The Stitchery
What next?
The other day I was working with someone who had written the first full draft of a short story, and I asked how they were feeling about it. “Not great.” I asked why. “It feels…awkward. I don’t like how it sounds.” They were clearly disappointed—possibly discouraged—and I waited a beat before I responded so we…
Begin from where you are
The Opening Line Every once in a while I work with people who say, “I don’t know how to start.” They want that first line—the one that will hook someone right away, the one that will establish their authority, wisdom, empathy, and razor sharp wit. We all want people to see our genius and compassion…
Play with your words
If your work requires you to write a lot, there comes a time when you find yourself using the same words and phrases over and over again. The thesaurus becomes your best friend, until it becomes your mortal enemy, tossing up words no one would ever use in real life. So you search and search…and…
Working Thread Creative Strategy 