For years, I operated a critique service and I still judge contests from time to time, so I see a lot of manuscripts from new novelists. Often, the story starts with a bang-a great passage of dialogue, an action sequence, an intriguing lead that grabs my attention-and I read on.

Unfortunately, paragraph number two almost inevitably […]

For years, I operated a critique service and I still judge contests from time to time, so I see a lot of manuscripts from new novelists. Often, the story starts with a bang–a great passage of dialogue, an action sequence, an intriguing lead that grabs my attention–and I read on.

Unfortunately, paragraph number two almost inevitably […]

Recently one of the writers’ e-mail loops I receive conducted a lively discussion about the “was” word. Today’s novelists hear “avoid passive voice” repeatedly from critique partners, editors, friends, and probably even strangers on the streets. Is passive voice evil? Is the “was” word a sin? Are its friends evil companions (is, are, were, be, […]

One way to perk up our prose is to incorporate various stylistic devices. Another way is to revise or even cut words or phrases that can better be said in another way. Clichés are one such thing we can revise. Remember, our purpose as novelists is to give our readers an emotional experience. Since clichés […]

I gave my daughter’s friend a ride home once. We drove for several miles along a road that could almost be described as a pig trail. One narrow lane, deep ditches on either side, more dirt than gravel. Her home was perched on top of a low ridge. As we neared her driveway, she said, […]

How many times have writers heard, “Using strong verbs and nouns makes good writing”? Yet, how many times have we heard, “Overuse of prepositions makes bad writing”? It does. Prepositions are essential to proper English usage. They show a relationship between words within a sentence. However, flinging them onto the page uncensored leads to sloppy, […]

Whether in fiction or nonfiction, conversational style contributes to good writing. However, it tends to be wordy. Once we’ve written a piece, our next job is to cut it. Separate the wheat from the chaff and let the wind carry the chaff away. The first step is to recognize the chaff. Certain words fly the […]

Many Americans (including me!) have bad eating habits. Too much junk food. Too much food, period! We’re overstuffed. We suffer health problems and image problems. We must cut the fat. When our writing becomes overstuffed, our readers suffer through pages of boring narrative. And we suffer, too–our writing success is endangered. We must cut the […]