There is academic writing and there is grant writing
Let topics or stories emerge by themselves
6 steps for successful writing
A good writer doesn't explain everything to the reader
There is a place and time for every story
Good writers don't get attached to their writing
It doesn't matter if a story is simple if it's well told

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Practicing

Characters

Tips

• Make them react counterintuitively to situations (tells us something about who they are)
• Make character carry something. Possessions reveal something about character
• Contradictory character (gang member that crochet) - against type
• 3 things to do when you introduce a character:
  • Have character say something
  • Have character do something
  • Show what is the character's problem is
• Give your character an odd habit (explain why they have that habit)
• Widen the perception gap (how they see themselves vs how you see them)
  • Creates story tension
  • Lie that are telling themselves
• Create foils (other characters being influenced by main character). Donkey and Shrek
• Create a 3-time character (past, present, future)
  • Haunted by the past (go short on information) - go long on angst - past spills into the present
  • Wrestling in the present (two layers of problems)
  • Looking at the future and uncertain how it's gonna play out - wary of the future, what are they getting prepared for

How to make character compelling / likable

• Is not flawless - Relatable flaws
• Strong morality - Values, morals, convictions
• Take care of animals
• Make them suffer
• Show competence

Writing tips - Name of the wind

Examples

I don't think this desire is unique to me -->
I know I'm not alone -->
give a sense of confidence + give a feeling (alone)

No, I'm more like Frodo. I chose this quest on my own. This desire to change the world is a huge burden. -->
No — I’m more like Frodo. No prophecy. No divine right. Just someone who picked up a burden and decided to carry it. -->
More humility by providing examples of what it is not. Replace desire with action (Someone who did this)

But first, let me tell you about my visions so you understand who I am and where I'm coming from. -->
But before I show you what I’ve found, let me tell you about the visions that brought me here — so you can understand who I am and where I’m coming from. -->
After a but, explain clearly what you intend to do. My vision becomes The visions that brought me here. Give them an intent.

my mom was in the kitchen -->
my mom moved around in the kitchen -->
Gives movement!

I couldn't see them, but I felt their presence
I couldn't see them, but I could feel their presence

until I entered adolescence and I started to be more critical of everything I had been told
until adolescence, when I began to question everything I had been told

What I saw wasn't me, not exactly. It was future me. A version of me I didn't recognize, but knew was me.
What I saw wasn’t exactly me. It was a future version of me—a stranger I didn’t recognize, but somehow knew was me.

Writing tips
Creation date: 26 May, 2025
Modification date: 26 May, 2025
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