12 Writing Tips That Changed How I Write
As a writer, it's always helpful to have a set of guidelines and tools to turn to when crafting a story. Over the years, I've come across a lot of writing advice, but there are a few pieces of advice that have really resonated with me and changed how I approach writing. In this article, I'll be sharing my top 12 writing tips that have had the biggest impact on my writing.
📝 Table of Contents
1. **"Show, Don't Tell" is Actually "Describe, Don't Explain"**
2. **If the Reader Can Imagine It, You Don't Need to Show It**
3. **Use Strong Verbs**
4. **Avoid "-ing" and "To Be" Verbs**
5. **Slow Down Your Story If It's Boring**
6. **Be Specific**
7. **Find the Hope and Despair in Every Scene**
8. **Focus on Your Character's Yearning, Not Just Their Goal**
9. **Contradictions Make Characters Interesting**
10. **Artistic Incongruity is Compelling**
11. **Cut as Many Words as Possible**
12. **Make Everything More Interesting**
1. 🎭 "Show, Don't Tell" is Actually "Describe, Don't Explain"
We've all heard the advice to "show, don't tell" when it comes to writing, but I've found that "describe, don't explain" is a more accurate way to think about it. Showing is just describing, while telling is just explaining. By focusing on describing the scene or character in a way that allows the reader to visualize it, you can create a more immersive experience for the reader.
2. 🎬 If the Reader Can Imagine It, You Don't Need to Show It
One of the biggest mistakes new writers make is feeling like they need to show every detail of a scene in order to make it believable. But if the reader can imagine what's happening without being told, then you don't need to show it. This can help you streamline your story and focus on the important moments.
3. 🏋️ Use Strong Verbs
Using strong verbs can instantly improve the quality of your writing. Instead of relying on weak verbs like "walked" or "said," try to use more interesting and visceral verbs that add depth and excitement to your writing.
4. 🚫 Avoid "-ing" and "To Be" Verbs
Cutting down on "-ing" and "to be" verbs can help you gain more control over your language. By forcing yourself to cut as many of these verbs as possible, you can learn to write cleaner and more concise prose.
5. 🐢 Slow Down Your Story If It's Boring
If your story is boring, don't try to speed it up. Instead, slow it down and focus on adding more detail and richness to the scene. By finding the hope and despair in every scene, you can create more tension and interest for the reader.
6. 🔍 Be Specific
Being specific is key to writing strong description. Instead of relying on vague or generic terms, try to pick more interesting and specific details that will make your writing more compelling.
7. 🌅 Find the Hope and Despair in Every Scene
Finding the hope and despair in every scene can help you create more tension and interest for the reader. By balancing the hope and despair, you can create a more compelling and nuanced story.
8. 🌟 Focus on Your Character's Yearning, Not Just Their Goal
Instead of just focusing on your character's goal, try to think about what they yearn for. This can help you create more complex and interesting characters that feel more real and relatable.
9. 🤝 Contradictions Make Characters Interesting
Contradictions are what make people interesting, and the same is true for characters. By finding the contradictions within your characters, you can create more compelling and nuanced characters that feel more real and human.
10. 🎨 Artistic Incongruity is Compelling
Artistic incongruity is all about finding the unexpected or askew in an artful way. By finding the artistic incongruity in your writing, you can create more interesting and compelling stories that stand out from the crowd.
11. 🗜️ Cut as Many Words as Possible
Cutting down on excess words can help you create cleaner and more concise prose. By learning to edit your writing for economy and line edit rigorously, you can create more compelling and streamlined stories.
12. 🎉 Make Everything More Interesting
Finally, always ask yourself how you can make your writing more interesting. Whether it's adding more detail, finding the artistic incongruity, or focusing on your character's yearning, there's always a way to make your writing more compelling and engaging.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- These tips can help you create more compelling and nuanced stories
- They can help you gain more control over your language and prose
- They can help you create more interesting and relatable characters
Cons:
- Not all of these tips will work for every writer or every story
- Some of these tips may require more practice or effort to implement effectively
Highlights
- "Show, Don't Tell" is Actually "Describe, Don't Explain"
- If the Reader Can Imagine It, You Don't Need to Show It
- Use Strong Verbs
- Avoid "-ing" and "To Be" Verbs
- Slow Down Your Story If It's Boring
- Be Specific
- Find the Hope and Despair in Every Scene
- Focus on Your Character's Yearning, Not Just Their Goal
- Contradictions Make Characters Interesting
- Artistic Incongruity is Compelling
- Cut as Many Words as Possible
- Make Everything More Interesting
FAQ
Q: What is the difference between "showing" and "telling" in writing?
A: Showing is just describing, while telling is just explaining. By focusing on describing the scene or character in a way that allows the reader to visualize it, you can create a more immersive experience for the reader.
Q: How can I make my writing more interesting?
A: Always ask yourself how you can make your writing more interesting. Whether it's adding more detail, finding the artistic incongruity, or focusing on your character's yearning, there's always a way to make your writing more compelling and engaging.
Q: What are some common mistakes new writers make?
A: One of the biggest mistakes new writers make is feeling like they need to show every detail of a scene in order to make it believable. Another common mistake is relying on weak verbs like "walked" or "said" instead of using more interesting and visceral verbs.
Resources:
- [Glimmer Train Bulletin Archive](https://www.glimmertrain.com/bulletins.html)
- [Making Your Writing More Interesting](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvQOYzLZJnU)
- [AI Chatbot Product](https://www.voc.ai/product/ai-chatbot)
