Continue to Grow

I love the craft of writing. Apart from the rush of brainstorming or getting in the flow, there is a thrill in the endless techniques to learn to elevate your writing. You practice and master the basic principles, using as a guiding light, but apply and layer the notions, tools, and ideas from centuries of writers to add complexity, appeal, and connection.

I'm always seeking these tips and perspectives on how to approach my writing. One of my favorites is Inneresting from John August and Cris Cossant. It is a weekly look at an idea around screenwriting— the business, the craft, the perspective of the medium.

A recent post was one of my favorites. It talked about the concentric circles of our attention— Concern, Influence, and Control. It’s a fascinating and informative way to look at how to understand your characters motivations and actions within a story.

I don’t always take everything to heart, sometimes instant deleting some issues. But there are always great nuggets most weeks with occasional genuine craft altering ideas.

There are others that I occasionally click through, such as from Final Draft and ISA newsletters. Many end up being generic, boilerplate information that most seasoned writers know about, but there is on good occasion a nugget of information that is new to me that I bank and apply to my process and stories.

I have a sense of joy and motivation when I find them. I start thinking about how it applies to what I am currently writing and ideas I’m contriving. These new perspectives help unlock me when I'm stuck or elevate what I have already written. As a bonus, it makes the solitary job of writing feel more social and a little less lonely.

I encourage you to find ways to learn every day, or at least every week. Hopefully, this publication is one of those places you can get some insight.