Tag Archives: writing tools

Writing Tool: 750words.com

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Here’s a site for you if you’re looking for an online writing tool. Try out 750words.com

750words.com

750words.com

Sign up, and commit to doing 750 words per day (hence the site name). I think the site is best suited for brainstorming, freewriting, and similar writing exercises. Here are a few neat features that make it a useful creative writing tool.

  1. It automatically saves your work and tracks your word count.
  2. It keeps metadata on your writing, which can give you a little feedback on the tone and word usage. For example, my descriptions so far tend to be centered around touch and sight, but not much on hearing.
  3. It tracks your score and your “streak,” how many days you’ve made your 750 word goal.
  4. It tracks metadata. I use this to track entries my my characters. I find writing in their voice useful in finding out who they are and what they want. To do that, enter the label (in my case the character name) in all caps followed by a colon.

The site is really easy to use, and it’s pretty useful as writing tools go. It also has the benefit of being pretty fun, so you’ll enjoy going back every day to get those 750 words!

Story Structure

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In this article, Larry Brooks discusses writing from an outline vs. writing from the seat of your pants. His argument is that both are feasible, providing you have your story architecture in mind. Unfortunately, although the article was good, he didn’t explain what he means by story architecture or how to develop one.

Which got me to wondering, what exactly does he mean by “story architecture,” and how does a writer know she has one?

I did some digging on his site and found this page, where he does a ten part series on story structure. Here are the 4 parts he uses, but I’ll leave it to you to head over to his site to read through the whole series.

  1. Set up: Establish the stakes
  2. Response: React to the problem
  3. Attack: Main character begins to fix things
  4. Resolution

Channel 101 also has an interesting article about story structure. If you’re familiar with Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey, then some of Dan Harmon’s stuff will sound familiar to you. Dan says there are eight steps you need to cover. I like this description best because his descriptions are great, yet succinct. Definitely head over and read these now; I’ll wait.

  1. You
  2. Need
  3. Go
  4. Search
  5. Find
  6. Take
  7. Return
  8. Change

You might be more comfortable with the three act structure, described here.

  1. Setup
  2. Confrontation
  3. Resolution

I’m sure you’re picking up on the theme here. Whether you know the whole layout before you start writing, or if you write it and then rework it later, your story will probably follow this basic pattern.

  1. Setup: Introduce the character and setup the situation
  2. Conflict: The character has a problem, tries to fix things, often makes matters worse, and eventually gets it right. Or not.
  3. Resolution: Wrap up loose ends, answer lingering questions, etc.

Of course, if you’re writing something that’s non-traditional, then your story might not follow this, and that’s cool too. Write what you want. As long as it works, do it, I say.