Have you ever read a book where you felt like you were actually living the story with the character? Have you read one where the character felt remote and lifeless? I can guarantee the reason for both is showing vs. telling. Telling is the old style of writing—the reader is an overseer in the room,… Continue reading 5 Ways to Turn Showing to Telling
Ever get to the place in your writing where you just want to play it safe? I think every writer gets there. Doesn’t every writer have a manuscript that’s too blah because you were too scared to go where you should have gone? Or a manuscript that’s gathering dust because you’re too scared for anyone… Continue reading 5 Leaps of Faith for your Writing
If you're serious about being a writer, you've already discovered that writing works better when you do it consistently. The best way to get consistent is to have a schedule. But with our busy lives, this can be easier said than done. Here are a few tips to develop a writing schedule. 1. When do… Continue reading Writer Wednesday: How to Develop a Writing Schedule
This is my monster: Perfectionism. It keeps me from trying, it keeps me stuck in the planning phase, and whispers in my ear as I stare at the blank screen of a new document. I'm afraid to write anything in case it is subpar. But that's silly, isn't it? When you put it in words,… Continue reading Writer Wednesday: When Perfectionism Strikes
Ever read a book that kept you hanging on till the last page, unable to put it down? Ever read one that didn't? What made the difference? Why did you lose interest in that one book? Why did you forget about everything else while you read the other? Suspense. Even if it isn't a "suspense"… Continue reading Writer Wednesday: 3 Ways to Build Suspense
When I was in grade 9, I distinctly remember a poster in my English class that listed writing faux-pas that actually committed the transgression. It was a creative way to teach rules, and it worked, because I still remember them. One that has really stuck with me is "The passive voice should never be used."… Continue reading Writer Wednesday: Keep the Action
Reading aloud seems to be a relic from our school days. If don't know about you, but I don't do it much anymore, unless I'm reading to my kids. But reading to my kids has taught me a few things about good writing - things that probably should have been no-brainers. I'm thinking about adding… Continue reading Writer Wednesday: 5 reasons to edit aloud
I struggle with editing. Not so much other people's work, but definitely my own. Once I've put something on the page I have a hard time figuring out how to change it. But obviously it has to be done. So I took a look at how I edit other people's manuscripts and compiled a bit… Continue reading Writer Wednesday: Editing Checklist
Erin E. M. Hatton 