When you read your story, does it sound off, maybe you can’t quite put your finger on it, but you know you’ve done something wrong? Sometimes–maybe even lots of times–there are simple fixes. These writer’s tips will come at you once a week, giving you plenty of time to go through your story and make the adjustments.
Today’s tip: Go beyond the visual in your story.
When you’ve finished your first draft, check to be sure you’ve added scents, tastes, tactile details, as well as sight and sound. That’s how people experience the world. That’s also how we communicate with others–facial expressions, body language, perfume. You get the idea. Your story won’t sound realistic unless your characters use all of them to tell their story.
Please add comments with your favorite editing fixes.
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Jacqui Murray is the editor of a technology curriculum for K-sixth grade, creator of two technology training books for middle school and four ebooks on technology in education. She is the author of Building a Midshipman, the story of her daughter’s journey from high school to United States Naval Academy. She is webmaster for six blogs, an Amazon Vine Voice book reviewer, a columnist for Examiner.com, Editorial Review Board member for Journal for Computing Teachers, Cisco guest blog, IMS tech expert, and a bi-weekly contributor to Write Anything. Currently, she’s editing a thriller for her agent that should be out to publishers this summer. Contact Jacqui at her writing office or her tech lab, Ask a Tech Teacher.
Jacqui Murray is the author of the popular Building a Midshipman, the story of her daughter’s journey from high school to United States Naval Academy. She is webmaster for six blogs, an Amazon Vine Voice book reviewer, a columnist for Examiner.com and TeachHUB, Editorial Review Board member for Journal for Computing Teachers, Cisco guest blog,Technology in Education featured blogger, IMS tech expert, and a bi-monthly contributor to Today’s Author. In her free time, she is the editor of a K-8 technology curriculum, K-8 keyboard curriculum, K-8 Digital Citizenship curriculum, and creator of technology training books for how to integrate technology in education. Currently, she’s editing a thriller that should be out to publishers next summer. Contact Jacqui at her writing office or her tech lab, Ask a Tech Teacher.
I go through each scene and makes sure that I have made the best of the senses around me. If I am walking through an apple orchard and smell cider, hear the crunch of autumn leaves under my feet, feel the winter sun and taste the chill in the air, why can’t my characters.
By: Subtlekate on July 17, 2012
at 10:07 pm
And they must, mustn’t they. Or it doesn’t ring true. I often find I miss those steps–how could I? Because then it’s false. I have to pause and feel.
By: Jacqui Murray on July 18, 2012
at 6:36 pm
Pause and feel. That’s brilliant
By: Subtlekate on July 18, 2012
at 8:21 pm
Hope all goes well for you, Kate.
By: Jacqui Murray on July 19, 2012
at 7:27 am