* Never forget the Craft of Writing.
There are rules. This doesn't mean they can never be broken. It simply means that you must first know what they. There's a thin line between Breakin' the Rules and Bad Writing which can mean a big difference in how your readers will enjoy your story.
* If you want to improve your writing - READ.
Read books, blogs, and magazines about WRITING. Attend and participate in writers' conferences, critique groups, websites or in person, anywhere writers help each other improve their skills. Remember that you get out what you put in. You can learn a lot from simply helping someone else.
Read what you want to WRITE. Read books, novellas, and short stories in your genre. Take mental notes (or better yet acutally write them down) or what worked, what didn't, and why.
* Understand the Basics.
Make sure that you are using and maintaining VOICE.
There are different points of view to choose from, each having their own sets of responsibilities, effects, and limitations. Using the right POV, or Narrative Voice, is essential to telling a good story, but even more important is your adherence to it once one is chosen. Know What POV you are using, Why you are using it, and How to use it correctly.
Make sure that you are using and maintaining TONE.
Voice is WHO tells the story. Tone is HOW it is told. It is easy for an author to fall into the trap of writing with their own voice not really knowing what else to do. While this is not always a bad thing, Voice and Tone are the tools that great writers use to bring their stories to life. Tone can give the reader an added layer, a depth to the work, that might otherwise be missing. Using voice and tone effectively can bring your characters to life, make your readers want to turn the page, and create an emotional investment that takes your writing to the next level.
* Understand and use solid fundamentals
SHOW - Don't TELL
DIALOGUE tells your reader a lot about characters. Not only does it help you move the plot along, but it gives us a glimpse into the what, why, and who of each character. Don't forget to think, act, and speak as they would.
Develop/ Create interesting CHARACTERS. Ask yourself who your favorite characters are and then outline why. If readers don't care about the major and even minor characters, the Protagonist and the Antagonist, they sure won't care about the story.
Balance the ELEMENTS of the story: Action, Dialogue and Narrative. No one wants to read a narrative exposition, listen to characters drone on about nothing (the weather, naval lint, or foot fungus, etc.) or read page after page of unrelated, pointless fighting, car chases, and/or sex and violence for nothing more than its own sake.
Learn to Kill your Darlings. Coming up with clever turns of phrase or vividly opulent descriptions, writing clever quips or poetic reflection is great. Creating pet words and phrases can even be fun or cathartic. But if it does not help move the plot or contribute something of value to the story - kill those lil' darlings. Keep them in a notebook if you want, but cut them from the place they serve no purpose.
While this may vary from person to person, it is always a good idea to sticking to the FORMATTING basics. INDENT the beginning of each paragraph. SINGLE SPACE between paragraphs, NOT two spaces. (Save the doublespaces to indicate new scene, new time or change of view.) No matter how good the story is, if the book is not formatted correctly - your readers will notice.
* SELF-EDIT and REWRITE
One of the most effective ways of Self-Editing is to set your work aside for a time. Write something else, Read a book, or just Go Outside. Come back to it with a fresh set of eyes and you'll often be surprised at what you'll find.
Watch for Favorites. Descriptions, turns of phrase, or even certain adjectives can often become Go To words/phrases. Look for and rewrite repeated words and phrases. Again, only keep what's important to the story.
Replace Ads (ADverbs that is). Try to eliminate empty or misused adverbs and replace them with descriptive verbs instead. Avoid TOM SWIFTIES at all costs! ("Stay sharp," Tom said bluntly.)
Use STRONG VERBS. One of the best ways to cut down on wordiness and to tighten up your story is to replace your "to be" verbs (I am, She is, They are). Use strong, active verbs instead. "She is the manager of all the workers in this office." VS. "She manages this office." One IS something, the other is DOing something. Readers want action, want something to happen, not just narrative job descriptions.
Use the ACTIVE Voice instead of the Passive. This is another one of those almost imperceptable changes that can significantly change how a reader 'feels' your story. The mood is set with an active or passive voice. "Writers are accused of making stories bland." VS. "Readers accuse writers of making stories bland." Subtle but distinctly different. One - The action is being done to the passive subject or Two - the subject is actively doing something.
Describe the SETTING. So often writers try to establish the setting quickly, which can lead to a lot of bland, expository writing. Not only do you need to submerse your readers into the setting, but you must maintain your verissimilitude by describing it as your POV would describe it. The narrator might see one thing, but it might look quite different through the eyes of your characters. Imagine how the Hero and the Villian might describe the same pile of gold. Each POV brings their own perspective.
* Decide what kind of WRITER you are.
Writer vs. Author. Anyone can write something nowadays. It's easy and takes no skill or effort. So setting yourself and your work apart from the thousands of options out there, you have to evolve from simply writing into an author and story-teller.
Always BE PROFESSIONAL. That doesn't mean you always get paid for your efforts. It means that you represent yourself, your work, and your brand.
An author treats others with Respect. Do you give what you get? The same? More, less? Imagine the response you will get if you are known for giving more than you get. Sure there will always be those who take advantage, but it's safe to say that you will come out ahead if you have a reputation for over-delivering rather than being selfish.
Be careful what you say and do online. Stay away from Trolls. Don't badmouth publishers, reviewers, or authors. Criticism is difficult to take but even harder to give. Don't give negative feedback to anyone who has not asked you specifically. And even then, it's a good idea to know them first. Badmouthing anyone can bring a world of wrath you don't want.
Don't argue with readers or reviewers. We all have our own opinions. We may not agree but that doesn't mean they're wrong. No one likes the same thing the same way. So don't even open that Pandora's box. An author needs thick skin. Putting yourself out there can be hard, but it makes it harder when our work is rejected or disliked. Don't get into a battle of words. You may even win the battle but lose the war of finding readers. Bad reviews are getting read more and more as readers lose faith in positive reviews. I have never seen an instance where arguing or even engaging with negative feedback or an outright attack has ended well for the author. Negative attacks tend to draw a crowd. The last thing you need is vultures circling the next post or comment you make. Stay clear.
* Find good BETA READERS
An effective tool in helping with your editing and revision is a good beta reader. Someone that can help you spot flaws in plot logic, inconsistencies in character or setting, and to give you honest feedback on just how the story feels from a non-invested perspective.
I hope that this has helped someone.
Thanks for your time,
Scott
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