by Andrea Christenson, @AndreaC_Author
In my neck of the woods, the trees are slowly changing color for autumn. Brilliant reds, golden yellows, a burst of orange, and even some remaining green—the colors of autumn leaves surround us. A perfect time for a drive through the countryside.
As we drove past a stand of birch trees, their golden leaves quivering in the breeze, I noticed something. The beauty of the yellow color against the stark white of the tree trunk wasn’t as lovely as it had been moments earlier. Why the change?
I looked back at the other stand of trees and immediately had my answer.
It was the variety.
Each tree held its own beauty, its own grace, but standing next to each other, they complimented one another, each pointing to a neighbor as if saying, “Yes, but look at her! Isn’t she amazing?” The red amplified the yellow. The orange made the green pop. Even the browns drew the image together, making a cacophony into a symphony.
Variety brings beauty.
We see this in people too. Each unique person adds something new and different to our lives and the world around us. We wouldn’t want anyone to be cookie cutter versions of each other.
Sameness is boring.
Of course, this is true for writing as well. As readers, we seek out stories with the same themes, the same tropes, even the same characters, but we want each book to be unique. We desire that frisson of surprise when a character does something unexpected.
In your next chapter look for ways to bring variety to your work. Here are a few areas to consider.
Sentence length. Change up how long your sentences are. Short sentences pack a big punch, but too many will leave your reader frustrated. Long sentences slow down action and give good information, but too may will leave your reader wondering if they are following what you are saying. A mix of the two will keep readers engaged.
Characters. Are your characters unique? Are all your male characters dark and brooding and your female characters beautiful and witty? Consider how you can change each one to be their own person. As you juxtapose wildly (or even marginally) different traits, each character can shine their own light.
Cliches. This is one I struggle with All. The. Time. I probably even have some in this post. Cliches are an easy way to communicate information; everyone knows what they mean, everyone is on board instantly. Except, they are also lazy. Look for ways to root out cliches in your writing. Turn a cliche on its head. Do the unexpected.
Action vs reaction. Susan May Warren advocates for having a reaction scene after every action scene (or thereabouts, rules are meant to be broken). The reason for this is two-fold: it gives your reader a chance to catch their breath, and it allows us to see how these events changed your characters. When done well, it increases the stakes because now we care even more about how the hero or heroine is feeling and what they are determining to do about it.
Your turn. How do you bring variety to your writing? Leave us some tips in the comments!
He just wants to erase his past. She can’t seem to escape hers. But facing it might put their future in jeopardy.
The day Jack Stewart walked out of jail, he vowed to keep his conviction a secret. The whole thing was just a terrible mistake, and he did his time. Now he wants a new life in a sleepy town where no one knows his name. Deep Haven is the perfect place to start over as a chef. The last thing the former pararescue jumper wants is to get involved. But when Boone Buckam—the guy he owes for getting him out of the slammer—asks for help, how can he refuse?
Colleen Decker has already escaped evil once—as a teenager, she was kidnapped by a murderer. But she’s put all that behind her as a trauma nurse in Minneapolis. Or maybe not, because a freak mistake in the ER sends her past crashing down on her. She needs a timeout in her hometown of Deep Haven. She doesn’t plan to stay—even when she’s roped into the job of flight nurse for the town’s Crisis Response Team chopper. Colleen’s not sure why she’s drawn to danger, but she’ll be safe enough—after all, she’ll need training, and her teacher is a handsome former pararescue jumper. What could go wrong?
When Jack said he didn’t want to get involved, he especially meant his heart—but being with Colleen feels like a fresh start. He’ll even climb aboard a chopper again, despite his vows. They’re headed for a happy ending…
But secrets never stay buried in a small town. And when disaster strikes one snowy night, they’ll both have to decide if the past will destroy them…or if it just might lead them home.
Cozy up to this perfect Deep Haven drama about discovering a season of second chances.
Andrea Christenson lives in Minnesota with her husband and two daughters. When she is not busy homeschooling her girls, she loves to read anything she can get her hands on, bake bread, eat cheese, and watch Netflix—though not usually all at the same time. You can connect with Andrea on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and on her website www.AndreaChristenson.com