by Susan May Warren, @SusanMayWarren
I know…long time no chat. I had a crazy January (yay to February 1st!).We had a death in the family (hubby’s mother), I got COVID, we drove to Florida for the winter, I launched a book, and spent a week with 3 writers, brainstorming their books. And, I turned 55.
Which officially means I get a SENIOR CITIZEN discount which qualifies me for FREE COFFEE at McDonalds. I have arrived. 😊 I personally think it’s crazy that 55 is considered a Senior Citizen because I feel about 29, Okay, 38.
I got a bike for my birthday. Whee!
So, it’s February 1st, and I feel like I’m finally getting my feet under me for 2021. Finally sat down with my planner and figured out my values, prayer targets and goals for 20201/Q-1.
Among those were 9 things I am pursuing to become a better writer….9 things I submit to you for your consideration as you pursue your own writing excellence… (I felt that 10 things were just too much. Gotta keep it doable, right?)
- Write what you’re passionate about. The worlds, the professions, the questions, the genre. Ask: What about this story fuels my passions?
- READ in your genre! Collect the words you love in a notebook to inspire you later. Ask: Will this book make me a better writer?
- Think READERS first…what would they want? And that starts with what YOU want? Ask: What do YOU love about this story?
- SHOW, don’t tell. I heard this recently, “SHOWING triggers the theater of her mind.” Here’s the rule: Tell everyday actions, SHOW the things that matter. And use your descriptions to create emotions. How you describe something (in the POV of the character) hues how the way the reader will see it, aka, adds opinion and emotion to the scene. Ask: What emotion is embedded in the storyworld of the scene?
- Cut the overwriting. Ask yourself…have I already said that? Resist the urge to explain, to add backstory or even character information. Remember—your goal is to raise interest and keep the reader turning the page. The more you fill in the blanks, the less they have to read on…Ask: Does my reader have a question in their mind that causes them to turn the page?
- Make your reader worry about the character. If they don’t worry, then they won’t keep reading. So, create a character we like, and then give them a problem. And make it worse…all the way to their worst nightmare. Now, your reader will care. Ask: Does my reader worry about my characters at the end of every scene?
- Tell the story between the quotes! Dialogue drives story. Every time your character thinks something or every time you lapse into backstory or character information, Ask: Can I offer this information in dialogue?
- Speaking of Dialogue, stick to: He said, she said. And pare down the smiling, heart thundering and sucking breaths…give movement to your character that matters. (or stick to dialogue to add power to your scenes!) Ask: Do my speaker attributions create depth to character and emotion?
- Attend to your Health. I know this isn’t a writing thing, but I’ve discovered that the more I spend time walking, stretching, eating right and standing as I write, the better I feel…and the more creative I feel. So…make a commitment to daily movement (and if you have to, record your chapter as you walk!) Ask: Have I moved today?
That’s it…my tips to bring my (and your) writing to the next level in 2021!
Here we go, guys…let’s have an awesome 2021. Your story matters. Go—write something brilliant!
Susie May
P.S. It’s not too late to get your 2021 Brilliant Writing Planner! Value-oriented, simplified…the processes I’ve used to live my story well for the past 20 years. :blush: Check it out here.