Ten Writing Tips
These are some of the most helpful writing tips I've gathered throughout the years. You've probably read many of these before, but they're well worth repeating. Of course, there are exceptions to every rule, but these are handy to keep in mind while working on your current project.
- Write your story straight through without editing as you go along. Leave your story alone for a couple of weeks, then go back and edit. This does wonders in helping to spot errors, breaks in rhythm, and other problems. This cooling off period is essential.
- Use specific images so readers can actually see, hear, feel, taste and smell what's going on. Okay: "It smelled bad." Better: "It smelled like sour milk." Okay: "He was old." Better: "His face was lean and shriveled, like an apple too long in the barrel."
- Avoid using many cliche's. (Hard as a rock, thin as a rail, sick at heart, etc.) Make your writing your own.
- Avoid heavy sprinkling of these overused words: Just, even, like, also, although, besides, almost, maybe, and, if, but, too, unless, sort of, that.
- Try not to use: Appears, seems, as though, seemed like, seemed as though. These make your story weak and unreal.
- Stay away from "suddenly" and similar words. "Suddenly there was a gunshot!" This only expresses a thought. Try to impress, not express.
- Try eliminating these "to be" verbs: is, am, was, were, are, will, be. Add commas as needed and/or turn sentence around to make it stronger.
- Be simple and clear. Avoid long sentences, long words, long speeches. Readers tend to skip over these.
- Grab your reader with the very first paragraph of your story. Better yet, capture their attention in the first sentence. It's said that you have just three seconds to hook the reader, so make every word count.
- Don't let your characters sit and think too much. Show thoughts through action, such as a smile, a frown, a sigh, throwing a glass at a mirror, etc. The more you have your characters interact, the more you keep your reader interested.
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Submitted to INSIDERinfo by Kelly Wallace