Learning how to write on Typetrigger

In the past five months, I have read almost every piece of writing on Typetrigger, and I have written a few dozen. I knew that the tool of Typetrigger would be a good chance for me to tighten my writing, but I didn't know what particular lessons I would learn along the way. Every day I realize something new about writing and about my expectations as a reader. We at Typetrigger want everyone to make their own discoveries through participating, but we also think there is so much we can share with one another so that we who write here (and elsewhere) can continue to improve our work.

So what have you learned? Or how do things you already knew come into play on Typetrigger? What are the strengths of the word limit? How do you apply what you do in short form to longer form work? Are there lessons that translate? We would love to hear from writers and readers about what you have learned or relearned on Typetrigger. In the coming months we will work on ways to spread these tips so that newcomers and old hands alike can benefit. Email us {info (at) typetrigger (dot) com}, comment here, or start a discussion on this blog.

Comments

[yummycatt]

I've learned how to write right here at typetrigger, coming here has changed my life. Literally.
The prompts are a great way to prod my brain, and the possibilities become endless. When I first started writing here I thought I 'had' to include the prompt exactly as written, but as I spent more time here, finding wonderful writers everywhere I looked, I realized the prompt/trigger was just that; a prompt, a trigger, a nudge to the squishy frontal lobe, and I could go anywhere I wanted with that little nudge of 4 words or less.
It's amazing to be able to find new writers to read and learn from, and typetrigger has encouraged me to branch out and stretch my writing-muscles and try different styles and genres.
Whenever I write, which is at least once a day, I always make sure to click on the recent triggers so I can find new writers to follow, and from there, I see who those writers are reading, who is reading their writing, and so on.
The 300 word limit is a great tool for me, and the word count being right there in front of me as I write helps me to tighten up what I'm writing, for example, if I'm writing a fiction piece, I know approximately how long I have to compose a beginning, middle, and ending.
I'd like to say I can't find the right words to describe how amazing typetrigger is, but from the length of this comment, that would be a lie. Perhaps it would be more appropriate to say there aren't enough words in the English language to describe how amazing typetrigger is.
And with that thought, I'm off to write some more, besides, I'm just about to reach that 300 word limit.
Thank you for existing!!!

[BK]

I've started many, many pieces of writing and truly completed probably a small handful. In publishing 300 words that I cannot change, I am continually forced through the entire writing process, so if I'm writing standalone pieces, I get a lot of practice writing endings and editing, things I typically ignore. Being a rambIin' man, I agree that the Typetrigger format is a great exercise in concision and clarity. Another plus for me is the opportunity to experiment without feeling obligated to write it to death, it's just 300 words, and then I'm free to try something else.

Mostly I just enjoy being flooded with such a rich variety of reading material.

[HappyCat]

I've been using TypeTrigger to keep me practicing and exploring writing. I started using 750words.com in November and I love it, but I mostly use it as a journal/mind dump. With TypeTrigger, I've been writing a lot of fiction. I find both your site and 750words very useful, but the triggers are wonderful for forcing me to think of a way to use at least the basic of idea of the prompt in a story.

I've mostly been using the word limit as a goal to get close to before stopping. I save all my pieces in Evernote (note taking software) and group together anything with reoccurring characters. If I hit 300 words, it's okay as I have my account set to private (so no one is reading something unfinished) and I go and finish up what I'm writing in Evernote. If I get comfortable enough to share my work, I'll switch to seeing it as a limit instead of a goal..

[philosophical_zombie]

I've learned (or rather, I've confirmed what I already knew) that JUST DOING IT is half the battle. That's why these 300-word, bitesize efforts are great, because it doesn't take a long time to create something, and it's great discipline and practice.

Staring at a blank screen is terrifying and uncomfortable, and all too often I would just give up rather than push on through. But having just the small incentive of knowing that other people can immediately read (and maybe even "like") your work provides the extra motivation to make the effort.

It's kind of a leap of faith sometimes. Often when I start to bang out the first few words here, I have no idea where I'm going, or whether I'll even be able to finish. But it's really uplifting when that indefinable "something" happens and you find yourself on the back end of 300 not-too-bad words. Yeah, there's a lot of false starts, and I don't always publish what I write, but the fact that occasionally I can produce something that other people enjoy is such a great encouragement to keep trying.

Love the site. And love reading a lot of the great stuff on here.

[turtledove]

For me, the word limit is both a discipline and a freedom. I usually go with the basic fictional arc. But having such a tight space in which to work lets me wander away from that approach if I'm stuck, and to try something different.

And of course, having to make every syllable count, challenging yourself to bring something to life with fewer words than you otherwise might use in a paragraph . . . that's golden.

As a bonus, after posting a response I end up with something that, since it's already been fairly well thought out, I can more easily expand down the road. Haven't done much of that so far, though. For now, I'm consistently amazed by how much territory we're all able to cover in just 300 words.