Tip of the Day: Literary Focus

Literary Focus
By Will Greenway

Focus in journalism is assumed, but many writers don't realize that it is of equal importance to fiction. In journalism, the focus is on facts and instilling knowledge. Extraneous words and ideas get in the way of the message the author is conveying. In a world of waning attention spans, the material must be catchy, evocative, and pull the reader in right away. In this media-saturated world, there are dozens of alternatives to whatever it is you are presenting. You must the hook the reader, or he will move on. This particular truth applies to ALL writing—YOUR writing.

When we consider letting others read our work, we turn our creative efforts toward polishing, and that's when focus comes into play.