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Taking Your Article from Meh to Bravo
A guide to transforming a good story into a better story. How to use perspective to spark inspiration.
Your ingenious idea has morphed into an article that falls pathetically short of the miraculous prose for which you were aiming. Hang your head in despair, cry in agony, scream and curse like an angry sailor, or grab a spoon and dig into a pint of ice cream.
Do whatever you must do to vent your frustrations. Now that your head is clearer, let’s get to work on fixing that article of yours.
In order to fix the problem, you must first find the problem. Perspective is the perfect diagnostic tool for the job if you know how to wield its power of detection.
Become the Reader Instead of the Writer
Read your story out loud. Stumbling over a phrase or sentence uncovers awkward wording and areas that don’t flow properly.
The effectiveness of this trick amazes me. No matter how many times I read the article in my head without turning on a single cranial light bulb, saying the words out loud will light up my brain.
Once the problem areas are illuminated, the repair is often obvious. Adjust, rinse and repeat.
