"USE YOUR WORDS!"
Applying
Stronger Writing Techniques
How often do we tell our kids to use your words when
speaking? The same applies when writing story dialogue.
And why we must speak in tones and use complete
phrases to eliminate all confusion to readers.
Using big words may make you sound super-intelligent
but sometimes falls short of the desired effect. Use simpler terms instead.
After all, readers appreciate a story more if the experience is made less
complicated by using big words.
The truth is readers desire substance and not filler
to impress them. They want less showy phrases and more meaningful dialogue to
pull them deeper into the story instead of getting lost halfway through it.
Overkill is just that. You can still say what you
mean, but useless bulky phrases are like trying to fit size ten feet into a
size seven shoe. In other words, if it doesn’t fit, don’t force it.
If you have
nothing to say, say nothing at all. Writing should be filled with healthy
material and not a lot of fluff like what you might find in the middle of a
snack cake.
Vague and unnecessary long descriptive sentences are
tiresome for readers. There’s no need to travel fifty miles to reach the same
destination. Specificity is better and doesn’t require long run-on sentences
for direct and straightforward explanations.
Passive behavior is acceptable in real life but can
become tiresome when writing. Authors
should maintain a level of excitement at all times to keep readers engaged and not
bored out of their minds.
And don’t you hate individuals who ramble on without
actually reaching the point? Well, let’s this act as a reminder never to do
that when writing. I don’t recommend shortcuts but in this case, keep it short
and sweet.
Redundant words or explanations are like writer
suicide for authors. Once you’ve introduced a character or detail into a story,
please don’t feel like you need to keep it on repeat. Trust me; readers are
savvy and retain information well.
If you think it necessary to repeat yourself to eliminate
fact-checking, well, it’s a waste of valuable time. Yes, readers expect a level of continuity without
needing to relive the moment repeatedly, like an endless loop.
Finally, we come to the last stage of the writing
process, editing. That we sometimes think of as a gut-punch. Every word is
precious, making it hard to say goodbye even if we know many of the words must
go or be simplified to tidy up the story.
All writing requires polishing like diamonds, one of
the hardest substances fashioned from high temperatures and pressure. What does
writing have to do with diamonds, you may ask? Like diamonds, stories undergo
severe development, necessary to become the gems readers love so much.
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