Rebecca Ashby

Writer’s Block



Posted: Friday, January 18, 2008

by Rebecca Ashby
http://www.rmashby.com

If you're experiencing this phenomenon, you're not alone. I find that when my passions are aroused by a subject, the words just flow through me; I can only write about those subjects that spur me to action! "Actions speak louder than words." In order to have your story come alive, you must shift your voice from passive to active. By that I mean you have to work with the premise of "be-do-have." You conceive the idea, seek out the experience and then write about it. Would you rather read an intellectual synopsis of what it could feel like to go skydiving or instead experience it through the eyes of one who has done it?

I think, we, as creative individuals who choose to make a difference in the world through our words must look more fully into engaging in a balanced existence ourselves. It's all too easy for us to sit at our laptops and just write words. We're already good at that. The trick is to make those words come alive for our reader, to write the kind of piece that entices people to join us in our adventure!

Today, in the world of internet journalism, the peruser tends to scan, not read. We must devise a hook and it better be sooner not later in our text. How many times have you scanned the first paragraph of an article and been deadened by the experience? Then, feeling ever so blas, moved on to greener pastures.. Every article, no matter its length, must be a cohesive whole. Like a well written play or spectacular song lyrics, we have to repeat the hook several times within the framework of our article. After all, we are inventing a whole new genre, a fast paced series of short articles coined a blog.

So here's a challenge for all of us would be journalists. "Actions speak louder than words." Get out there and live your lives. Write about your experiences. This genre is not the research world of academia. Seize the day!

Rebecca Ashby has spent the last thirty years teaching English and Communication Arts.  She is now retired from the teaching profession and is working on her memoirs.  You can see her other articles at

www.rmashby.com   www.harvray.com 

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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)
» left by James P Krehbiel
 4 years 116 days ago.
124 fans.
Rebecca, Nicely stated. I love writing and sometimes ideas flow easier than at other moments. Be well!
» left by 4 years 115 days ago.
Thanks for the heads up!
» left by dr s dhillon from USA 4 years 65 days ago.
Any suggestion on publishers who pay royalty. Have you published a book with such publishers, please share your experience! Thanks.
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