INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Once you have completed a draft of the story in the first person, read it out loud. Listen to how each sentence sounds in the narrative. Notice if you repeat “I” too often or in every sentence. Pay attention to the voice of the first person narrator and note if it feels consistent throughout the piece. You should also pay attention to the tense in the story. Make sure the story does not shift from present to past tense or vice versa. It should stay in the same tense the entire time. As you polish and revise the story, make sure your word choice and language is strong. Look for any words that you can replace with more unique terms. Check for any language that does not feel as clear or concise as it could be. Make sure your word choice and language suit the first person narrator in the story. You should show your draft to others and get their feedback. Ask friends and peers to read the first person narrative. Have them give you feedback and apply their critiques to the story to make it stronger. You may also show the story to a writing group to get their criticisms and critiques. Be open to the feedback of others and use it to improve the first person narrator in your story.

SUMMARY: Read the piece out loud. Tighten up the word choice and language. Show the piece to others.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Avoid dropping hints and waiting around for him to invite you out – you might give off the signal that you want to be romantically pursued. Instead, mention the idea of hanging out as friends as soon as you’re ready to. Exhibit confidence to show that you’re totally comfortable with the idea of hanging out.  Try rooting your request in the fact that you already get along well: “I’m so glad we became friends otherwise this class would be unbearable! I know our schedules won’t line up after exam week, but I was wondering if you’d want to catch up sometime next term?” When you’re the person introducing the topic, you can direct it safely into friend territory. If you don’t give off any signs of awkwardness, he shouldn’t have any reason to feel uncomfortable about the idea of getting together either. But if you’re timid about it, both of you will sense that there’s something wrong with the whole idea. The best way to avoid ambiguity is to be upfront about your intentions. Within the first 1 or 2 sentences of your conversation or text message, say specifically that it’s not a date. Drop this line in before he has a chance to agree to your suggestion: “Hey, did you want to go to that concert? Just as friends, I mean?” or “Would you want to go to my roommate’s birthday thing with me – not as a date, but as friends?”  If your guy friend happened to invite you out via text, and you can’t tell if he wants a date or not, reply with something like this: “Yeah, rock climbing sounds great! Just to be clear, I’m not looking to date but I like hanging out with new friends.”  If his reply shows that he totally agrees with the just-friends thing, or even that he’s relieved that you've gotten that awkward topic out of the way, you’re in the clear. If you’re unsure about a 1-on-1 hangout, start off by socializing in a group. Ask him if he wants to tag along with you and your work buddies for happy hour, or invite everyone from your mutual friend group out for a movie night. Try to arrange a balanced group with a mix of guys and girls as well as singles and couples.  He’ll probably be more comfortable if there are other guys in the group and you’ll both appreciate it if you’re not stuck with only romantic couples. If you’re texting, specify in your initial message that the group you’re going with is “a group of friends.” Ask “Want to join us?” instead of “Want to join me?” so he gets the idea. This is a good way to put less pressure on your guy friend and your friendship overall: his response will be an acceptance or refusal the activity itself, not of you as a friend. Try asking something like, “Hey, I was planning to grab a quick bite after class, want to come along?” or “If you like jazz you should totally come to see my brother’s show on Saturday! I was just going to go by myself, but he gave me an extra ticket in case I wanted to bring a friend.” This works great if you’d like him to tag along on a group outing, but you can also try asking for something you’d otherwise be doing alone. Refrain from suggesting any place that has a romantic connotation. Steer clear of swanky restaurants, sultry cocktail bars, and even your local ice cream parlor if it has a reputation as a cute first-date spot. Similarly, avoid hanging out in a private place like your apartment. Instead, stick to public places such as family-friendly venues or big-group environments. Pick activities that reflect your shared interests, and prioritize going out during the day, rather than at night, to keep the atmosphere light and fun.  Try an outdoorsy adventure or tour a historic site if you’re both history buffs. If you want to meet up for drinks or a bite to eat, pick a low-key dive bar or a casual sports bar with an upbeat energy. You should have already told him that it’s not a date, but you still need to address the topic of who pays for what. Tell him that you’d like it if you each buy your own ticket, split the bill in half, or that you’ll cover it and he can transfer you his share of the fee later.  By working out an agreement ahead of time, you won’t encounter any is-it-a-date awkwardness when it’s time to pay. Don’t expect him to pick up the tab. Even if he wants to be a gentleman and pay for you, politely decline the offer. Similarly, don’t expect him to go out of his way to give you a ride to your meetup spot. If carpooling makes the most sense, go for it. Otherwise, be prepared to get there and get home by yourself. Feel free to shoot over a simple text confirming the plan: “So I’ll meet you there at 7, and we can split it halfway, right?”

SUMMARY:
Bring up the topic of hanging out first so you can steer the conversation. State clearly that it’s not a date. Invite him to go out with you in a group setting. Ask him if he wants to join in on something you’re already doing. Avoid going out to romantic date spots together. Let him know in advance that you’ll each pay your own way.