All posts by Giselle Sproule
How To Use Copywork to Find Your Voice
For centuries, aspiring writers have spent hours copying out the work of masters in order to learn the secrets of being a great writer.
We’ve gone into detail before about what copywork is and how you can use it to benefit your writing. The idea behind this practice is that copying out sentences, passages, or even entire works of excellent writers will grant you an understanding of what makes the writing so good, therefore giving you those tools to use in your own writing.
As well as generally improving your writing, the practice of copywork can also help you find your voice. You know—that unique, can’t-put-your-finger-on-it quality that makes each person’s writing sound distinctly theirs.
You may be wondering how imitating the work of another writer can help you discover your voice. I’ll admit, it does seem a bit counterintuitive.
Copywork can help you find your voice by giving you greater control, letting you try on different styles without committing to them, and helping you find inspiration.
Incorporating copywork into your writing practice helps you model your writing after the masters and find your voice in the process.
Using Constraints to Boost Your Creativity
For most people, creativity seems to have closer ties to freedom than constraints. You may have the idea that creativity is something that happens best when the possibilities are endless—when anything goes and you have all the time and resources you could possibly need.
This sounds like the ideal scenario for completing any creative project, but that’s where many are misinformed.
Going at a project no holds barred is counterproductive for a few reasons. Having too many possibilities can make it difficult to know where to begin, come up with seriously creative ideas, or even just to get it done.
This is actually good news. In the professional world, all projects come with constraints, be it time, budget, audience, or format. These may feel restraining at times, but trust me, you’re much better off with them than without them.
The Science Behind a Writer’s Mind
Shelves of half-formed story ideas, baskets of lovely and uncommon words, filing cabinets filled with grammar rules. … If the mind of a writer was a physical place, chances are these things would feature pretty heavily.
But, as we may forget, the mind is a physical place—our brain.
Our brains contain our thoughts, ideas, emotions, personalities—basically everything that makes us, well, us. Including the parts that make us writers.
There’s just something about the mind of a writer that allows for the flow of new ideas and creative turns of phrase that don’t come naturally to everyone.
So, what is it?
I’m not the only one to have asked that question—it has fascinated scientists for decades. Join me as I take a look at a few studies that tell us what it is about the mind of the writer that makes it so unique.
The Six Best Podcasts for Professional Writers
Podcasts have been around for a while, but have been really gaining momentum within the past few years. Covering anything and everything from education and music to sports and comedy — whatever you’re into, there’s most likely a podcast about it. And if you’re here, you’re probably into writing.
I’ve collected some of the best podcasts for those who make their living by writing (or aspire to). Whether you’re looking to further your career, push your writing to the next level, or just find some entertainment fit for a wordsmith, you’ll discover your podcast match-made-in-heaven below.