Meryl's Notes Blog

I majored in RTVF (Radio, TV, film) when I was a freshman in college. It only took one or two semesters for me to realize it was not the major for me. But I picked up one valuble lesson — I started watching films in a different way after taking a RTVF class.

I paid attention to the shot angles, the zooming in and out, and the cuts. This skill works for writing, designing, and other careers. Instead of shots, designers pay attention to the use of color, styles, and space. Writers watch for …

• verb usage (avoiding “is” and “be.”
• writing mechanics
• use of conversations
• style
• use of show, don’t tell

Having written so many game reviews, I feel like I use the same verbs and descriptions when writing a new review. In trying to change things up, I went to the Thesaurus and read reviews from talented writers. It’s still a struggle, but this process helps explore new directions.