To Write Better, Focus on Structure, Not Style.
Writing is difficult to understand. Good writing is self-evident, but there may not be a reason why it’s good. While an interesting style or clever turn of phrase can make a line stand out, the structure of what you write is what makes a piece powerful.
As Andrew Kevin Walker, writer of the blockbuster Seven , explains, structure is what gives a piece of flow. It connects the beginning, middle and end. Structure gives everything a theme, regardless of the style in which it is presented. This might apply to compelling essays, satirical works, or Hollywood films:
Knowing where you are going is key. If not, how do you know what your topic is? How can you foreshadow something? When you know what your ending is, then you know what you are writing. This may change as you write, but I really feel like you have to have “true north” that you are heading towards, and that “true north” is your ending. You don’t need to know all the details. With the Seven, I always knew there would be seven fatal murders. This was its structure. A good cop will end up being “angry.” This gave me a skeleton on which to build the spine of the story.
The structure is harder to identify because if you do it right it will become invisible. Everyone can see that the main element of the letter is the offer. Not everyone can grasp the three-act structure or notice the subtle themes that guide your writing. However, the details of your structure are what gives your writing meaning.
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