I Write Like I Play Scrabble
I write like I play Scrabble: A feature story is only as good as the interview that precedes it, like a game is only as good as the letters you draw. But you have to make the best of what you have whether you’re playing Scrabble or writing a story.
I write like I play Scrabble: I think fast and look for good openings. I score best with small compact words that build off each other. Less is best with writing too. The 7 word Scrabble BINGOS come slowly and only after I have a back-up play ready to go. They add points and excitement like a good poetic sentence can make a piece better but is secondary to telling a cohesive story.
I write like I play Scrabble: Those first few plays should be good ones because they set the tone of the game in the same way the first few sentences set up a story. Endings are important too and I plan for them early. Whether playing Scrabble or writing, you don’t want to get stuck with any high scoring letters that should be on the board.
I write like I play Scrabble: When writing a story, the mix of good quotes with descriptions and background information is like having a good blend of vowels and consonants, blanks and S’s to work with.
I write like I play Scrabble: Every word counts. When my confidence waivers, I remember my motto “just play your game.” It works whether playing or writing.
I write like I play Scrabble: When someone I’ve written about gets in touch with me later to thank me and say I got it right, that’s the real BINGO for a writer. And when a check comes in the mail for something I’ve written, it feels a lot like winning a game.
Post note: My posts on writing are HERE. Scrabble archive is HERE.
June 4th, 2010 5:08 pm
Bingo? Isn’t that a mixed metaphor….;-)
June 4th, 2010 5:11 pm
I always called them SCRABBLES but Mara convinced me they were BINGOS. Either way I changed the line a little to try to clarify it.
June 4th, 2010 9:11 pm
I LOVE this post Colleen. This is a great ‘essay’, to me. And says so much about you in such a clear and wonderful way….Lovely, Lovely, Lovely, my dear!
June 4th, 2010 9:20 pm
Thank you, Naomi. You are the sweetest and your opinion means a lot to me.
June 5th, 2010 1:42 am
I love it when I read something like this that makes me want to sit and write for a while. One day I will have a check in the mail for something I have written.
June 5th, 2010 1:42 am
This was really good. You’ve articulated the components of good writing and Scrabble-playing. I especially like what you said about beginnings and endings being most important. My short stories often are written that way — I know how I want the story to begin and how it should end; from there, it’s just a matter of making the middle interesting and believable. Thanks! Annie
June 5th, 2010 2:01 am
There’s something to the whole strategy thing. My sister and her friend always beat me at scrabble. Hmm???? Now I’m pretty sure I could beat them at writing it that was a game.
I won’t challenge them, but I will consider my strategies a bit more while still allowing it all to unfold as it may.
June 5th, 2010 2:06 am
Points about good writing from a good writer (and good scrabble player!)…nice!
June 5th, 2010 7:48 am
Love the metaphor here. It always surprises me how we approach so many different tasks..in the exact same way. You must be a beautiful scrabble player..because you write beautifully!!
June 5th, 2010 7:53 am
Love it, Colleen. And come to think of it, bingo IS a mixed metaphor. But that is what the scrabble people decided to name it! I wonder what you would write if you were writing like you play Apples to Apples… 🙂
June 5th, 2010 8:08 am
Wonderful similes.
June 5th, 2010 9:28 am
[…] Loose Leaf Notes » Blog Archive » I Write Like I Play Scrabble […]
June 5th, 2010 9:31 am
Nice essay on writing and playing with the line, “I like to play scrabble.” Stopped by because I saw you had been visited from Tanya’s meet-n-greet. It’s good to visit.
June 5th, 2010 12:35 pm
yep, gotta work with what you’re dealt. And the score reversed in a single gesture on either side.
In writing and scrabble I like happenstance and density. I don’t write and play scrabble alike. I write fast and play scrabble maddeningly slowly which is why scrabble on FB over a few weeks is good.
I agree. Connecting on the same wavelength is the best bingo.
June 5th, 2010 7:17 pm
This is really good! I used to be a Scrabble player when I was in high school.
It’s nice to be back here visiting your blog after being away due to final exams.
June 7th, 2010 11:27 am
good advice from a good writer, thanks for the tips – the check is in the mail…
March 12th, 2014 11:39 pm
[…] 5. I write like I play Scrabble: Those first few plays should be good ones because they set the tone of the game in the same way the first few sentences set up a story. Endings are important too and I plan for them early. Whether playing Scrabble or writing, I don’t want to get stuck with any high scoring letters that should be on the board. ~ More on how I write like I play Scrabble HERE. […]