The Idea Germ

Sounds kind of icky, right?

So, what is an idea germ? An idea germ is the small spark within your imagination, the conception of your story. With nurturing, this germ grows into an amazing story. The first step is to discover the germ.

So, how do you go about discovering such a thing? There are many processes which can be taken to uncover the spark, to bring it into recognition, which gives you the opportunity to nurture it to life. Below, you will find a few methods, but the possibilities are endless. Each individual will find his own road to digging up the germs. I only hope to give you a starting point.

Brainstorming or Mind Mapping 

This process normally begins with one word, and then a branching off from the word. This can be done in many ways: paper/pen, word document, or even a mind mapping program. The method isn’t that important. Each writer will discover his own preference. The main thing is to exhaust all possibilities. As you do this, your mind lets free of its normal ramblings and allows you into the shadows.

An Example: NURSE – needle – death – scrubs – doctor – blood – gunshot – victim – assailant

At this point, you should have an idea germ. Here’s mine from this session:

A gunshot victim is admitted to the hospital, where the main character works. She discovers the victim is her father, who left her mother before she was born. Determined to find his assailant, she visits the areas of his life and discovers more than she wants to know.

Free-Writing

This process, similar to the above, begins with a blank page and a free flow of thoughts. Set a timer for ten to fifteen minutes. The main point here is to not think too much on what you are going to write. Allow your brain to supply words and let them flow onto the page. Do not stop until your time goes off. Set your results aside for a few hours. When you come back, scan the text and see if a germ appears.

The germ for Escape to Love was conceived in this method. The fifteen minute writing developed into a scene of a woman being transported into emptiness. Blackness surrounds her, and she’s unaware of how she got there or where she is. Out of the darkness, a man emerges, reaching for her. As their hands are about to touch, she begins to fall, landing in a field. Her only thought is of finding a way back to this man. This scene didn’t make it into the novella, but it did create Constance and Lawrence, the main characters.

What if?

This process consists of applying what if questions to a simple idea.

An Example:

Free Willy: What would happen if the animal was not a whale, but an alien? Okay, E.T. has been done, but what if the alien was your little brother? What if the government discovered his ability to blow up things and takes him away?

The germ: Determined to get his brother back, the main character embarks on a journey of danger and discover.

Dream Journaling

This process can be beneficial on many levels, but for this a dream is full of germs. Simply keep a journal of your dreams. Record images, feelings, and thoughts as soon as you can. Dreams have a way of disappearing quickly. Come back later and add any additional thoughts you may have. Mine your entry for any possible germs.

An Example:

You dream of running through a field of yellow poppies. Something is chasing you, yet you feel no fear. It’s almost as if you are leading it, rather than running from it. You come upon a stream, but the water is purple rather than blue. After crossing the stream, a green dragon rises from the shallow depths, and snatches up the man chasing you, swallowing him whole.

The germ: In a realm adjacent to ours, a dragon species survives, dwelling in purple waters.

(Article previously appeared at Savvy Authors - November 2011)

Creating Characters

One of the main tasks of a writer is to create characters worth reading about. Many different factors work into the equation of producing these types of characters. They need to be interesting and motivated. Not all characters are lovable, but it helps to have a likable quality of some sort. But, most of all they should be three-dimensional.

To accomplish this, a writer should know the character almost as well as he knows himself. Character creation may start with a name and physical characteristics, but it doesn’t stop there. Think about some of your favorite characters in books, movies, and television shows. How much do you know about them?

You, as the writer, need to know a little bit more than the reader. Everything may not be included into the actual story, but each new bit of information will lead to another, producing the needed variety to create characters worth reading about.

Whether you start a story knowing your main character, or get to know your character as you go, at some point you should step back and see who you’ve created. As you get to know him outside of the story, you may discover new points worth weaving into your story.

There are many methods used for this process. Here are a few:

• Long Character Bio Sheets
• Index Card Bios
• Biography by Author
• Biography by Character
• Vision Boards

Really, the methods are endless. What matters is what works for you.

I’ve tried many methods, but the one which works for me is the biography by the Author. I’ll sit down and just start writing, first introducing the character – name, age, physical traits and such, and then start as far back as I feel necessary, depending upon the story.

Personality is one of the keys to your creation. Everything can be wrapped around this one small aspect, because everything makes him who he is (personality). His parents, the way he looks, childhood events, social upbringing, the list goes on and on, but it all leads in one direction – who he is and why he does what he does.

Take a moment and discover who you’re writing about.

How do you create your characters? Do you have a preferred method, or does it change with each story? Do you keep it all in your head, or fill page after page of character information?

Crossing Genre Lines

Stop by Aubrie Dionne's blog Flutey Words to read my guest post, Crossing Genre Lines.

Don't let the world put you in a box with a genre label. Cross the line, see where you can go with your words. You may surprise even yourself.

The Sacrifice started as a short story, a fairy-tale adventure. I never dreamed it would become a children's picture book. But here it is available for purchase. I hope you enjoy Angelina's adventure as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Putting Life into Your Story

Last week, we talked about Sucking the Life out of Your Story.

Now, how can you Put Life into Your Story?

Fill your story with your own emotions: love, hate, desire, lust, joy.  Tap into your life, and inject it into your writing.

I'm not say write about your life, but to spice your story with it.

For Example: Your character gives birth and is surprised by twins.

Your character's reaction may not be your own type of reaction, so to really pump up the emotion, try thinking of something in your life that evokes the same emotion as your character in this situation.

Perhaps, your character doesn't want a child at all, much less two. Your character feels her life has been dragged from her in the form of two new beings.

Now think of your own life, and imagine feeling drained of life, disgusted by the turn of events, and/or unable to move forward. Does this provoke a memory of a past relationship? A job? A moment in time?

Now inject your emotions into your birth scene.

Sucking the Life out of Your Story

The debate continues - to plot or not to plot. It is easy to see every writer will write in a different method. But how can you determine what's best for you?

Trial and error? Intuition? Force yourself into following a proven method (proven by another writer)?

'How to Write' books are abundant and sometimes confusing for the new writer. How can one determine the climactic scene out of thin air? How can you determine who your character is without getting to know them? How can you write a story without knowing such things at all?

During my journey, I continue to try to discover the best method for my writing.

1) No Plot - Produced many short stories and two published novellas. All of these began with a glimmer of an idea and a rough draft from beginning to end. The revision/editing process polished the writing, discovered missing scenes, and built on a rough foundation.

2) Plot - Produced three novels - incomplete. First novel, complete with character sketches, a collection of scenes, and some written work, sits in a box. Second novel, produced during Nano, a collection of scene drafts, character interviews, plot outlines, and anything else you can think of, sits in a folder waiting for completion. Third novel, beginning and end sketched out, character sketches, tarot profiles, and more, has recently been put to sleep in a folder.

By plotting, I sucked the life out of these stories and made them boring and confusing to complete. The stories kept changing as I went, the characters didn't act like they were supposed to, and the ending was a far off sign post. Now, I'm aware plotting is adjustable, but I found by know all this information it stunted the growth of my novel.

My recent conclusion - plotting may be for professionals. The reason I say this is I can look back at my published work and see structure, but this wasn't accomplished on purpose. It just happened. I can see some missing structure in my unpublished short stories, but this can be fixed and built upon the rough form which is there.

I read recently (not sure the location) a writer who revealed she didn't plot in the beginning of her career, but after her first few novels she tried it and it worked. I've heard over and over again if you return to your how-to books later in your career they make more sense. So, wouldn't it make sense to say plotting is for the experienced writer? (Now I know some writers may be born plotters.)

So, my main point here is if you are a beginning writer and you struggle with your work, try just writing. If you've sketched out your characters, plotted out your scenes, and freeze when you start the first draft of your story, stick it away somewhere and start a story from scratch, working from beginning to end and see what you might discover.

(On a side note: A story bible is a helpful tool for most writers not plotting. Keep jots on what's happening, who your characters are, scenes you think of, and needed corrections discovered as you go.)

The main thing is to start with the first word and don't stop writing until you reach the end.

Caution: This has been my method for short stories and novellas. I'm about to begin a new novel using this method, but cannot conclude for sure if it is doable. My worry is the story will be too long to discover through this method. But after trying plotting with no results, what do I have to lose?

Good luck in your writing!

:) After writing up this post Monday Morning, I discovered later in the day, Roni Loren's blog touched upon the same subject - the writing process. For more on the topic visit her blog - Fiction Groupie.

The Dreaded Middle

The middle of a story is dreaded for many reasons. Whatever your reason may be, you can never have too much advice on how to deal with it, right?

I've found two interesting posts on the subject:

Planning Your Novel's Middle by Janice Hardy
Testing the Middle:Subplots by Editortorrent

Now, I can't take credit for finding these two wonderful blogs. All credits go to Roni Loren of Fiction Groupie. Every Friday, she offers up some great links in her Fill Me In Friday: Best Links of the Week posts.

Guest Post at Savvy Authors

Come by Savvy Authors and read my latest guest blogging post. I revisit what seems to be my favorite topic, germs - idea germs.

Sounds kind of icky, right?

So, what is an idea germ? An idea germ is the small spark within your imagination, the conception of your story. With nurturing, this germ grows into an amazing story. The first step is to discover the germ.  

Continue reading. (The original link has been broken.) You can now find this article on the blog.

Feel free to leave comments or even start a discussion. See you there.

What makes a great opening line?

What makes a great opening line?

One of the most stressed pieces of advice is make your opening line count. If not, grab them in the first paragraph. So the question is what makes a great opening line?


It seems if you can do these four things in the matter of the first sentence, you’ve got yourself a killer opening.

1) Set the tone for the book
2) Set the scene
3) Introduce the hero/heroine – and if you can at least one obstacle
4) Create a question the reader has got to get answered

So, how are you supposed to fit all this information within one sentence, or even one paragraph? Let’s see if we can discover how.

The Restorer by Amanda Stevens
I was nine when I saw my first ghost.

• The tone – You put ghost in the mix, and you should probably expect some darkness right?
• The scene – Ms. Stevens misses this one with her first line.
• Intro of hero/heroine – We may not know the character’s name, but we know she sees ghost, which is sure to be an obstacle.
• Create a question – Who is this person, and why can she/he see ghosts? What kind of life would you have if you could see ghosts?

Overall, I’d say this is a good first line. I want to read more to find out more about the character and whether the ghosts are good or bad.

Prior Bad Acts by Tami Hoag
He knew before he entered the house that day that something was very wrong.

• The tone – Successfully suspenseful wouldn’t you say?
• The scene – We are outside, about to step into a house – where something is wrong.
• Intro of hero/heroine – He is introduced, and most likely whatever is wrong will be an obstacle.
• Create a question – What is wrong, and why does the character suspect anything is wrong at all?

Overall, I’d say we have another good line. I want to read on to find out what’s wrong in the house.

Faces by Martina Cole
Mary Cadogan was lying on her bed.

• The tone - ?
• The scene – We are in a bedroom.
• Intro of hero/heroine – Mary Cadogan, but no obstacle.
• Create a question - ? Don’t see one.

Let’s give this writer a chance – She was frightened, but then she was always frightened. Frightened her husband would get nicked, and even more frightened that he wouldn’t.

• The tone – A little more clear now, I’d expect dark things are to follow.
• The scene – Again, we are in the bedroom.
• Intro of hero/heroine – She is introduced and we know for certain she is frightened. Her husband seems most likely an obstacle.
• Create a question – Why is she so frightened of her husband? If she’s so afraid, why is she just lying on the bed?

Overall, we have an okay opening. Would I read further? It’s an iffy with this one. I can pretty much guess why she’s afraid of the husband, so the next two pages would have to be extremely catchy before I’d dig into the rest of the book. Also, notice the repetition. As mention on last Friday’s post, repetition can kill but when used correctly it can present key text to the story. In my opinion this is overkill. What do you think?

Take a look at your opening line/paragraph, do you achieve these four elements, or are you missing them? To be fair, most would read at least the first full page, but if you can grab them in the first sentence and keep them hooked, you just made a sale.

Feel free to share your thoughts on these three examples, or even present your own. Are there other elements you feel should be present?

Happy Tuesday.

Repetition Kills

Repetition can kill an otherwise perfectly good story. In a few cases, this is a technique to draw attention to certain text, but only if you are aware of it. And even then, be careful not to overdo it.

Repetition can consist of the same wording, but it can also be the same subject matter repeated more than once. This is an issue all writers should pay extra attention to during the editing process. For one thing, it’s extremely noticeable. So, send that manuscript in to the publisher with repetition and I guarantee he’ll know you haven’t taken the time to go through it with a fine tooth comb. And, if you don’t care, why should he care enough to put it on the publishing table.

It seems every writer, along with each different story, develops a word, or phrase, she loves to type onto the clean white page. With my latest, Seduced by Darkness, I discovered quite a few, but the main three were darkness, desire, and need. The words plagued the manuscript. These are the special words we narrow in on. But there are obvious ones which stick out like sore thumbs.

And, he, she, felt, watched - these are a few that find their way onto my page no matter the story or the mood I’m in. You should pay close attention as you move through your writing career. Creating a list of these overused words will help you recognize them quicker, but it will also help you to rid yourself of the habit. Unfortunately, you will probably gain a few new ones to replace the old.

This isn’t a major issue, don’t stress over it, but do make extra effort during your own editing and revision sessions. Your editor will thank you for it. And you’ll thank yourself when you get your manuscript back and it isn’t full of red slashes urging you to rid the manuscript of these troublesome words.

On subject matter, if your character is blond, the reader doesn’t need to be reminded of this every other page. If Shawn stabbed Josh, the reader only needs this information once. So, you think the reader may have forgotten? Go back and make the incident unforgettable instead of repeating it.

A Blast From The Past

Footsteps of a Writer began in 2009. I present the very first posting, August 25, 2009.

Some Thoughts on Writing

When I first began writing, I thought it was the easiest thing in the world. I wrote daily, stringing words together into wondrous stories. Then I sent my work out and was rejected over and over again. I didn’t know what I was doing wrong, so I wasn’t sure how to fix it. I laid my pen down, and gave up. In the back of my mind, I still believed that one day I would be a writer.

After years of avid reading, I looked back at those pieces and saw major problems. There was no rhythm to the prose. The characters moved around from one point to the next with no thoughts. My writing lacked emotion and detail.

I began writing once again. Three years later, I still hadn’t sent anything out in hopes of publication. No rejections. You may consider this a waste of time, writing with no rewards, but still no rejections. A true writer writes for the joy of it, not the promise of fame. The truth was I was still learning and hadn’t reached what I consider my time to submit.

I’ve recently began submitting and receiving rejections. Now, I don’t look at the rejections as a bad sign. I look at them as stepping stones. It may be a long walk, but each step will bring me closer to being a published writer.

I’d like to share with you some of the things I’ve learned over the years.

There are many tools that you will use, but there are four I’d say that are a must. They are: American Heritage College Dictionary, Roget’s Thesaurus, Punctuation Plain & Simple by Edgar C. and Jean A. Alward, and William Strunk Jr., and E.B. White’s The Element of Style. These should be on every writer’s bookshelf, and don’t forget to use them.

Writer groups have both good and bad points. Writing is a solitary job and will become very lonely. It’s good to have a few people around who share the same ambition in life, even if they are in cyber-space. But on the downside, you can read too much into other’s criticism. You must be careful when having your work critiqued. Everyone has an opinion, and they are not always correct. Your story is just that, yours. Now, I’m not saying to turn a blind eye to the truth. If you have five people read your story, and they all ask why your character did this, chances are you haven’t provided motivation for your character’s actions. Trust in yourself to know which advice to take and which to discard.

Reading is a major part of a writer’s life, because you learn from the examples of others. Your ideas will grow and techniques will improve. I asked a member of one of my writing groups what type of books he read. His answer was he didn’t have time to read, he was too busy writing. If you don’t read, how can you begin to know how to write? Each day should include some sort of reading; consider it part of your job. And by all means, enjoy yourself.

Writing, of course, is the most critical issue. It should become part of your daily routine. Most writers compose and rearrange scenes in their mind, which is perfectly fine, but you have to sit down at some point. Every writer has a different routine. It is important to establish what works for you. Start out slow, maybe thirty minutes a day, and increase the time limit as it feels right.

Self-editing should be separated from your writing time. Don’t let that part of your mind mess with you while you create. Find a different location to do this task if necessary. Let your piece sit for a few days. Try to detach yourself from it, as if it was written by another. Like writing, you will also need practice at editing. One way to get practice is to edit someone else’s work. It’s easier to see the flaws in another’s writing.

I would also like to suggest reading material of an inspirational level. There are many articles and books out there telling you how to write. I’m not saying not to read these, but don’t dwell on them. There is no simple plan to show you how to write that best seller. I suggest reading some that tell you why they do it.

One, in particular, I would like to recommend is Stephen King’s On Writing. He offers a few pointers, but what I enjoyed was the way he lets you step into his world and begin to understand why this man is so widely read. He writes for himself, as you should write for yourself. If you’re not having fun, what’s the point?

Above all else, a writer needs ambition and drive. If you don’t want it badly enough you won’t get very far. Writing is hard work; it’s more than stringing words together. You must be able to create worlds and characters that the reader wants to get to know.

Now go, create something wonderful.

Feel free to share your thoughts. Are you a struggling writer trying to get published? Have you found the path to publication? There is always something to learn from others. Share with me what you’ve learned along the way. Ask questions.

How well do you know your characters?

All through the how to books, you will find some writers put plot over character development and some the other way around. In my world, the two go hand and hand. The characters create the plot; the plot creates the characters.

When I begin a new project, my first step is to capture an idea germ. These little creatures come in many shapes and forms and can appear anywhere. My next step is to brainstorm around the idea germ. Who is the character? What does she want? How will she reach her goal? Who will stop her? What if the villain turns out to be a nice guy? And on and on goes the questions.

Then it’s time to get to know my characters. Usually through the brainstorming session at least 3-4 characters will show themselves and volunteer to be participants in the story at hand.

In short stories and novellas, the characters usually grow in my head. But with my work-in-progress, a novel, I’m feeling a need to really get in touch with these characters and what motivates them. The story is on the complex side and the better I know these people I’ll be spending so much time with the better we’ll all be.

I believe the information needed about your characters may depend on the story at hand and how long you anticipate on spending with them. That’s not to say knowing your character is any less important with a short piece.

Through the years, I’ve read many suggestions on getting to know your characters. From information sheets, to character interviews, and even producing scenes just to see how they react. I believe the depth and technique you use will depend on you as an author. You may not need to know your character’s favorite color or her favorite food. But, knowing such things can give you added insight you may find useful during your time with your new family.

Ask yourself, “What is my favorite color? In what way does this affect my everyday life?” Does it?

I’m partial to blues, maroons, and browns. I feel this aspect of me does affect my life to a certain degree. I find these colors to be earthly colors, but others may find them boring. What does this say about me? I think it has to do with my down to earth nature, my mature and responsible attitude. Not to say anything’s wrong with hot pink. It’s a fun color, but you probably won’t see me wearing it, at least not on a normal day.

Did your character have a happy childhood? Did you have a happy childhood? How did this affect you during your teenage years, your adult years? If you really think about it, a person’s likes, dislikes, childhoods, parents, and so on, make us who we are. So, why would it be any different for our characters?

Some authors take it further by producing birth charts, reading tarot cards, and even shopping as their character.

How well do you know your characters? How deep do you go?

Guest Post at Misha's My First Book blog

Misha, of My First Book blog, invited me over to do a guest blog. The topic, "Where do you get your ideas?"

I explored this topic in a similar post here on my blog. The new post includes thoughts on where/how I grew my idea for Escape to Love. Stop by and discover the idea germ and leave comments.

Happy Wednesday!

On 'How to Write' Books

Some writers devour 'how to write' books, and some won't touch them.

Which writer are you?

As a new writer, I picked up many 'how to' books, searching for the secrets of writing. The problem was I didn't understand them, found them too complicated. I'm not sure rather I was grabbing the wrong ones, but now as I re-read them, I find them much more understandable.

Can you learn from 'how to' books?

I believe it is helpful to read what other writers think about the art of writing. You won't discover a magical blueprint. What you will find is multiple views, which you can adapt to your own writing over time.

I continue to grab how to books, and now as I read, I can relate to what the writer is sharing. I continue to pick up additional helpful hints with each new book.

What is the best way to read a how to book?

I suggest reading it from beginning to end. Use sticky markers to tab anything that seems useful. The more you write, the more the practices you find in these books will come into play. Later, you may choose to reread these books. I believe you will be surprised at how much you've actually used the knowledge without even realizing it.

Do you read 'how to' books? Do you follow from beginning to end? Do you jump around to the sections you want to read most? Book recommendations welcomed.

Five Free E-books Every Writer Needs

Jane Friedman, of the blog - There Are No Rules, has rounded up five e-book resources that every writer should read. Best of all they're free! Here's the list she's made available, along with links for downloads.

1 - 70 Solutions to Common Writing Mistakes by Bob Mayer
2 - 279 Days to Overnight Success by Chris Guillebeau
3 - How to Write a Great Query Letter by Noah Lukeman
4 - What Publishers Want: An Author's Guide by Greenleaf Book Group
5 - Smashwords Book Marketing Guide: How to Market Any Book for Free

I've downloaded each, but haven't dug into any yet. Feel free to let me know what you think of each. Are there e-books out there you think every writer should read? Share them here in the comments.

Research - Discover knowledge and new ideas

Research can broaden your writing knowledge and create new ideas.

No writer is limited to what they know, because there are always opportunities to learn more.

Do you have a great idea involving a nurse, but have no knowledge of the occupation? There are many ways to learn more. Visit a hospital and talk to a nurse. Search blogs and find a nurse. The opportunities are endless.

Have you always wanted to interpret your dreams? Study the process, use the process, and apply it to your writing. Have a main character who deals with dreams. If you dig deep enough into the idea of dreams, wonderful ideas will come to you.

Make a goal. Learn something new each month. Do you have a favorite way to research? Share your process.

Author and Aspiring Author Blog Hop

JOIN THE HOP!

THIS WEEK'S AUTHOR BLOG HOP QUESTION FOR THURSDAY, JUNE9 IS ABOUT: Writing Scenes (Part two): Define a cliffhanger in your own words and tell what it means to your writing? Question provided by affiliate author L. P Robinson

A cliffhanger is a tool used to pull the reader into the next chapter without putting the book down. Chapters are breaking points, a chance to set the book down and walk away. Although you don't want to drag the reader from beginning to end in one sitting - well you do, but you need to give them enough breathing room to let them make the choice.

With that said, I hate cliffhangers at the end of a book. Sequel or not, I'd rather see the main plot tied up, even if it is loosely. This has been my major issue with the Twilight Movies and most recently "I Am Number Four." If the story or movie is good, there's no need to make the reader have to read or see the sequel. If it's good, they will come back, arms wide open.

Feel free to share your thoughts on this question, here or join the hop.

Write What You Know

When I began writing, I kept hearing write what you know. Needless to say, this was depressing news. I didn't know anything. Then, a past writing coach put together a few questions, and to my delight, I discovered I did know a lot.

The phrase, "Write what you know," doesn't need to be taken to extremes.

Your past experiences can bring life to your writing. Your hobby can give your main character a colorful outlook on life. Your occupation can bring a new aspect or character into your story.

Take a moment to list things you know about. Delve into your childhood, your relationships, your workplace, your hobbies, etc.

Who were you as a child? Did you play sports? Were you a bookworm? A loner?

Create characters that you can relate to, and you will discover it's easier to breathe life into them.

Writing is an extension of you, rather you realize it or not. Tap into this aspect and your writing will soar.

Author and Aspiring Author Blog Hop

JOIN THE HOP!

THIS WEEK'S AUTHOR BLOG HOP QUESTION FOR THURSDAY, JUNE 2nd IS ABOUT: Writing scenes (Part One): How would you define a 'twist'? Do you use a twist in every scene or just at the end of the book? Question provided by affiliate author L. P Robinson (Part two is next week!)

A twist is an event that occurs that wasn't expected. In most cases, these are hard elements to add to your story. Even though it is unexpected, it's not out of character, out of the blue, or illogical to the story line.

I love a twist ending, as long as it doesn't kill the whole story. Most of my short stories end with a subtle twist. In larger works, I do my best to weave in a few twists here and there. A twist is only good if it works.

Feel free to share your thoughts on this question, here or join the hop.

Writing Rules - Active vs Passive

Writing in an active voice produces clear, smooth, easy reading. Knowing the difference between the two voices provides the knowledge needed to create active writing.

What is Active Voice? The Active Voice emphasizes WHO is doing what.

What is Passive Voice? The Passive Voice highlights what is being done.

Active Voice Sentence Format: {who} {action} {subject acted upon}
Passive Voice Sentence Format: {subject acted upon} {action} {who}

Active Example: Charles threw the ball.
Passive Example: The ball was thrown by Charles.

Notice the tightness of the active voice compared to the passive. Fewer words are needed, equaling a quicker read. The most obvious indicators of the passive voice are the “to be” verbs: is, are, was, and were. But the appearance of these words doesn’t always mean the sentence is passive.

Active: The tiger is charging toward him. (Although this is an active sentence, the ‘is’ gives an indicator for improvement.
Better: The tiger charged him. (Fewer words, quicker read)

Passive: She was beautiful, but wasn’t aware of it. She was walking at a slow pace.
Active: Unaware of her beauty, she walked at a slow pace.
Better: Unaware of her beauty, she shuffled along the cracked sidewalk. (By using a stronger verb, you supply a quicker read and a better image for the reader.)

Passive: The ball was thrown to John. Tyler was able to intercept it.
Active: Tyler jumped in front of John and intercepted the ball.

This is not to say ‘to be’ words should be completely exterminated. They have their purpose in creative writing. While they shouldn’t be overused, they can provide variety to your text. Overtime, you will know when it’s time to follow the rules, and when to break it.

Writing Rules

Writing Rules, pun intended. On one hand, writing is a magnificent journey one can take without ever leaving one spot. On the other, there are rules to follow along the way. By self-teaching/discovering these rules, the road has been long and bumpy, but very enjoyable.

First, you may wonder how one teaches herself to write. There are basic rules, such as grammar and spelling, but there’s much more to learn about writing when you begin looking toward publication. These rules can be discovered within how-to books, reading others work, online browsing, critique partners, and of course classes.

Now, you may be wondering what sort of rules I’m referring to. Repetition of words and phrases, show, don’t tell, avoiding adverbs, to name a few. Most writers know these rules and most have learned to adapt them to their writing, right? As I step into the editing field, I’m discovering this may not be the case. Writing is more than creating a great story. It’s building easy, enjoyable reading.

Well, that’s the editor’s job, some may be saying. This may be true, but as a new writer, presenting your novel at top quality will allow those doors to open a little more easily. Do yourself a favor and learn the rules and adapt to them. Edit your work before sending it to a publisher and make the percentage of acceptance go up a notch.

I plan to go deeper into these rules and share with you what I’ve learned over the years in later posts. For now, I’ll leave you with a couple of consistent rules I’ve learned.

Rule 1: Learn the rules.

Rule 2: Learn when to break the rules.

Rule 3: Forget the rules.

Okay, I know Rule 3 may seem confusing, but when you write, forget all the pesky rules. Write from the heart and soul. Save the rules for editing and revisions.