Comments on: A Few Words on Writing Short http://michellerafter.com/2008/03/14/a-few-words-on-writing-short/#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed Freelancing in the Digital Age Fri, 19 Mar 2010 16:16:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: WordCount Repeats: 7 steps to cutting a story that’s too long « WordCount – Freelancing in the Digital Age http://michellerafter.com/2008/03/14/a-few-words-on-writing-short/comment-page-1/#comment-172 WordCount Repeats: 7 steps to cutting a story that’s too long « WordCount – Freelancing in the Digital Age Fri, 07 Aug 2009 13:03:00 +0000 http://michellerafter.wordpress.com/?p=70#comment-172 [...] Summarize. Instead of whole paragraphs, use bullets, lists or other space saving devices to pack more punch into your prose without adding to the [...] [...] Summarize. Instead of whole paragraphs, use bullets, lists or other space saving devices to pack more punch into your prose without adding to the [...]

]]> By: 10 things J.K. Rowling taught me about writing « WordCount – Freelancing in the Digital Age http://michellerafter.com/2008/03/14/a-few-words-on-writing-short/comment-page-1/#comment-171 10 things J.K. Rowling taught me about writing « WordCount – Freelancing in the Digital Age Wed, 29 Jul 2009 19:18:14 +0000 http://michellerafter.wordpress.com/?p=70#comment-171 [...] 7. Leave stuff out. In 2007 British documentary on Rowling that re-aired earlier this month when movie version of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince opened, the author shares about details of her characters that never made it into the books, including back stories and what happens in their lives after the books ends.  The tidbits either didn’t fit into the plot or weren’t interesting enough to be included (although fans live for this kind of stuff). The takeaway: Pick the most telling details, the juiciest quotes, the most spot-on examples to tell your story and leave the rest out, especially if – unlike Rowling – you’re writing to a specific word count. [...] [...] 7. Leave stuff out. In 2007 British documentary on Rowling that re-aired earlier this month when movie version of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince opened, the author shares about details of her characters that never made it into the books, including back stories and what happens in their lives after the books ends.  The tidbits either didn’t fit into the plot or weren’t interesting enough to be included (although fans live for this kind of stuff). The takeaway: Pick the most telling details, the juiciest quotes, the most spot-on examples to tell your story and leave the rest out, especially if – unlike Rowling – you’re writing to a specific word count. [...]

]]> By: 5 ways to blog every day without freaking out « WordCount - Freelancing in the Digital Age http://michellerafter.com/2008/03/14/a-few-words-on-writing-short/comment-page-1/#comment-170 5 ways to blog every day without freaking out « WordCount - Freelancing in the Digital Age Mon, 04 May 2009 17:19:40 +0000 http://michellerafter.wordpress.com/?p=70#comment-170 [...] 2. Write short - If you’re blogging for yourself, you can decide how much or little to include in a single blog post. Some days you might feel like writing 500 or 1,000 words reacting to a news event or on a subject that’s close to your heart. Other days, you may just want to share a news story or blog post someone else has written with your readers, so your post could consist of a link to the original with a paragraph or two of explanation or commentary. Here are some other suggestions for writing short. [...] [...] 2. Write short – If you’re blogging for yourself, you can decide how much or little to include in a single blog post. Some days you might feel like writing 500 or 1,000 words reacting to a news event or on a subject that’s close to your heart. Other days, you may just want to share a news story or blog post someone else has written with your readers, so your post could consist of a link to the original with a paragraph or two of explanation or commentary. Here are some other suggestions for writing short. [...]

]]> By: Freelance 101: Getting started as an independent writer « WordCount - Freelancing in the Digital Age http://michellerafter.com/2008/03/14/a-few-words-on-writing-short/comment-page-1/#comment-169 Freelance 101: Getting started as an independent writer « WordCount - Freelancing in the Digital Age Mon, 30 Mar 2009 13:03:19 +0000 http://michellerafter.wordpress.com/?p=70#comment-169 [...] A few words about writing short - 500 words is the new 1,000. [...] [...] A few words about writing short – 500 words is the new 1,000. [...]

]]> By: 7 steps to cutting a story that’s too long « WordCount/by Michelle Vranizan Rafter http://michellerafter.com/2008/03/14/a-few-words-on-writing-short/comment-page-1/#comment-168 7 steps to cutting a story that’s too long « WordCount/by Michelle Vranizan Rafter Fri, 12 Sep 2008 19:20:30 +0000 http://michellerafter.wordpress.com/?p=70#comment-168 [...] Summarize. Instead of whole paragraphs, use bullets, lists or other space saving devices to pack more punch into your prose without adding to the [...] [...] Summarize. Instead of whole paragraphs, use bullets, lists or other space saving devices to pack more punch into your prose without adding to the [...]

]]> By: What freelancers should know about podcasting « WordCount/by Michelle Vranizan Rafter http://michellerafter.com/2008/03/14/a-few-words-on-writing-short/comment-page-1/#comment-167 What freelancers should know about podcasting « WordCount/by Michelle Vranizan Rafter Mon, 02 Jun 2008 14:00:46 +0000 http://michellerafter.wordpress.com/?p=70#comment-167 [...] writers on LinkedIn what their secrets were to writing short, and used the answers as the basis for this post on WordCount. Paula liked what I’d written so much she asked if she could turn it into a [...] [...] writers on LinkedIn what their secrets were to writing short, and used the answers as the basis for this post on WordCount. Paula liked what I’d written so much she asked if she could turn it into a [...]

]]> By: 25 tips for better freelance writing « WordCount/by Michelle Vranizan Rafter http://michellerafter.com/2008/03/14/a-few-words-on-writing-short/comment-page-1/#comment-166 25 tips for better freelance writing « WordCount/by Michelle Vranizan Rafter Mon, 19 May 2008 15:41:09 +0000 http://michellerafter.wordpress.com/?p=70#comment-166 [...] 9. The shorter the better. [...] [...] 9. The shorter the better. [...]

]]> By: Jackie Dishner http://michellerafter.com/2008/03/14/a-few-words-on-writing-short/comment-page-1/#comment-163 Jackie Dishner Tue, 18 Mar 2008 19:39:46 +0000 http://michellerafter.wordpress.com/?p=70#comment-163 This is a great post, Michelle. Are you writing for The Writer. You should submit a version of this as a query. It could totally be expanded into a full feature. And I'd love to learn others ideas/anecdotes on the topic. Thanks for sharing your quick tips on how to write short. All my best, Jackie Dishner http://bikewithjackie.blogspot.com This is a great post, Michelle. Are you writing for The Writer. You should submit a version of this as a query. It could totally be expanded into a full feature. And I’d love to learn others ideas/anecdotes on the topic.

Thanks for sharing your quick tips on how to write short.

All my best,
Jackie Dishner
http://bikewithjackie.blogspot.com

]]> By: Robert Dolezal http://michellerafter.com/2008/03/14/a-few-words-on-writing-short/comment-page-1/#comment-162 Robert Dolezal Sun, 16 Mar 2008 13:36:36 +0000 http://michellerafter.wordpress.com/?p=70#comment-162 There's no question that different media require different copy. Sitting down with a long article in a magazine is a relaxing and involving event. For the web, getting the job done in the least space possible is the ticket. You've given professional and amateur writers a capsule summary of the most popular approaches to telling the full story in small space. Good work! There’s no question that different media require different copy. Sitting down with a long article in a magazine is a relaxing and involving event. For the web, getting the job done in the least space possible is the ticket. You’ve given professional and amateur writers a capsule summary of the most popular approaches to telling the full story in small space. Good work!

]]> By: A Few Words on Writing Short — Do it yourself at home http://michellerafter.com/2008/03/14/a-few-words-on-writing-short/comment-page-1/#comment-165 A Few Words on Writing Short — Do it yourself at home Fri, 14 Mar 2008 16:34:05 +0000 http://michellerafter.wordpress.com/?p=70#comment-165 [...] the result is dense, meaty stories that cover a lot of ground in a short time…. source: A Few Words on Writing Short, WordCount/by Michelle Vranizan [...] [...] the result is dense, meaty stories that cover a lot of ground in a short time…. source: A Few Words on Writing Short, WordCount/by Michelle Vranizan [...]

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