Here are five more writing tips for you, to help you get your stories done!
- Keep a journal to hand to write down anything you think of while away from your ‘desk’. Jot down ideas for dialogue, characters, setting, chapter headings… that way you won’t forget these great ideas!
- Going on from that, be observant. Look out for tips from real life. Snatches of conversation you hear on the bus, the way a child shrinks from a stranger, the joy as a dog runs up to its owner… the grinding of the brakes on the bus… it’s all useful for a writer.
- Use strong words. Keep a thesaurus to hand. Did your character walk into a room? Could they run, skip, sidle or creep instead?
- Avoid adverbs most of the time. Find a show-not-tell way of bringing life into the action if you can.
- Don’t have too many characters, especially similar ones – it can get confusing. Confused readers tend to put the book down, and may not pick it back up.
I trust these will help you with your current work-in-progress. Let me know which one resonates most with you!
Every blessing on your week,
Janet