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| Photo by Eileen Pan on Unsplash |
Hello, and welcome to my blog.
Today, I want to share some important tips that helped me. I have limited it to 10 useful pearls, so this is brief. If you have a tip to share, please leave a comment. This list is not all- inclusive. And I don't consider these rules. When I started doing fewer of these things, a publisher noticed my work.
1. Write concise sentences. Don’t stack the adjectives.
Here’s an example of stacking. Her father has a long, pointed, frizzy, red beard and a large, scarred, crooked nose. There is too much at once. If the details are important, sprinkle it into more sentences.
Consider the following. Her father has a pointed beard and a crooked nose. Specific details are better than a list of descriptions. They help the reader remember the character.
2. Use strong verbs and omit most adverbs to form stronger sentences.
Consider this sentence. Devon walked slowly across the room. What does walking slowly look like? Did Devon tiptoe or slink? Describing how he walked will improve the prose. Not all adverbs must go. Study the line in question and try to improve it with a stronger verb. I limit my adverbs to one or two in a chapter, if that.
3. Describe and resist explaining the interesting parts of a story. When we explain, we slip into telling. When we describe, we show. Most writers have heard the saying show don’t tell. One way to check for telling is imagine yourself doing whatever your character is doing. If you can do it, you’re showing.
Adverbs tend to tell instead of show. Consider this dialogue.
“I can’t go,” she said, sadly.
Let’s see her pain.
She lowered her head and swiped a runaway tear. “I can’t go.”
Now the reader can see a sad woman.
4. Save telling for the boring parts and make it quick. If your character takes a bath, don’t include the details unless something exciting happens. That goes for house chores, travel, and anything a reader can imagine without help. No one cares about the soap unless it's laced with poison.
5. End scenes with the point-of-view character experiencing a different emotion than at the beginning. If she was carefree, give her something to worry about. Maybe she realizes the man she loves is married to the sister she hasn't seen in ten years. The changes we create drive the plot. Readers need a reason to turn the page.
6. Avoid unnecessary words that add nothing important. Cut words like just, very, that, rather, quite, and seem unless you’re using them in dialogue to make a point. Even then, double check. Google crutch words in writing. Look for them in your story by using the word processor search box. Cut, cut, cut. Long, confusing sentences drag the pace.
7. Ask yourself how you can make your story more interesting. Maybe cats have wings in your novel. Perhaps butterflies bite and spread disease. Anything goes. It’s your story.
8. Read to become a better writer. Learn to recognize good and bad writing. The best writers I know read several novels a year.
9. Leave your readers with an impression. Your fans may not remember everything in your story, but they will recall how it made them feel.
10. Connect with other writers. Go to conferences in person or online. Join writing critique groups. Try to find groups with published writers who mentor others. Learn from others.
· Bonus tip: Keep writing if you like to. Don’t let anyone convince you to stop. While some people have more talent than others, perseverance counts. If you want your work published, keep trying.
If you like my blog, visit me again or leave a positive comment. I’d love to hear from you.
1. Write concise sentences. Don’t stack the adjectives.
Here’s an example of stacking. Her father has a long, pointed, frizzy, red beard and a large, scarred, crooked nose. There is too much at once. If the details are important, sprinkle it into more sentences.
Consider the following. Her father has a pointed beard and a crooked nose. Specific details are better than a list of descriptions. They help the reader remember the character.
2. Use strong verbs and omit most adverbs to form stronger sentences.
Consider this sentence. Devon walked slowly across the room. What does walking slowly look like? Did Devon tiptoe or slink? Describing how he walked will improve the prose. Not all adverbs must go. Study the line in question and try to improve it with a stronger verb. I limit my adverbs to one or two in a chapter, if that.
3. Describe and resist explaining the interesting parts of a story. When we explain, we slip into telling. When we describe, we show. Most writers have heard the saying show don’t tell. One way to check for telling is imagine yourself doing whatever your character is doing. If you can do it, you’re showing.
Adverbs tend to tell instead of show. Consider this dialogue.
“I can’t go,” she said, sadly.
Let’s see her pain.
She lowered her head and swiped a runaway tear. “I can’t go.”
Now the reader can see a sad woman.
4. Save telling for the boring parts and make it quick. If your character takes a bath, don’t include the details unless something exciting happens. That goes for house chores, travel, and anything a reader can imagine without help. No one cares about the soap unless it's laced with poison.
5. End scenes with the point-of-view character experiencing a different emotion than at the beginning. If she was carefree, give her something to worry about. Maybe she realizes the man she loves is married to the sister she hasn't seen in ten years. The changes we create drive the plot. Readers need a reason to turn the page.
6. Avoid unnecessary words that add nothing important. Cut words like just, very, that, rather, quite, and seem unless you’re using them in dialogue to make a point. Even then, double check. Google crutch words in writing. Look for them in your story by using the word processor search box. Cut, cut, cut. Long, confusing sentences drag the pace.
7. Ask yourself how you can make your story more interesting. Maybe cats have wings in your novel. Perhaps butterflies bite and spread disease. Anything goes. It’s your story.
8. Read to become a better writer. Learn to recognize good and bad writing. The best writers I know read several novels a year.
9. Leave your readers with an impression. Your fans may not remember everything in your story, but they will recall how it made them feel.
10. Connect with other writers. Go to conferences in person or online. Join writing critique groups. Try to find groups with published writers who mentor others. Learn from others.
· Bonus tip: Keep writing if you like to. Don’t let anyone convince you to stop. While some people have more talent than others, perseverance counts. If you want your work published, keep trying.
If you like my blog, visit me again or leave a positive comment. I’d love to hear from you.
