I was a writer when I began college, studying journalism so that I could turn writing into a career. The requirements for a major included classes one would expect - news writing and reporting, media law and ethics, etc, but one requirement seemed out of place to me until I actually took the course - Design. I obviously knew everything written for a publication has to have photos and graphics added and has to be designed onto a page, but I had assumed that was something unrelated to the role...

Writing assignments often make their best impact in a succinct form. I struggle with this at times, so have crafted a process which helps me limit my wordiness.

Begin with a brain dump

The data/information collection stage is really where I allow myself the practice of TMI (too much information.) I begin each writing assignment by taking copious notes. Whether from interviews, internet searches, or even personal knowledge, it all gets written down. I make sure to keep my notes organized to...

I think I started out life as a creative person. Most children naturally gravitate toward a specific direction from a young age, and my first creative foray was art. Asking my eight-year-old self what I wanted to be when I grew up, I would quickly answer, “Artist.” I took art classes, had loads of sketch books, worked in multiple mediums. The problem was, I wasn’t very good at it. The other problem; aspiring to be an artist doesn’t offer the guarantee of financial stability I’d need if I was...