Desire Strategies to Improve Your Writing? Part 2: Audience, Voice, and Development

Learn how to push the clouds away and gain inspiration

Once you are no longer mired in the minutia that has bogged you down, you will find it is easier to breathe , easier to think, easier to write! The strategies shared in my last article, Desire to Improve Your Writing Skills? Part 1, hopefully inspired you to think about your writing process, break the grasp of writer’s block and record those imaginative, creative ideas that have been bouncing around in your brain searching for a way to escape.

What’s next?

Depending upon what genre you are producing the next steps may differ. Some writers have gathered enough ideas that they can begin writing the draft. Others still require further introspection to provide focus.

Identify the audience and narrow the topic

Sometimes when your topic is defined, you have done the research, and feel qualified to author the article, the audience remains unclear. If you have not identified the audience, there may be false starts or the writing may flow inconsistently and become unfocused. For example, when I write about writing, it is necessary to know if I am writing to students of writing, teachers, or published authors. Each audience desires different information and I must approach each from a different angle.

This article provides strategies to define your audience and narrow your topic. By doing both the reader will remain engaged and discover the value in your experience.

Know your characters

Fictional stories require developed characters and since the author creates a character’s identity, they must have a deep understanding of every aspect of the character. This demands the writer develop an intimate relationship with the people in the story that bring the plot to life.

But eventually, the time to write comes and can not be avoided. When the necessary prewriting is accomplished, a writer will feel it; the internal excitement begins bubbling. For me this is the fun part because I can puke ideas onto paper without worries because I know I can make changes later.

I Can See Clearly Now

I can see clearly now the rain is gone. I can see all obstacles in my way. Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind. It’s gonna be a bright (bright) Bright (bright) sunshiny day. It’s gonna be a bright (bright) Bright (bright) sunshiny day.

Songwriter: Nash Johnny

I Can See Clearly Now lyrics © Cp Masters Bv, Nashco Music Inc

The classic song illustrates how I feel when I am prepared and presented with a blank page. When I can’t get from inside my own head, I set a timer for 30 minutes and write for that entire time. At first gibberish flows onto the page but eventually ideas develop into sentences; sentences form narratives, and I am on my way.

Usually, after 30 minutes of forced writing I don’t want to stop because my creative juices are flowing — no gushing. Write until you feel lighter because words are no longer clogging your thinking. Once they are on the page, they are ready for closer attention.

Voice

This is when I begin to listen to the voice of the writing and determine if it is consistent from beginning to end and if it meets my purpose.

Sensory details

A strategy I have used to clarify my voice or even add a sincere or knowledgeable voice to the writing is to add sensory details. Over time each of the strategies, we are discussing become inherent parts of the process. As you practice the strategies, be open to new techniques that will empower you as a writer. Stay tuned for part 3 when revision strategies will demonstrate how you can take good writing and make it great.

Desire to Improve Your Writing Skills? Part 1–4

Follow Strategies for Writing, a new space for writers. A series of posts in a question — answer format support writers with inspiration and responses to those question you’ve always wondered about.

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Previously published on ManyStories