Working Overtime: Spicing Up Dry Writing

Mar 24, 2022

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INSIGHT

Constraint Shapes Nonfiction Style

Nonfiction writers must balance factual duties with stylistic vitality because facts can't be changed to fit language.
That tension makes learning new ways to craft sentences a continual part of nonfiction work.

ADVICE

Learn Style By Hand-Transcribing

Transcribe and diagram admired paragraphs by hand to learn sentence rhythms and parts of speech.
Then write new sentences using the same parts-of-speech order to expand your stylistic toolbox.

ADVICE

Build Bones First, Decorate Later

Get a complete first draft without worrying about style so you can solve structure and order first.
After the skeleton exists, return and decorate sentences to add description and personality.

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