Grow Your Ideas Without Letting Words Grow Like Weeds

Q: How do I expand on an idea without getting too wordy?

A. Before you begin counting words, focus on holding the reader's interest.

(1) Writing as fast as possible, write up your idea, in expanded form, as if you were writing an email to a good friend. Don't edit or censor yet.

(2) Stop! Take a break -- at least fifteen minutes. Have a cup of coffee, take the dog around the block, spend quality time with the cat.

(3) Return to your article and go on the attack. Replace abstract thoughts with word pictures or anecdotes.

For example, this morning I wanted to encourage readers undergoing midlife crisis to be wary of costly career tests and assessments.

First, I wrote, "Some assessments are not especially scientific or valid. Astrology can be just as useful -- and a lot cheaper." Okay, but ho-hum.

I changed this sentence to, "At midlife, the tests invariably demonstrate that you're very, very good at what you are doing. Many assessments lack scientific validity -- they're no more accurate than a quiz you'd take in a popular magazine."

And I added a narrative example, a composite of three true stories:

Reginald regretted not only the money spent for assessments, but also the feedback he received.

"They told me I would make a good engineer, which I am," he said. "But they also suggested I pick an outdoor career. I'm not ready to be a forest ranger!"

Stories keep people reading. Every article needs at least one -- more is better!

(4) Notice that you can often expand a single idea by stretching your story.

For example, I want to say, "People gain self-awareness through action, not assessments."

The story becomes: "Reginald had three ideas in mind for his future career: architecture, astrology and aeronautical engineering. As he began networking to learn more about each career, he also learned more about himself. He realized that..."

(5) After you've cut out abstract ideas, your word count probably will go down. Begin your attack with your first three paragraphs. Most of us have to write a few hundred words to figure out where we want to begin.

Cut ruthlessly as you move through the article. After awhile, chopping a thousand words down to five hundred will be easier than pruning your own rose bushes.

About The Author

Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D., is an author, speaker and career/business consultant, helping midlife professionals take their First step to a Second Career. http://www.cathygoodwin.com.

"Ten secrets of mastering a major life change" mailto:subscribe@cathygoodwin.com

Contact: cathy@cathygoodwin.com 505-534-4294

---

Four Easy Ways to Get a Book Written (Especially If You Dont Like to Write)

Becoming an author is probably a lot easier than you... Read More

How to Write a Short Story

Everybody knows writing a story is not easy. Like the... Read More

On Writing and Poetry: Harry Calhoun in Conversation

"This is just brilliant. The whole interview is incredible? I'm?... Read More

The Authors Life: 14 Hints on Creating a Career Plan

1. Remember publication is a business; writing is an art.... Read More

Time-Saving Skills to Get More from Your Writing

As you set out to create your first niche non-fiction... Read More

Rules for Getting the Story Down

1. Write it fast, fix it later.2. Commit to writing... Read More

Talent or Toil

As in all endeavors, toil is necessary to succeed and... Read More

To Tell If You Are A Literary Snob

"I don't know if I should put 'writer' on my... Read More

Making Money from Freelance Writing

Making Money from Freelance WritingIt's the question that every aspiring... Read More

From Book Notes to Book Reports

Writing papers and book reports has long been the bane... Read More

7 Reference Books for Your Desk

I hate to admit this, but I rarely get an... Read More

Should You Hire a Ghostwriter?

Have you heard the term 'ghostwriter' and wondered what they... Read More

A Writers Life

Ever wonder what an author's life is like? What that... Read More

Italics Part 1 - Do You Need to Use Italics?

Next time you're tempted to use italics for emphasis... STOP!"Why?"... Read More

Getting the Story Down

Questions and answers on writing life experiences for ourselves and... Read More

10 Tips To Help You Pack More Power Into Your Business Writing

1. Before you write anything down define not what you... Read More

To Transcribe or Not To Transcribe Interviews?

11 Secrets from an Experienced InterviewerOne of the unwritten rules... Read More

Writing Business Letters That Get The Job Done

Despite the widespread use of e-mail in commerce today, traditional... Read More

Passionate About Writing?

I'm a writing fool! 2 book proposals, 1 user's guide,... Read More

Starting a Local Writers Group

My husband is no poet, so when I offer my... Read More

Five Keys To A Successful Query Letter

Do you know what a query letter is? If so,... Read More

Editorial Freelancing: 5 Must-Know Tips to Getting Your Foot in the Door

So, you want to freelance as an editor, writer, copy... Read More

How to Have an Effective Reading Group

Writing leads to reading. Therefore, it's only fair to supply... Read More

Do The Unfamiliar To Keep Your Writing Going

One of the best ways to blow someone's winning streak... Read More

Ferreting Out Work

FERRETING OUT WORK You keep hearing that there's work out... Read More

7 Journaling Tips

Set your journal or diary where you will see it... Read More

The Three Cs of Writing an Excellent all Purpose Headline

Since the headline is the first contact your readers have... Read More

Six Tips for Creating More Lifelike Story Characters

Working on my first humorous novel, I started with a... Read More

Apotheosis - the Seminal Insight of the Hero for Screenwriting

Every hero has a seminal insight - the apotheosis. Once... Read More

Why I Write Horror

These are some of the snapshots I carry with me:... Read More

If You Want to Succeed As a Writer, Dont Just Think It, Do It

It never ceases to amaze me when a prospective writer... Read More

Top Ten Reasons Its Great To Be A Writer

10 - You will always have a job. As long... Read More

Writer School?

Here's something from my mailbag. "Dear Michael, do you need... Read More