15 key questions to help writers get back on track

Your writer is stuck. The piece seems hopeless.

How can you get them unstuck? Probably by asking a question.

It’s best to ask these questions in a conversation, in person or on the phone, rather than in editorial comments. That leads to a dialogue. It makes the writer think—and that leads to solutions to writing problems.

So, here’s a list. Keep these in your back pocket—choose to suit the writer, the problem and the deadline.

You might even ask them of yourself when you feel daunted.

1. What’s the main idea here?

Keep asking until you get a clear, simple statement. Then make that the theme and thread of the piece; suggest removing unconnected themes and putting them into a different document.

2. What the best order for these three (four, five, six) ideas?

Sometimes rearranging things shakes up the writer’s ideas and makes them fit together better.

3. I like this story. What would happen if we started with it?

Starting with a story engages readers. Then step back and explain what it means and why it’s important.

4. Who is this for?

Confusion about audience leads to confused prose. Clarify that, and a lot of other problems may disappear.

5. If this piece was half as long, what would you keep?