Most writers are fairly good at writing descriptions of places and characters. Their better than average vocabulary and love of word play usually result in interesting paragraphs that give the reader a good idea of what a location or the protagonist look like. Unfortunately, most of those descriptions also tell rather than show. Places OneContinue reading “Show Don’t Tell in Your Story’s Descriptions”
Category Archives: Craft of Writing
Avoid Here-to-There Action in Storytelling
If your story feels like it’s dragging, you may want to look at what “action” is provided to readers. You might be giving too many “here-to-there” steps. Here-to-there actions occur when the writer over-describes interim steps between actions that really matter to the plot. For example, if the story’s hero jumps into his car to chaseContinue reading “Avoid Here-to-There Action in Storytelling”
8 Basic Ways to Improve Your Writing Style
6 Secrets to Creating and Sustaining Suspense
How can you create and maintain suspense in your fiction story? Here are six great tips: • How to create suspense in your story • Use reversals to increase suspense in story • Give readers sleepless nights with narrative drive • Maintain sense of tension through pace • Make story interesting by establishing stakes • Maintain tone by avoiding subjective tension Continue reading “6 Secrets to Creating and Sustaining Suspense”
Show Rather Than Tell the Backstory
Among the major errors some novice writers make is waiting to tell readers a story. Those writers begin their tale with lots of background information, such as the main character’s personality, where that character lives, what she does for a job, who are the members of her family, and so on. They believe that readers needContinue reading “Show Rather Than Tell the Backstory”
Utilize Literary Dream Device with Caution
The purpose of our nightly dreams remains unclear, for they appear to be void of any consistent meaning. In literature, however, dreams are quite the opposite. Chock full of symbolism, they can help define the character and advance the plot by foreshadowing events. This device in fiction is known as a literary dream. For a literary dream toContinue reading “Utilize Literary Dream Device with Caution”
Give Your Story Oomph! with Narrative Drive
Ever read a story before bed and find it so gripping that you stay up far later than you should just to find out what is going to happen? If so, you’ve been a “victim” of narrative drive. Narrative drive is the force that makes a reader feel that something is about to happen. The moreContinue reading “Give Your Story Oomph! with Narrative Drive”
Liven Up Your Writing: Replace Overused Verbs
Even when using active verbs, sentences still may sound flat. More than likely, those active verbs are also overused. An overused verb is one that’s commonplace and dull. Among the many active verbs that tend to be overused in our daily language and writing are sat, looked for, felt, enjoy, gave, and became. Using such commonplaceContinue reading “Liven Up Your Writing: Replace Overused Verbs”