If you’re a fiction writer, like me, then you love to use your imagination. You might have lofty ideas for your next novel or be in the middle of crafting a stellar short story. Whatever your jam is, I promise that these tips are for you.
- Write about what you love. Remember that one teacher who was passionate about the subject they taught? It made them more interesting to listen to, right? Such is the case with writing. Trust me, you don’t want to spend hours learning and writing about something you’re not interested in, and it’s going to show. I’ve read blogs and books where it’s obvious that the writer is trying to write in a specific category to attract readers, but the writing doesn’t seem to flow from a natural interest. It might be technically accurate, but there’s no heart behind it.
- Keep an element of mystery. As a writer, I am guilty of inundating my readers with details and giving things away too early, worrying that my readers will stop reading if they don’t understand everything. But as a reader, the mystery is what keeps me reading! It’s important to keep in mind that even if the genre you’re writing in isn’t mystery, you need to weave a mystery throughout your book.
- Keep things simple. They used to say a newspaper should be written at a third grade reading level, to keep the reader engaged. People don’t want to have to sift through difficult sentences and words they don’t know to get to the story. The same is true for your book. Think: how can I get this point across using less words and simpler sentences? You don’t want to oversimplify, but the point is to bring clarity to your writing.
- Break your writing into manageable pieces. Give yourself deadlines and set monthly and weekly writing goals. I also set daily goals, but to be honest you never know what unexpected events will interrupt your daily plan, so I like to set my weekly goal at a reasonable amount (let’s say 5,000 words, assuming you don’t write for a living). That gives you the flexibility to do 2,500 words one day, and 500 the next. You can work as you are able and inspired, and still meet your goals.
- Give your story structure. Does it have a beginning, middle, and end? Or, do your characters meander through your tale aimlessly, doing things and experiencing things that seem unconnected? Don’t feel like you have to follow the ordinary story structure. There are many different types. The point is, make sure your story is dynamic and that its parts connect. I appreciate the humor with which Kurt Vonnegut approaches story arcs.
- Develop your characters. No one wants to hear the story of how a bunch of things happened to Joe, and he remained largely unchanged and disinterested in all of it. You need to make your main character interesting or relatable, and he should go through some kind of transformation. Even if you don’t tell the backstory of the characters in your story, you need to know it. It will inform decisions you make about what your character does in the narrative.
- Limit the use of the passive voice. The passive voice is not as engaging, and can make it seem like your characters and the world are being acted upon, but are largely disengaged. For example: “Susie was taken to the hotel by a friendly driver. The driver was distracted by a pigeon that was hit by the car windshield. “Oh no!” was shouted by the driver. Susie was forced to walk.” Exaggerated, but you get the point.
- Be a ruthless editor. Be willing to cut out sections, sentences, and even characters that aren’t needed in the story. And if you want to leave it in there, make sure it does serve a purpose. A reader shouldn’t be wondering why you took the time to introduce a new character who never appears again and didn’t move the plot forward. While you’re writing, let the content flow freely, but when you’re ready to edit, try to be picky about what you leave in. If you have trouble editing your own content, you should consider swapping manuscripts with another writer or getting some professional editing done to help you to improve in your craft.
- Read! Reading can expose you to different styles, genres, and vocabulary. If you’re writing in a specific genre, you’ll want to read books from that genre to get an idea of what is considered standard.
- Know your audience. If you don’t know who you are writing your book for, you won’t know the level of writing, the style, or the vocabulary to use. Writing a middle grade fantasy novel is different from writing an adult epic fantasy. In one, you would have younger and fewer characters, and be telling a simpler story in simpler language. In the other, you would be creating a complex world peopled with many characters and would probably use more poetic, complex language. You’ll also want to keep in mind that your characters should match your audience in terms of their age level and experience.
What about you?
- What kind of fiction do you write?
- How have you grown as a fiction writer?
- Any fiction-writing tips you’d like to share?
Classic Reads 