Writing
GUIDE
1. The topic of each issue is an inspiration – not a direct instruction on what to write about!
We often get articles that have the main topic scattered across the text. Don’t do that! The topic should be a starting point to consider what you want to write about.
For example, in the “New Beginning” issue, we had texts about New Year’s speeches by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and Alexander Lukashenko, tabletop roleplaying games and storytelling, and Chinese cinema.
2. So how to choose a topic?
Go through things that interest you and think if you can find a link between any of them and the topic. It’s not another academic paper that you have to write.
It’s easier to write about stuff that you care about. That’s why our columnist Janek, who works in Amondo cinema, writes about movies, and Nat, who plays DND, often writes about that.
3. Do your research.
Even if you are an expert in a field, there is someone who knows more things than you. You want to know all the facts, from as many angles as possible. Also, being convinced that you know something doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s true so use good sources and don’t forget to verify them.
Don’t mistake this tip for “include all your sources”! Remember, it’s not an academic paper, we don’t provide the list of works cited at the end. Research isn’t connected with academia only, it concerns all means of writing and expression. If you want to quote something, add a hyperlink.
4. Establish your angle.
After a thorough research, you’ll have lots of information. You don’t want to overwhelm your readers with all that. Pick a focus of your article – an aspect that makes your text readworthy.
5. A key to success – a strong opening paragraph
Most people prefer to write the introduction when they finish the whole article – you never know what conclusions you’ll reach. However, the opening paragraph must be eye-catching and make your readers want more – it’s not the intro to an academic essay! Take the advice from Aunt Agatha Christie:
“I believe that a well-known anecdote exists to the effect that a young writer, determined to make the commencement of his story forcible and original enough to catch and rivet the attention of the most blasé of editors, penned the following sentence: “ ‘Hell!’ said the Duchess.” Strangely enough, this tale of mine opens in much the same fashion.” The first sentences of Murder on the Links
5. A key to success – a strong opening paragraph
You can always listen to Cousin Lana del Rey, who in 2019 released an album “Norman fucking Rockwell!”. The album opens with a song under the same title and it goes like that: Goddamn, man-child You fucked me so good that I almost said, "I love you"
You should write your introduction like Lana del Rey opens her albums, or like Agatha Christie the opening lines of her detective stories. You can find more examples here.
6. Consider the headline.
Think of something both informative and attractive.
7. Write a strong ending that will captivate your readers and not want to move on with their lives.
A good ending echoes the introduction and the general theme(s) of your text and it contains a final epiphany or calls readers to action. It is the last memorable detail from your text and you really want to stick the landing.
8. Edit your work carefully.
At Second Thoughts we’re professionals and nothing will surprise us BUT you can spare us the work and time and triple-check your text for grammar, idioms, and punctuation. The version you send is your showcase and must meet some standards so as to be accepted: it must be clear what the author means.
Do you imagine editing a text written in such a way that you have no idea what is the idea behind it? Or a text full of grammar mistakes? Or a text that uses the same word over and over again? Exactly.
8. Edit your work carefully.
Maybe you can find some engaging synonyms? Use a dictionary and a thesaurus. Pay attention especially to the first two or three paragraphs you wrote. Our experience is that your brain is only starting to switch on. As William Zinsser writes in On Writing Well:
8. Edit your work carefully.
Look at the clutter in your writing and prune it ruthlessly. Be grateful for everything you can throw away. Reexamine each sentence you put on paper. Is every word doing new work? Can any thought be expressed with more economy? Is anything pompous or pretentious or faddish? Are you hanging on to something useless just because you think it’s beautiful? Simplify, simplify.
Of course, it doesn’t mean you should get rid of every fancy-sounding word. The key is to find balance.