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.
If you believe in formulaic writing, there is no better self-help writer’s manual than Evan Marshall’s The Marshall Plan for Novel Writing (Writers House Books 1998). Not only does Marshall lay out the exact steps required to produce a publishable novel, he includes a wonderfully pithy section called “How to be your own Editor”.
Mine is dog-eared, highlighted and pretty much unreadable from the dozens of times I’ve scoured it during the editing process of my three novels. I can’t list all the hints he shares, but I’ll give you some. For more, you’ll have to buy the book:
- Make sure time tracks correctly in your story
- Make sure the character’s goals are clear in your writing
- Make sure character behave logically in light of what has already happened to them and in light of what they know
- Use adverbs sparingly. If you decide to use one, use only one
- Write in the language that comes naturally to your POV character, be that formal, casual, slanged
- In almost all cases, you can strengthen a sentence by removing very
- Be specific. It’s not just a dog–it’s a toy poodle or a white Labrador
- Use similes and metaphor that would occur to the POV character
- Use the five senses
- Give description in action, not narrative
- Treat walk-on characters as furniture
- Write in the positive. Tell what is, not what isn’t
- Delete redundancies like past history, tall skyscrapers
- Get rid of qualifiers like a bit, a little, fairly
- Watch for circumlocution
- Watch for autonomous body parts like His lips curved into a smile
- Get rid of began to, started
- Don’t tell reader something twice
- Don’t use mitigators like appeared to, seemed to
- Limit was, is, were
I wanted to share other opinions about the Marshall Plan–it comes as a guidebook (which is the book I purchased), a workbook (bought that too but didn’t use it), and fairly pricey software–but the only 2014 (or 2013) review I found was Luc Reid‘s. If you love the book like I do and are considering the software, you might pop by his well-balanced informative post.
More on writing tips for the novice:
Writers Tip #56: Don’t Repeat Yourself
13 Tips from Bob Mayer’s Novel Writer’s Toolkit
To have these tips delivered to your email, click here.
Pingback: 10 Hits and Misses for 2017 | WordDreams...
Pingback: 10 Hits and Misses for 2016 | WordDreams...
Nice tips even an amateur blogger can follow… except I had to look up “circumlocution”. 🙂
LikeLike
Hehe. The joy of reading, new words. Did you like that one?
LikeLike
Pingback: Writer’s Tip #90: 11 Tips to Self-Editi Your Manuscript | WordDreams...
Jacqui really loved this one and will book mark it thank you.
LikeLike
My pleasure, Kath. Even after years of writing, I see myself fall into these mistakes. Yikes!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great Tips! Thanks for the reminders. 🙂
Anna from Shout with Emaginette
LikeLike
Absolutely. And thanks to you for the discussion on subplots over in your blog.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Another list of fabulous tips here, Jacqui. I had to Google “circumlocution”. You learn something new every day 😉
LikeLike
Good word, innit? Love fun words.
LikeLike
Sorry! Jacqui! How did I do That??!!
LikeLike
Hehe–no worries. I do it too. There should be a ‘delete’ button for errant comments!
LikeLike
Making me think again, as usual! Thanks, Jaqui.
LikeLike
Just basics. Judging by your blog, you have these down pat. Consider them reminders.
LikeLike
And, Shari: One of these days, I’ll publish that list you gave me several years ago.
LikeLike
Excellent advice – thanks for putting this together for us.
LikeLike
All credit to Evan Marshall. I might buy one of his other books soon.
LikeLike
This list is worth typing out and framing, hanging on the wall just above the spot where one sits to write – such clear logic in them we tend to often “forget” when carried away with writing.
LikeLike
The book sits right behind my writing desk, where I can reach it without standing up.
LikeLike
Super awesome tips. I find myself making those suggestions ALL the time while critiquing, and rolling my eyes at myself when I catch one in my own writing. =)
LikeLike
So true–me too. They are basic. More Strunk and White sort of ideas. Timeless.
LikeLike
Great advice over here. Thanks for sharing dear Jacqui. Great post!.
Best wishes, Aquileana 😀
LikeLike
Absolutely, Aquileana
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s always a treat when I see “Writer’s Tips ##” in my mailbox. I practice all 20.
LikeLike
Aren’t you nice. Unfortunately (or happily), you don’t need help.I read your first two Bequia Mysteries–outstanding. Love your retired-spy-hiding-out-and-finding-love guy. I reviewed it on Amazon I got so excited about it.
Keep it up!
LikeLike
Jacqui, thank you so much! For your encouraging words, the review, and for becoming a fan. It means a great deal coming from you. Would love to discuss my work further with you. I’m always open to learning and improving my craft.
LikeLike
I’m always on the watch for circumlocution. And I’m mindful of bears.
LikeLike
That’s because of where you live, AV. I’d worry about bears up there, too. (Are there any in your part of the wilderness?)
LikeLike
Yup. Bears. Just regular black bears though. They’re not dangerous. Certainly not as dangerous as circumlocution.
LikeLike
Thanks for the tips, Jacqui. I put the book and workbook on my wish list at Amazon.
Question: In your opinion, do you think new novel writers should write in 3rd person or 1st person? Why?
LikeLike
I’ve read 1st person is what lots of new writers pick, but that doesn’t mean it’s the right choice. It limits the way you can share information while putting you firmly in the perspective of one character.
Surprisingly, in a writing workshop I took with renowned writer Richard Bausch, he said there are many times where third person is more intimate than first.
I guess my answer is: Pick the one you feel better writing in.
LikeLike
I went through my first novel and got rid of almost all the “was” sentences. It WAS so easy to change and always made for a better sentence. I don’t worry too much about it in the first draft.
LikeLike
Me, too–about ignoring my ‘wasing’ in the first draft. I just want to get ideas down. ‘Was’ makes things quite narrative and distanced. When I edit the first draft, that’s when I try to fix that stand-off approach.
LikeLike
My non-writing friendslaughed when I told them I was working on getting rid of was for days on end 🙂
LikeLike
Even the points you’ve posted are a fabulous start, Jacqui. May have to check out the book, probably a used copy. 😀
LikeLike
I’m sure you can find a used copy. It’s almost fifteen years old, but still is my go-to for nuts and bolts.
LikeLike
Awesome as ever, i always look forward to your tips.
LikeLike
Thanks, PS. BTW, your new book sounds great!
LikeLike
Excellent advice. Totally agree.
LikeLike
Thanks for dropping by, Kylie!
LikeLike
thanks for the hints. i’ll have to check out the marshall plan, sounds like a treasure trove.
LikeLike
It is–especially when you’re starting. Or struggling with editing. Or pondering breaking the rules…
LikeLiked by 1 person
This sounds like another interesting writing book. I might have to explore. I know all the points but remembering them is another thing so having them in one place will be helpful. Thanks.
LikeLike
That’s it–a checklist to use when editing. There’s nothing tricky about these and they won’t make a ‘breakout novel’ (as Donald Maass likes to call it), but they will get a writer past the basics.
LikeLike
all the mentioned 20 hints/tips makes a common sense to better understand and explore!
LikeLike
They are, aren’t they–just common sense. It’s easy to forget the basics when you’re trying to write a miracle!
LikeLike