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SKELETONS TELL STORIES: Efficient and Effective Writing Strategies

Welcome to the Official Launch of the Skeletons Tell Stories (STS): Efficient and Effective Writing Strategies program.  This course will coach you on how to organize and focus your thoughts, allowing you to successfully complete your writing goals by creating a skeleton.

The STS course not only teaches you how to identify and then structure the key points you need to be writing about, it also shows you how to execute the actual writing itself.  The STS process allows you to stay calm and on track by keeping things simplified and streamlined.

Through STS, I share my methods on how to organize your ideas and then apply them to successful writing strategies.  This will ensure that your thoughts are clear, allowing you to de-stress and focus on efficiently creating effective content.

The way to do this is through building a skeleton: an ordered structure of topic bones. The skeleton acts as a roadmap that outlines your journey, guiding and keeping your writing on course. It will help you get started and keep the words moving until you have successfully completed whatever project you are working on. Continue reading “SKELETONS TELL STORIES: Efficient and Effective Writing Strategies”

EPISODE 7: BE INCONSISTENT! Four Writing Practices Where You Need to Keep Changing Things Up

In Episode Six—Be Consistent!: Four Writing Practices Where You Need to Keep Things Uniform—I looked at when it’s important to stay consistent in your habits regarding words with optional spellings, punctuation practices, numerals vs written numbers, and acronym usage.

In Episode Seven—Be Inconsistent!: Four Writing Practices Where You Need to Keep Changing Things Up—I highlight situations where you want to be varying your writing style choices for a smooth, streamlined result.

The four areas that Episode Seven looks at are: Continue reading “EPISODE 7: BE INCONSISTENT! Four Writing Practices Where You Need to Keep Changing Things Up”

EPISODE 6: BE CONSISTENT! Four Writing Practices Where You Need to Keep Things Uniform

Your writing needs to clearly communicate with your audience what it is that you are trying to say. Part of that process is demonstrating to readers your authority over your writing form.  While you want to show that you know what you’re writing about, you also want to demonstrate that you know what you’re doing as writer as a well.

Our new WritingandEditingTipsandTricks.com video—Be Consistent!: Four Writing Practices Where You Need to Keep Things Uniform—offers best practices that will help you craft a skilled and effective piece of work.

The four areas that Episode Six looks at are: Continue reading “EPISODE 6: BE CONSISTENT! Four Writing Practices Where You Need to Keep Things Uniform”

DRESSING THE SKELETON: The Actual Writing (Step 3 of the STS Process)

You have created your skeleton, giving you a roadmap for your writing journey.  And now comes what can be the most daunting element of all: the actual writing.

However, having taken the time to prepare a skeleton means that what you will be writing about is now much more firmly and clearly mentally-ingrained in your head.  It also give you a structure that allows you execute your writing efficiently and effectively.

In Episode 3: Get Writing and Keep Going, I share my recommendations for the best way to proceed with your writing.  I advise that you Continue reading “DRESSING THE SKELETON: The Actual Writing (Step 3 of the STS Process)”

SKELETON STRUCTURE EXAMPLES: Knowing What Is Right for Your Writing

In Episode 2: Building Your Story Skeleton, I discuss setting up a pertinent skeleton structure for your writing: an overriding skeleton frame for the bones to be added and arranged within.  But what constitutes a “pertinent skeleton structure” depends on the type of writing you are going to be doing.

Here are three easy and common examples of skeleton structures to demonstrate what I am talking about, and what you needs to be considering when creating each of these structures. Continue reading “SKELETON STRUCTURE EXAMPLES: Knowing What Is Right for Your Writing”

THE INFO DUMP: Step 1 in Creating Your Story Skeleton

In Episode 1, THE STORY SKELETON: How To Organize Your Ideas & Get Writing, I discuss the importance and usefulness of creating a story skeleton by identifying, categorizing, and then organizing ideas.

The resulting skeleton arms you with a roadmap that keeps you on course and helps to minimize blocks and anxiety.  Having that surety going forward lets you focus on efficiently creating effective content.

The first step in the skeleton creation process is the Info Dump: identifying every important aspect that you will need to include in what you are planning on writing.

Randomly list every aspect and topic that you feel needs to be part of the writing project. Just throw out and write down everything you feel needs to be included without worrying about ordering your ideas at this point.

Information that you should consider listing includes Continue reading “THE INFO DUMP: Step 1 in Creating Your Story Skeleton”

COURSE & ESL TRAINING PRICES

PRICE BREAKDOWN FOR COURSES AND SERVICES

Skeletons Tell Stories is a half-day Zoom course but can be easily scaled or adjusted to accommodate specific client needs.  It can also be taught in person.

      • $99 per student
      • $75 per student for groups of three or more
      • $40 per hour for follow-up counselling

I also offer customized

      • personal writing strategy tutoring services;
      • ESL tutoring; and
      • IELTS, TOEFL, and CELPIP test preparation with optional writing tutoring.
      • $40 per hour for personalized services (Price negotiable for certain circumstances)

All Prices + GST/HST if applicable.

Payments can be made through our PayPal account or by Certified Cheque.

info@writingandeditingtipsandtricks.com

BE AN IN/CONSISTENT WRITER Two New Episodes Coming Soon

Which practices need you to be consistent?  Which practices need you to keep changing things up?

Our next two episode outline eight rules of writing that will help you craft a skilled and effective piece.

Be An In/Consistent Writer: Coming Soon!

EPISODE 5: THE SYNOPSIS EMAIL What It Is & Why It’s Important

Whether you are self-employed and handling all of your own business interactions or an administrative assistant at a large company, the Synopsis Email is an essential follow-up communication tool that keeps expectations between you and your client(s) on track.

The Synopsis Email clarifies and confirms the specifics of what each participant is expected to deliver and when, ensuring that everyone is working collaboratively and productively toward timely success.

It also serves as an essential project history document for yourself or anyone new entering into an already ongoing endeavour.

This short video explains what you need to know and consider when writing your Synopsis Email (such as essential content, addressing discrepancies, appropriate recipients, and more) so that you will maximize its effectiveness.

EPISODE 4: SPEAKING ALOUD AS A WRITING & EDITING TOOL Use Your Voice to Find the Right Words

Struggling with Writer’s Block?

Even if you have created your story skeleton and are clear on what you’ll be writing about, you still may  find it difficult to get the actual writing underway.

In Episode 4, Speaking Aloud as a Writing & Editing Tool (Use Your Voice to Find the Right Words), I’ll explain how speaking aloud can be employed to get the words flowing, and then help edit those words when the drafts are done.

Watch and find out how to use your voice to unblock and get your writing underway.