by GM Kimber

Welcome! This entry covers the first P of the 4-Ps. If you are new to this blog, you may want to read What are the 4-Ps first.

Write everyday. EVERYDAY! Writing is an art. You can take as many classes as you like. However, practice is key for developing that skill. My grandmother, a high school English teacher, convinced me to write as often as I could. She said that the number one thing that would always be marketable is the ability to write. She was right. When I started losing interest in engineering as a career, I fell back on my writing skills. I became a professional writer.

Style.

I personally am a fan of style guides. There are several available. I’ve been working to adapt the Chicago Manual of Style for Studio 404. However, you can find several available for free all over. One that I used for a class once is the Microsoft Style Guide. 

Challenge.

In high school, I had an English teacher who was very challenging. However, one lesson I only recently learned to appreciate is to rarely use a “to be” verb. I recently revisited this lesson by attempting to write an entire section of the Starcana book without using a “to be” verb. No be, is, was, are, were, been, being, and am. It is not easy. However, it taught me to look at verbs in a different way. I learned how to write in a more active voice. If you want some more inspiration for challenges. Check out Hamilton College’s Seven Sins of Writing.

Grammar.

Since the dawn of the Information Age, grammar can make or break a person’s reputation. So much interaction takes place in the written form, either through chat, email, or text, using improper grammar shows a certain lack of professionalism. It is like auditioning for ”America Can Sing” (or whatever the newest reality show is called) without rehearsing. The holy book of grammar that almost every writer owns is the Elements of Style. When I started my job as a technical writer, this was the first reference my boss bought for me. Any grammatical question is answered in this book.

Read.

One of the unspoken jobs of a writer is reading. You must read in order to write. Reading helps you understand what you want to write about. I’m constantly updating my style with little things I find in other books. Also, reading improves my writing because I see what others have done and learn from it. Sometimes it is hard to find time to read, but it is key for driving improvement. Read books on writing. Read material similar to the material you want to produce. Just read. A fun book on writing that I’m currently reading is On Writing by Stephen King.

Educate.

Einstein said  “Once you stop learning, you start dying.” I love this quote. It is so succinct and accurate. Human beings simply never stop learning, and when they do, death lurks not far away. There was a meme going around on Facebook not too long ago that talks about how all these successful people didn’t reach success until later in life. It’s very true. For me, it took 40 years and 3 career changes to find a career I really enjoy. So, never stop educating yourself on writing. You are never too old to learn something new.

If you have a few bucks to spend, Keith Kappel’s Adventure Writing Academy is an excellent place to start. Especially if you want to publish to the Genesys Foundry. 

If you have less spare cash, get a work book such as The Elements of Style Workbook. Finally, everyone should check out NoRedInk to sharpen, hone, and improve their writing skills. It’s FREE!

Watch this blog for future entries where we dive more deeply into remaining 4-Ps:
Playtest.
Proofread.
Prettify.