Eliminate Writer's Block With Kipling's Six Questions
1 min read
Writer's block is a problem that deserves attention. So what are the six words that can eliminate writer's block almost instantly? First, let me introduce the man behind this neat little formula.
His name is Rudyard Kipling, the Nobel Prize-winning author who is regarded as one of the great innovators of the short story. He described the six words in this short, powerful verse:
I keep six honest serving-men
(They taught me all I knew);
Their names are What and Why and When
And How and Where and Who.
If you ever get stuck while writing, think of those six words:
- What: What am I writing about? What will be included? What type of content is relevant?
- Where: Where does this take place? Where can I collect the information I need?
- When: When does it take place? When will I be finished?
- How: How did this happen? How can I collect more information on the subject?
- Why: Why did this happen? Why should I do it this way, and could I do it another way instead?
- Who: Who was responsible for this? Who can I talk to in order to get more information?
Can you see how powerful these words are? For more help getting unstuck, read how to overcome writer's block.