I hope you have goals!
-Jan R
Thursday Thoughts
Author: Writing your first novel-Some things you should know
Are Your Words Qualified? (Revisited)
A few years ago, I picked up a copy of “The Elements of Style” at a library book sale for a dollar. If you’ve never heard of the book, I would highly recommend it. It’s one of those books that every writer should own.
It is filled with tips on how to write and make every word count, or every word tell, as the authors like to put it.
One of the tips offered, that I am guilty of, is avoiding the addition of qualifiers to your words. Qualifiers are words like rather, very, pretty, big, and little. My favorite one to use, or misuse I should say, is very 🙂 These words are described as leeches that take hold and suck the blood out of your words.
Because ‘very’ is my nemesis, I thought I would share a picture that I found on Google Images. As you can see, it provides alternatives to using ‘very’ and gets you to thinking about what you are really trying to say. I love it, and it has been very helpful (invaluable) to me. I hope it helps you as well.
Something to think about!
-Jan R
Thursday Thoughts
Something to think about!
-Jan R
Grammar is a Must – But Forget That English Teacher Writing!
This is by far one of my favorite posts. I have revisited it several times over the years. With new subscribers and writers joining my blog, I thought this would be a good time to bring it back. Humor me 🙂
I wasn’t an English major, but I never had an issue with stringing words together and making a coherent, easy to read sentence. I know most of the rules, but I also know those rules are meant to be broken, especially if you are writing fiction.
The purpose of English Teacher grammar is to understand how to create sanitized, standardized, easy to understand, impersonal, inoffensive writing. If you’re looking for a job writing pamphlets for the government, instructional manuals, or news reports, then that’s the way to go.
These rules aren’t meant for fiction. That does not mean your story shouldn’t be grammatically and structurally sound. We are talking about styles here, not mechanics.
Fiction writing is nonstandardized, complex, personal, and occasionally offensive. It is the best way to reach into your readers head and show him your words. In order to bring your voice to life and get your world on the page, you need to say goodbye to English Teacher writing.
Fiction Writing Vs. English Teacher Writing
Fiction Writing fits the world of the book, the mouths of the characters, and the writer who wrote it.
English Teacher Writing incorporates a specific, caricatured, extreme form of writing without regard to the story’s world, characters, or even the writer and what he or she is like.
Fiction Writing changes with the situation.
English Teacher Writing is unchanged.
Fiction Writing does not look to impress, its sole purpose is to present the story.
English Teacher Writing is self-conscious, self-important, and looks and feels forced and out right silly at times.
Fiction Writing is not always pretty, but it always fits the circumstances, characters, and story.
English Teacher Writing is always pretty and always smooth, but rarely fits anything.
Example:
Fiction Writing
“Get away! Don’t touch me! Leave me alone!” The girl in the alley curled into a tighter ball, her scarred, skinny arms pulling her knees up against her chest, her eyes white-rimmed, her hair wild.
English Teacher Writing
“Get away from me! Don’t lay a hand on me! Leave me alone!” The girl in the alley, already in a fetal position, pulled her knees tighter to her chest. She wore an expression of dazed panic and radiated the signs of post-traumatic stress disorder.
Something to think about 🙂
-Jan R
Thursday Thoughts
Look closely! A literary agent will! Something to think about!
-Jan R
Is Your Main Character Likeable?
Your lead character doesn’t have to leap tall buildings in a single bound, and he doesn’t have to stop speeding bullets with his bare hands, but he darn well better know the difference between right and wrong, and he better be kind to animals, and it sure wouldn’t hurt any if he brushed his teeth regularly. Dean R. Koontz – How To Write Best Selling Fiction
I think you get the picture. Your main character needs to be likable and relatable. It would help if he had a few flaws as well. Nobody’s perfect.
Something to think about 🙂
-Jan R
Thursday Thoughts
Something to think about! It probably won’t go as planned. Hang in there.
-Jan R
Surviving The Sting (Repost)
I write a lot about rejection because it’s a part of life if you’re an unpublished author seeking a literary agent or publishing contract. Many would-be authors allow a simple rejection to end their attempts at writing. Their thought – I must not be good enough. Well maybe that’s true, but odds are it is not.
Manuscripts are rejected for numerous reasons, and many have nothing to do with your work. So what are you supposed to do if you receive a rejection?
- Admit it hurts.
- Allow yourself time to grieve, but never take more than a week.
- Nurture your artist. Read a good book, take a walk, eat some chocolate… TLC is a good thing, but don’t wallow in self-pity.
- Share your news and disappointment with close friends and family who will understand and offer encouragement.
- If you must, write a rebuttal to the editor or literary agent, but don’t send it. Tear it up and throw it in the trash. Your only response should be a thank you for their time and consideration.
- Just because your work wasn’t right for that particular editor or agent, doesn’t mean it won’t be right for another.
- Remember just because it isn’t ready for publication, doesn’t mean you can’t make it publishable.
A writer not being able to deal with rejection, is like a doctor not being able to deal with death. It’s going to happen, and like successful authors, you will have to learn to live with it.
-Jan R
Thursday Thoughts
Something to think about!
-Jan R
Be Definite, Specific, and Concrete – Revisited
Don’t you hate it when you’re talking to somebody and they are all wishy-washy? Why can’t they just come out and say it? Most of the time you know what they are getting at and want to spit it out for them. Well, the same thing goes for writing.
The surest way to gain and hold a reader’s attention is through definite, specific, concrete writing. Don’t make me as a reader try to figure out what you are trying to say. It’s not my place to write your novel. I just want to read and enjoy it. Allow me to enter the realm of your imagination without trying to figure out every little detail myself.
Examples:
The weather was dreadful. vs. It rained every day for a week.
He was happy to take possession of his well-earned reward. vs. He smiled as he placed the coin in his pocket.
I don’t think I have to point out which sentence in these examples is the more specific and concrete. Also, you may have noticed when I went concrete, I lost the passive “be” verbs 🙂
Best-selling authors are effective because they deal in particulars and report details that matter in a definite, specific, concrete way.
Just something to think about.
-Jan R
Writing your first novel-Things you should know 