Hannah Aster, Author at Shortform Books

Will Humans Move to Another Planet? Hawking’s Take

When resources run out on Earth, will humans move to another planet? Should they? What did famed theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking think? In his final book Brief Answers to the Big Questions, Stephen Hawking discusses space colonization. His conclusion was that humans need to colonize outer space because humans are running out of space on Earth, and because humans are at risk for extinction otherwise. Here’s why Hawking said humans should colonize space.

The 4 Rules for Consistent Writing

Do you struggle to keep consistent as you write? What are some things to consider to ensure your writing is consistent in terms of tone, argument, point of view, and tense? If you want to maintain consistency in your writing, you need to ask yourself these four guiding questions: What’s the main idea? What point of view will you use? What tense will you use? And what tone will you have? You must make these decisions ahead of time so you don’t lose focus part-way through. Here’s how to maintain consistency while writing.

How to Steal Like an Artist: 4 Steps to Boost Creativity

Want to know how to steal like an artist? What steps can you follow to increase your creativity and start creating art? Steal Like an Artist is a brief primer on Austin Kleon’s top 10 pieces of advice for aspiring creatives. We’ve reorganized his 10 ideas into a four-step creative process beginning with the first step: organizing your life for maximum creativity. Here’s how to steal like an artist, according to Austin Kleon.

How to Conduct a Good Interview: Tips for Writers

How can an interview bump up your nonfiction writing? What are the dos and don’ts of a good interview? When writing nonfiction, incorporating quotes and perspectives from other people can bump up the piece by adding engagement, emotional appeal, and humanity. However, there are some things you need to keep in mind when writing an interview. Here’s how to conduct a good interview, with tips from American writer William Zinsser.

Are We Still Evolving? Yes—Perhaps Faster Than Ever

Are we still evolving as humans? Why did Stephen Hawking predict that human evolution will soon accelerate? Before he passed away, Stephen Hawking wrote that he believed humans were going to soon enter a new stage of evolution. Hawking believed that humans will move past the slow, Darwinian evolution phase and will speed up their evolution through genetic engineering. We may even become superhumans one day. Here’s what Hawking had to say about the future of evolution.

How to Set Your Tone of Voice in Writing

What does tone of voice in writing mean? How do different tones of voice convey different feelings? Choosing what tone to use in your writing is an important decision. Depending on what tone you choose, your writing can convey different feelings and meanings. Additionally, make sure you remain consistent with the tone you choose. Here’s why your tone of voice matters so much.

How to Choose a Correct Writing Tense

What tense should you write in? What are some things to consider when choosing which tense to use? The two most common writing tenses are present and past. The tenses help your reader situate themselves in the timeline of events, so make sure to choose the right one. Here’s how to decide which tense you should use in your writing.

Steal Like An Artist: Quotes to Inspire You

Are you looking for Steal Like an Artist quotes from Austin Kleon? How can these quotes help you create better art? In Steal Like an Artist, Austin Kleon (a self-described “writer who draws”) shares his tips for maximizing your creativity, finding inspiration, breaking out of a creative rut, and connecting with other people doing exciting work. His advice applies to anyone who uses creative thinking in their work, not just to artists in the traditional sense. Here are the top Steal Like an Artist quotes with explanations.

Writing a Second Draft: Polish Your Work

Do you feel discouraged when your first draft doesn’t come out perfect? Do you feel like you’ve failed if you need to write a second draft? Having to write a second draft doesn’t mean you’ve failed. In fact, the best writers revisit their works many times. Writing a second draft is how you find cluttered writing, clarify your ideas, and simplify your sentences. Here’s why you should embrace rewriting.

Colonize the Moon? Stephen Hawking’s Argument

Is it possible to colonize the moon? How could it be done? Famous theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking thinks that, not only can we colonize the moon, but that we should. Hawking said in his book Brief Answers to the Big Questions that humans are quickly outgrowing Earth, and they need to colonize outer space or they will go extinct. Here’s how moon colonization could work.