Tricks for Writers on more colorful writing, improving structure, finding the right words, rewriting and correcting, stylistic tricks, the reader's trance and more. So, you want to be a writer. You feel it in your blood. When you have an idea it ties your guts in knots until you are able to write it down. Amazing prose makes you dizzy and you want to be a part of that. You figure you want to write a bestseller and become rich and famous. Or, maybe, like Charles Bukowski, you write just because of an imbecilic urge. Whatever the reason, here you are. Me, too.
Perhaps you're a new writer, or one who's done some writing, but still enjoys discovering new writing tricks or hearing about how other authors hone their craft. I've had a number of fictional books published, written for the screen, large and small, and have published a number of travel articles on the web, but still never tire of reading or hearing about what my professional colleagues say about their writing and they do to enhance and improve it. There are always lessons to be learned, tips to turn a better phrase, no matter how green a writer or how much of an old hand you are.
In this section I'll bring you an assortment of advice, tricks-of-the-trade, commentary on writers' web pages (meaning pages of benefit to writers), quotes from fellow writers, and whatever else I come across or remember from experience that might be of help to other writers, or just be entertaining. I'd like, in some small way, to help contribute to others' ability as writers to gain an audience's attention and proceed to hold it long-term so that audience keeps reading.
I hope you'll check back every now and again to see what's new as this will be an evolving page.
For this round let's start at the beginning and let's face it, the beginning is the word(s). They are your tools, your playthings, sometimes your worst enemies. They are blunt or subtle. You control the flow. The writer is master/mistress of his/her world. Words create that world.
Here are a few rudimentary tips:
1. Get a good thesaurus. Believe me, it'll be your best friend, for a number of reasons which brings us to -
2. One of the most frequent mistakes new, and sometimes even experienced writers make is the repetitive use of one word or sound. Without realizing it, he or she gloms on to a favorite word and beats it to death. Redundancy, when intended, can add power to your writing, give it emphasis or flow. Thus, if you write; Jean ground the words out between her teeth, "No, I won't go to the store. No, I won't get the book you asked for, and, no, I won't be responsible for you any longer!",you would be lending power to your words. However, if you scan a page of your writing and as you do, the same word pops up over and over again down the page, then maybe you've just gotten lazy. Maybe you haven't taken the time to think of another, possibly more descriptive (in mood, appearance, tone) word. Read it aloud to yourself or a helpful audience and come up with some other possibilities.
3. Since we're talking about words, let's discuss verbs. A writer can use a generic verb like walk, or that same writer could use other words like stroll, bolt, saunter, glide, or pace. While the generic verb has its place, generally, the more spirited verb tells the reader more about the character, the situation, or the tone of the story.
4. Try to avoid the negative.
Instead of : Her hands were not clean try Her hands were filthy.
Instead of: Lady was not a good dog try Lady was bad.
Instead of: Jake was not good enough try Jake was all thumbs
Instead of: The yard had not been raked try The yard was still knee-deep in leaves.
Instead of: Sarah would not get out of bed try Sarah lay abed, covers drawn to her chin.
This lends more punch to a cleaner writing.
