s the most challenging part of your writing journey? #writing

Who would have thought I would be able to reach 300 days of consistent writing? Probably, my mum. Oh, my my! 😂 It's been an amazing and stressful journey so far. I mean, nothing good comes easy. You want to grow, then you have to work for it, smartly. I'll always preach the gospel of consistency anytime, any day. Although it's not easy and it'll require every single ounce of determination you've got in you. Anyways, for creative fictional writers, I'll be dropping useful tips to help in your creativity. It works for me, so you don't really have to force yourself to use my methods. Different things work for different people. 📌 First, I love to think creative writing is an examination for me, which I must pass. Not only pass, but be the best. 📌 Just like I do in school examinations, I relax and read my questions over and over, I don't start with others. Same with creative writing, I don't just pick my phone and type without knowing what to write. 📌I listen to music or watch a movie two hours before I start writing. 📌 I avoid writing in noisy environments as much as possible. It disrupts my plot and everything else I have in mind. 📌 I write with a clear mind, unless I have to do something d£v!lish in my story. 😂 📌 Most importantly, you must be an avid reader to be able to delve into the deepest part of your imagination. 📌 Your imagination is the powerhouse of your creativity and you have to constantly feed your mind and brain with other creative writings so as to help sharpen your creativity. In conclusion, your growth depends on you and how intentional you're about growing. #highlightseveryone #writingtips #writing #day300_of_365_days_writing_challenge

You've heard it before from all writing gurus: editing is key to better writing. But while there are enough articles about how to write better, there is notably less guidance around editing in comparison. As a novice writer, I was definitely lost about how to go about editing anything I wrote. However, after some research and trial and error, I have a simple system that helps me make my writing better. — I tackle the task of editing in 3️⃣ steps: STEP 1: Reviewing the Structure In this step, review the overall flow and organisation of the article. Basically, you have to pay attention to how the writing reads. ⇢ Read your blog post as a whole. Is there a logical flow from the introduction to the conclusion? Are you answering the question you hooked the reader with at the start? ⇢ Ensure the transition from one topic to another is smooth. Don’t make the reader jump from one point to another without any connection between them. ⇢ Check for consistency in tone and style in your writing. ⇢ Try sticking to speaking from one point of view. Sometimes you might have to start with ‘I’ in the introduction, and then switch to ‘you’ when you start addressing the reader. That’s okay, but don’t keep moving back and forth between the two. That can be hard to follow and annoying for the reader. ⇢ Long paragraphs look daunting and will make the reader quit in the middle. Break up the long paras into short, digestible chunks to improve readability. ⇢ Write short sentences. Divide longer sentences into 2. Shorter sentences are easier and quicker to read. They make your reader glide through the article. ⇢ Use active voice. It keeps the writing concise, engaging, and easier to understand. After making the above edits, your writing will read like a conversation. That’s when you’ll move on to STEP 2 of editing, which I will be sharing tomorrow! — What do you think about the structure and flow of this LinkedIn post? Do you have any tips for me to make it better? Share your suggestions below! #30DayLinkedInChallenge #beginnerwriter #writing #editing 

This is what the 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 do to become 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁. Here are 5 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀 you need to 𝗺𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 to get in the writing zone and stay there: Don't wait for the perfect idea... 1. 𝗪𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗮 𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗳𝘁. 𝗔𝗻𝘆 𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗳𝘁. ↳ Sit down, open a doc, and get moving. It will probably suck — that’s part of it. ↳ Once you get something on paper, you have momentum. Writing psychology matters. But don't trust yourself — be systematic… 2. 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗹𝗲 ↳ Especially if you’re newer, establish dedicated time to write. ↳ And write daily. Approach writing like a craft with a 10,000-hour rule. Don't expect results without reps. The real work doesn't begin until you're cutting down... 3. 𝗘𝗱𝗶𝘁. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲. ↳ This is the hard part. Cut down. Be attached to nothing. ↳ If your word count is going up, you're not editing. In extreme cases, I've taken 3,000-word documents down to 400. You can always cut 100. 4. 𝗘𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘀. ↳ Prioritize even more. Take things out that don't directly target the essentials. ↳ Make your concepts more targeted; precision brings writing alive. ↳ Refine your style. How you say something is just as conceptually demanding as finding the right content. You're almost there, but so many people sell themselves short at the finish line... 5. 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗴. ↳ Read aloud. Don’t let silly mistakes overshadow hours and hours of work. ↳ Hit publish. Same with starting — just do it. Follow these 5 steps methodically and you're already in the 𝘁𝗼𝗽 10%. P.S. Nobody became a great writer overnight. But anyone can get better over time. --- 🛎 𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 for more tips on how to start, get better, and write something compelling. ♻️ 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁 to help spread the word (get it? earth-shattering punnery). #writing #writingtips #essaywriting #speechwriting #productivity

How will you know whether you love writing? Maybe this will help. It Feels Like a Need, Not a Chore: When writing calls to you, it’s not just a task on your to-do list but a craving—an itch that must be scratched. Whether it’s jotting down ideas, drafting stories, or composing thoughts, you find joy and fulfilment in the act itself. Writing Is Your Way of Making Sense of the World: Writing becomes a way to process your thoughts, emotions, and experiences. It helps you make sense of the chaos, find clarity in confusion, and express yourself in ways that resonate deeply with others. You Seek Opportunities to Write: Whether it’s starting a blog, journaling, or simply sharing stories with friends, you actively seek out opportunities to write. You see writing not just as a hobby but as a fundamental part of who you are. Writing Is Your Escape and Your Anchor: Writing is both an escape from reality and an anchor in it. It allows you to explore new worlds, create characters, and weave narratives, all while grounding you in the present moment. However, one must understand that writing, even for a professional, is a constant challenge. It demands relentless creativity, discipline, and revision. Crafting compelling narratives requires navigating through writer's block, honing each sentence for clarity, and refining ideas to resonate with diverse audiences. It's a journey of exploration and vulnerability, where every word carries weight. Despite experience, each piece requires effort to capture emotions authentically and deliver messages effectively. #CareerChange #Writing #ContentWriting #Passion

3 Lies About Writing You Shouldn't Believe 🧜♀️ Myth #1: You should wait until your first draft is perfect before editing. 🧜♂️ Nope, nope, nope! Editing is a crucial part of the writing process, and you should do it from the beginning. The first draft is rarely perfect. The real magic happens when you go back and refine your work, fix mistakes, and make your writing shine. Myth #2: Writer's block means you're a bad writer. 🧜♀️ Writer's block happens to even the best writers out there. It doesn't mean you've lost your talent or that you'll never write again. When you get stuck, just take a break, do something else for a while, and come back to it with fresh eyes. The words will start flowing again, I promise! Myth #3: You have to write every single day to be productive. 🧜♂️ This one is false! While writing regularly is important, you don't have to pressure yourself to write daily. The key is finding a writing schedule that works for you - an hour a day or a couple of hours a week. What matters most is your consistent progress, not how often you put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard). #writing #content #contentwriting

Writing Tip #3 A lot of people ask me how to start writing. The ability to write is a talent but also a learned skill which, even the best writers, never stop honing and improving. I think the first step is to practise writing and develop your skill set and confidence. You can improve your writing skills by attending creative writing groups or workshops, where you can learn different writing techniques. You can also watch the free but very good creative writing tutorials on YouTube. In the groups I run I use props as a way of unlocking people’s imaginative potential. You can do this at home to. Take any object and examine it in detail. What does it look like? What does it feel like? What does smell like? The next question to ask yourself is: How did it get there? How does it feel? What is its history? and what is going to happen to it next? Then the writing adventure can begin. If you don’t want to use props, writing prompts are also a very good way to inspire creative writing. I use simple one sentence writing prompts in my groups and my students have produced fantastic writing just from having their ideas focused on one idea. If you want to do some writing prompts, a wonderful prompt list can be found here - https://lnkd.in/ehWfiRsD Keep Writing! 

Don't be afraid of the ugly first draft. The great thing about creative writing, or writing in general, is that your words are editable. You can carve and mould and polish that ugly baby into a masterpiece that shines like a [insert shiny object here]. Buuuuttt… Be careful not to let perfectionism hinder your creative process or stop you from publishing altogether. For example, when I can't think of the right word in the moment, I use square brackets, as I did above, and come back to it once I'm done. This is so I don't interrupt my writing flow. I left my square brackets here, both to illustrate my point and because I still couldn't come up with the right word. 🙃 Sometimes you have to embrace the not-so-cute draft and trust the process. This is a lesson I have to remind myself of often. Maybe it's self-doubt. Maybe it's ego. But whatever it is that has you thinking that everything you produce needs to be pristine from the first draft, you've got to let it go. Every time you hold yourself back from publishing because you don't think what you've written is absolutely perfect, you're potentially robbing the world, your audience, of something truly magical. Writing is not just writing, it's rewriting, editing, and writing some more. #writing #storytelling #uglyfirstdrafts