Great prompt! It’s so useful to think about our writing as physical spaces that we invite readers into and guide them through. Your techniques are so helpful for that! I also love thinking about how (especially with larger pieces like books) we can design our writing for nonlinear navigation -- for example, when a book is designed so that chapters can be read in any order and still make sense. ✍️
I agree with Margy--especially because we tend to think of our readers as hostile. But Option 2 gives us a a concrete way to convert them into a friendly listener who wants to help us along, thereby lowering our tension, which of course makes it easier to think.
I desperately needed this prompt right now, thank you!! I've been working on a small research project (my very first) for my qualitative research class, and I'm all over the place. 😭 I have interviews set up with two participants next week, and I still don't have a clear pathway to what it is I'm looking to accomplish. 🤦♀️ It was super helpful to have these guiding questions to help me make sense of where I started, where I am, and what's next. 🙏❤️🔥
Great prompt! It’s so useful to think about our writing as physical spaces that we invite readers into and guide them through. Your techniques are so helpful for that! I also love thinking about how (especially with larger pieces like books) we can design our writing for nonlinear navigation -- for example, when a book is designed so that chapters can be read in any order and still make sense. ✍️
Thanks, Margy!
I wrote a longer piece about what I learned in that playwriting workshop/how reverse outlines can help you think through your draft for my own newsletter here: https://writinghacks.substack.com/p/into-the-woods-and-out-again
I agree with Margy--especially because we tend to think of our readers as hostile. But Option 2 gives us a a concrete way to convert them into a friendly listener who wants to help us along, thereby lowering our tension, which of course makes it easier to think.
I desperately needed this prompt right now, thank you!! I've been working on a small research project (my very first) for my qualitative research class, and I'm all over the place. 😭 I have interviews set up with two participants next week, and I still don't have a clear pathway to what it is I'm looking to accomplish. 🤦♀️ It was super helpful to have these guiding questions to help me make sense of where I started, where I am, and what's next. 🙏❤️🔥
I hope you find your way through the woods quickly, and good luck with the project!