#15 — No sentence variation Sometimes, sentences start to stack up. When that happens, they can feel as if they’re too similar to each other. In those spots, it’s good to check how those sentences differ. Because if you’re not careful, they can all sound the same and feel bland. See what I mean? I’ve … More Common writer mistakes #15
We’ve all heard the saying show, don’t tell. Even as I edit, I find instances where I need to point that out. However, telling does have a purpose. It’s about how it’s used. And perhaps understanding it more will help writers know when and when not to use it. There are two main concepts where … More When to tell instead of show
There are many POVs with questions surrounding all of them. I want to break them all down and discuss the biggest concerns in different posts. Today, I’ll talk about 3rd person POV. 3RD PERSON 3rd person has the most variety out of all POVs. There are three types: 3rd omniscient, 3rd objective, and 3rd limited. … More POV talk: 3rd person
There are many POVs with questions surrounding them. I want to break them all down and discuss the biggest concerns in different posts. Today, I’ll talk about 2nd person POV. 2ND PERSON 2nd person is one of my favorite POVs to read. When it’s done well, it creates a powerful story. It addresses the readers … More POV talk: 2nd person
There are many POVs with questions surrounding them. I want to break them all down and discuss the biggest concerns in different posts. Today, I’ll talk about 1st person POV. 1st person 1st person is intimate between the reader and the main character (MC). You get front row seats through the MC’s eyes. It also … More POV talk: 1st person
#6 — Unnecessary details The plot is coming along. We’re getting to an important moment—but wait! I forgot to mention something. Let me write it down, because it’s important. But now the reader is wondering why I stopped the story to describe something in the middle of the chapter. As a writer myself, I get … More Common Writer Mistakes #6
Author bios can seem difficult. It’s impossible to narrow a person down to a few sentences. But writers also do the impossible all the time. My experience with this is limited to Submittable. Most places ask for a bio between three to five sentences long. Bios are simple and can have a bit of creativity involved. … More How to write an author bio for submissions
#3 — Repeating words for emphasis In some cases, repeating words helps. “Please, Elie,” I begged. “You have to do this. You know how much it means to me. Please.” Notice how please repeats? It doesn’t overdo the dialogue since they’re separated out. It feels smooth. On the other hand, I’ve seen writers use the word … More Common Writer Mistakes #3
#2 — Vagueness for tension A novel I edited once kept saying him and his death for about twenty pages before actually explaining who he was. Instead of feeling a sense of curiosity, I was confused. I kept wondering who he was and why he mattered. I’ve run across this type of vagueness before. Some … More Common Writer Mistakes #2
#1 — Using multiple adjectives “The house on the hill was old, broken, and abandoned. I always passed it on my way home. It stared back at me with its empty, death-glaring, sick eyes.” Adjectives help, but too many of them back-to-back can weigh down a story. It sounds more like a bumpy ride on … More Common Writer Mistakes #1
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