Writing

Writing Tips: Getting the First 50 Pages Right

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Getting the First 50 Pages Right

by: Ronovan

 

“Include the first 50 pages of your manuscript with your query.”

 

Does that sound familiar? If you’ve queried your book to an agent or publisher then your answer should be yes. It might be even worse than 50 pages. How about that cringing first 10 pages only one?

 

 

You don’t have long to hook an agent or publisher and to be absolutely truthful this is if you get past the query letter. Sometimes if your letter doesn’t speak to them they won’t even bother. But I’ve read of several agents who read regardless because it’s not the letter that they are going to sell to a publisher or the public.

 

What do you need in those first pages to make the person you have queried say send me more?

 

You need three things, regardless of genre:

  1. I want to know what is the important goal in this book that makes me want to read it
  2. I want to know what will happen if the protagonist doesn’t succeed, what’s on the line
  3. I need to know there a time limit to the situation

 

 

Goal

In a novel the goal might be an internal issue but is usually something outside beyond the control of the protagonist.

 

One of my novels has a goal of saving someone from being murdered. He knows when it will happen, and he knows a handful of people that it could happen to. So what’s the problem, getting people to believe him. The difficult part of it is, since he knows all of the victims so far things are a bit tough on him to get people to listen.

 

What if?

Now you have the what if the protagonist doesn’t succeed aspect. For my novel it means someone will die. In this case it will be someone he knows. Here we have two what if’s; 1) someone dies, 2) the protagonist will be one step closer to jail because he knew the person and even told people the person might be murdered.

 

Time’s Up

If there is no sense of urgency then a reader may get bored. In the case of my novel, if a murder could just happen any time then a reader wouldn’t be looking for it. Each murder happens at a full moon or a new moon. This gives the reader and the protagonist time to sweat it out trying to find the killer before that reminder in the sky goes off.

 

Can you fit all of that in 50 pages, or even 10? Yes you can. You have to do the tough things though.

  1. Cut the scenes that don’t advance the story
  2. Don’t spend a lot of time on a character that won’t be relevant to the story
  3. Don’t give a lot of character analysis or overly describe a setting, let the story and dialogue SHOW the reader who the people are

 

These are tried and true tips. But they are also more difficult than you think. If it were easy everyone would get signed. Great stories, great novels are sitting in stacks of paper in desk drawers all over the world. This isn’t a new concept. People like to say that the modern age of ease of instant gratification has changed how readers pick books to read, but the truth is that if a person is looking at a book to read they are knowingly planning on investing time to it.

 

Goal-What If-Time’s Up

 

© Copyright-All rights reserved-RonovanWrites.wordpress.com-June 12, 2014.

 

Blogging Tips: Why Isn’t Anyone Reading My Articles?

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Why Isn’t Anyone Reading My Articles?

by: Ronovan

“I must stink as a writer! NO one is reading what I wrote.”

 Irate Man Cartoon

 

Admit it, you’ve felt that way. You may have even actually used stronger language. Go ahead and think about it while I close my eyes and ears…their sensitive you know.

 

 

You have a following for your site and you usually receive a decent amount of traffic and people who like what you write. Then BOOM! Nothing happens for one of your articles. What happened?

 

  1. They didn’t feel your article title
  2. The article blurb they saw in the preview didn’t grab them
  3. The image associated with the article turned them off
  4. The subject wasn’t what they were looking for
  5. You posted at the wrong time
  6. Your writing/content layout needed work

 

Step 1-Bait ‘Em (Grab their Attention)

Just like with a novel at a store or online that first impression is what counts. You need a grabber title along with an appropriate image that is inviting to the reader that matches the title and subject matter if you use an image at all. My advice is to use an image if possible.

 

Step 2-Hook ‘Em (Make them Click More)

You have their attention to read your first few sentences in the preview. Make those first lines count. I have my ways of doing it, and keep working on improving them all the time. Remember it changes depending on the type of article you are writing as well. But you have less time to set that hook and make them click more than someone with a novel in a bookstore does.

 

Step 3-Be Aware/Relevant

I wrote an article called ‘10 Forgotten Male Solo Artists of the 1980s’. Barely any views or likes came of it. I knew I was pushing it with it. I knew it wouldn’t go over well. Why did I know it? Because my readership is interested in writing both how to and reading things I come up with in this crazy mind of mine. I spent a lot of time on the article but I did so because it was fun for me and was just one of the pieces I was putting out for the day. Yes, you can put out material just for fun. Was it informative? Yes, there were bits of trivia, and the video for each year.

 

Just know that when you put something out there that is out of your normal content that you may not receive much success, but don’t be afraid to try it. They’ll come back as long as you don’t keep putting out what your site has been traditionally about.

 

Step 4-Check Your Content

You wrote a relevant piece keeping in line with your site’s theme and still nothing happens. Compare your article with others. Was it useful information? Was it overly long? Were the paragraphs bulky/too long? Did you have too many images?

 

Have a friend read it and give you feed back. Just don’t give up on the article. I’ve had articles where I’ve tried to be too funny in the beginning and that turned people off. I had one very nice article that increased in views once I took out all of these unnecessary images. I had put a lot of time into it but I realized that’s not what my readers wanted to see.

 

I’ve reworded paragraphs to make them flow better and cut other paragraphs into two separate paragraphs or even made bullet points out of the content.

 

Step 5-Know When to Publish

This should be the Step 1 but it is a little bit of an odd one. Some people just look at the times of day to publish. You’ll see different opinions. I like to publish when people have just settled in at work and have checked messages and have a few minutes of free read time.

 

Other things to keep in mind:

  • Holidays
  • Summer weather
  • Sporting Events
  • Popular TV shows

 

I know that on certain holidays, like this past Mother’s Day in the US that my traffic would drop. I didn’t freak out. I know that Father’s Day is coming up in the US so again, traffic will drop for that Sunday. Know your viewers, where they are from, and you will help your understanding of why things happen. There might be some religious reasons traffic drops off and not just on Christmas Day. I know I have readers who come from every walk of life.

 

These have been some tips to help you with your content but mainly to help you understand and not freak out when your traffic drops off every now and then. It’s going to happen sometimes. But if you maintain the trust of your readers you can trust them to come back and more to follow.

 

© Copyright-All rights reserved-RonovanWrites.wordpress.com-June 12, 2014.

 

Feline Friday: The Missing Kitten.

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My pal Spunky is missing. He has been for a few days now. I’ve grown dependent on caring for him and having that affection. He makes life better. Kitty is still here sometimes, but Spunky was here always and all I had to do was call his name and he came running. So if I’ve not read your articles or been quite courteous in my comments I apologize and just know I’ll get better sooner or later. I just hope maybe the lessons Kitty taught him in Kat-fu will come in handy.

 

Kat-fu
ronovanwrites © Original Photo by RonovanWrites

 

© Copyright-All rights reserved-RonovanWrites.wordpress.com-June 13, 2014.

My Follows For Inspiration Friday

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My Follows For Inspiration Friday

by: Ronovan

http://maxreynolds.wordpress.com/ Great photography site. Has different shots you don’t always think of. Good for a writer wanting to get an idea of how things look.

 

http://kiwibeeblogger.wordpress.com/ Mixture of writing and nice photography. The Photography is of South Korea and things you don’t normally get to see. I really enjoy this one a lot. Can’t wait for more photos.

 

http://thafreebird.wordpress.com/ Aarya and Veda combine to bring two styles to one great site. Some of you already follow them but they give an inside look into the culture in India that I greatly enjoy. I find that there are more similarities than differences in the various societies by reading their articles. Well worth the reading. They really share emotions and are very honest in their writing.

 

http://beledbyreason.wordpress.com/ New to our WordPress family, this site brings beautiful photography of Hawaii with poetry to match. The lady behind it also opens up with feelings about various topics and gives us some history of the islands through her photos and her words. Always a nice visit.

 

 

http://serinssphere.wordpress.com/ I like this site a lot because I am always surprised at what I’ll see next but I always know it’ll be good. A great supporter and commenter for my blogs, with honest feedback which is always a plus in my book.

 

© Copyright-All rights reserved-RonovanWrites.wordpress.com-June 13, 2014.

Maw Maw’s Lovin’

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Maw Maw’s Lovin’

by: Ronovan

 Maw Maw

“Down home Southern cooking can’t be beat.

It makes us well rounded from our head to our feet.”

 

That may not be an actual saying down here in the South. By the South I mean the losing side of the Civil War in the US. Although I consider that loss to be winning in the grand scheme of things, don’t you? But that saying fits because of grandmothers in kitchens across these Southern states.

 

For me a celebration was any meal my MawMaw cooked. MawMaw would be Southern for Grandmother for those trying to speak the language, Southern that is. I’m looking at my New York and Ohio friends out there.

 

As a kid you sat either at a card table or at the coffee table. Be slow and it was the coffee table in front of the TV. Quicker and you were closer to seconds of the good stuff. You picked your preference. I didn’t watch TV.

Continue reading →

Superstitious of a Day

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Superstitious of a Day

by: Ronovan

(I had pars of Superstition by Stevie Wonder going through my brain while writing this, if you want the beat.)

 Friday 13th

Your superstitious mind

Keeps trippin’ up your brain

Keep on believin’

It’ll slowly drive you insane

 

Things do happen

They happen all the time

Don’t you keep worrying

Or you’re going to lose your mind

 

You’re very contradictions

So intellectually inclined

But come a day with a number

Your reason I cannot find

 

You’re so superstitious

Keep trippin’ in your brain

Baby keep believin’

And you’ll end up insane

 

© Copyright-All rights reserved-RonovanWrites.wordpress.com-June 13, 2014.

The Howl of the Consonant Vowels-The Block of Writers

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The Howl of the Consonant Vowels-The Block of Writers

By: Ronovan

 Scrablle Tiles

It is said

If one continues to write each day

That eventually

One will have something to say

 

Here I am

To put death to that expression

Within these joined letters

You will hear my confession

 

The timelessness of a consonant vowel

Brings to mind the freakish nighttime mindless howl

Thinking of letters rhymes and reasons

Makes me shiver and sweat regardless of seasons

 

Look at a page of white blank expanses

They laughingly glare at you in pixelated glances

Write on the thoughts demand of the fingers

Digits deliver a message with meaning of one that lingers

 

The block it tackles the image to the ground

Blasting voiced anguish of creation in sound

Stomping bipedal movements don’t relieve

Movements of joints doesn’t bring one to conceive

 

Atmospheric changes dim to a glaring

No doubt these differences is meant for sharing

You pick up a nib to the flat pulp of the earth

Not a single scribbled jot denies you that’s of worth

 

Give up and don’t waste or delay

There really isn’t all that much you can say

Once the images have flittered away

Just kick back with a pint of ice cream and call it a day

 

© Copyright-All rights reserved-RonovanWrites.wordpress.com-June 12, 2014.

Tears Do Fall You Know

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Tears Do Fall You Know

by: Ronovan

 

I can’t believe this, he thought. A father, I’m going to have a little princess. I’ll call her My Baby Girl and she’ll be my Angel. I hope no one notices the tears. I’m too big to cry, but I don’t care. Every man wants this. Every man needs to have that little bitty thing to hold in his hands and heart. And she will never date or get married. She’ll always be My Baby Girl. He stared ahead still stunned by it all, shell shocked in the glory of the news.

 

The woman squeezed his hand a little tighter. Her mind raced with what to do. I know he wanted a boy, all men do. They want to carry on the family name and do ball games and all of that. I just hope he’ll be happy and love her just as much anyway. She can play softball and tennis and things like that, but I’m not going to force her to. He’ll have to accept her as she is. He’ll just have to get over it. Her grip tightened slightly in anger. She felt his hand give, as if not even there. Caught up in his self pity, she thought.

 

Another death in the family I imagine or he lost his job, the woman thought as her needles worked without thought. So many men cry in this park. Perhaps there is a misery attached to it. I could get Maggie to do an exorcism and cleanse the place. But then that might get rid of John too. Me and my John need our time together. She looked at the seat beside her, not seeing the green slates but the image of an elderly man with a bag of breadcrumbs for the pigeons. Her needles flew and the couple walked on. Poor dear, she thought.

 

© Copyright-All rights reserved-RonovanWrites.wordpress.com-June 12, 2014.

Could of been Cut! one choice-my life

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Could of been Cut! one choice-my Life

by: Ronovan

 I love you so much

Testify to a travesty that happened from birth

You don’t even know it but you were given worth

All these hooplahs laying down their monkey laws

Let me tell you test tube lovers I ain’t got a tail in my draws

 

You say kill ‘em and let ‘em just die on the floor

But I say that life is worth the living and the dying for

Am I making a statement of opinion and of my facts

You betcha bottom dollar and I’m not holding any back

 

The big guy came down and he walked up that hill

He let them lay him down and drive spikes to kill

You think he did that so we could throw it all away

No, uh uh, not to my way of thinking no way

 

I was unintentional at 17 and a decision was made

Fruit picking in the groves near the everglades

I should of could of and would of been cut

But something spoke out and said no, that’s enough

 

Wait a minute, you ain’t got a right to say nothin’

Your body ain’t the one made for this discussion

I know what I know and I say what I love

And what I do know is…God gave life from above.

 

 

Respect for you and Your Choices

As I wish for you to have for Me and Mine

Much Love

Ronovan

© Copyright-All rights reserved-RonovanWrites.wordpress.com-June 11, 2014.

Nonsense and Such: Music Scales and Lakes Sub Par-Nonsensical Poetry?

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Nonsense and Such: Music Scales and Lakes Sub Par-Nonsensical Poetry?

by: Ronovan

 Hands Glasses

You try to lick depression

But you depress the tongue

 

While the rise of a music scale is a step

To scale a ladder you climb a rung

 

You can be stabbed in the back

And take a shot in the arm

Both can occur

Without any harm

 

If you break your back

You go to a chiropractor for the aching

But then why do they say

Such a one’s work is back breaking

 

Why is there something

Called A Bridge Too Far

Was the river too short

Was the lake sub par

 

The thunder roars but has no voice

The mime doesn’t speak but that’s by choice

Perhaps it’s just by my own delusion

But all of these things seem to add to my confusion

 

You may wonder why my mind wanders so

Well perhaps you don’t really even want to know

But since the question is already out there

It’s because my mind was left…on the hallway stair

 

© Copyright-All rights reserved-RonovanWrites.wordpress.com-June 11, 2014.

10 Forgotten Male Solo Artists of the 1980s

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10 Forgotten Male Solo Artists of the 1980s
by: Ronovan

Two Devo Dogs

Some of  you are looking at this and thinking “He really has lost his mind” because this is not my normal type of article. Sometimes you need to just do something completely different to get the mind fresh and have fun doing it at the same time. What better way to do that than to go tripping through ’80s music?

• 1 Artist Per Year of the 1980s that you may have forgotten about
• Must have ended the year in the Top 100 on the Billboard Charts
• You must enjoy grooving to the videos included

First up, he’s written and produced songs for Barbra Streisand. She hand picked some of his songs for A Star is Born. Tony Award winner, Drama Desk Award winner and his second album, self titled, led Rolling Stone to compare him to Bob Dylan as being an artist of originality and someone to pay attention to.
You know him if you like…Pina Coladas and getting caught in the rain.

1980 and the #11 Hit of the Year
Rupert Holmes-Escape

You heard him as a backup singer for Loretta Lynn, and his work included assisting record producer and composer Mike Post. Even after his hit he went on to record FlashBeagle for “It’s FlashBeagle, Charlie Brown”. But you know him as the voice of Believe it or Not, The Greatest American Hero.

1981 and the #11 Hit
Joey Scarbury-Theme from “The Greatest American Hero” Believe It Or Not

He was a 1960s backup singer who served four months in prison in 1995 for a DUI, and then eventually became a film producer with a Tom Sizemore film to his credit. But you’ll know him best if you are a Humphrey Bogart fan.

1982 and the #17 Hit
Bertie Higgins-Key Largo

At 17 he was a guitarist for Stevie Wonder. And let’s not forget working with Michael Jackson, Diana Ross and Chaka Khan. You’ve heard his soundtrack work in Cocoon and Independence Day but you’ll remember him best as a Maniac on the floor.

1983 and the #9 Hit
Michael Sembello-Maniac

Once a backup singer to Bette Midler, this eventual song writer and producer for No Doubt’s Tragic Kingdom , Kelly Clarkson and even Christina Aguilera millions have heard him as the singing voice of Ling in Mulan, but you might know him better when when you Break his Stride.

1984 and the #27 Hit
Matthew Wilder-Break My Stride

This man worked on countless movie scores until taking a break to be a father. Foxes, American Gigolo, Top Gun, The Running Man, and Tango & Cash. But you know him for his part in making a Cop in Beverly Hills famous.

1985 and the #61 Hit
Harold Faltermeyer-Axel F

Perfect pitch? Volunteered for military service at 17? Jazz-Rock to Punk-Rock? Johann Hölzel was a man of many talents. But you might know him better by another name.

1986 and the #28 Hit
Falco-Rock Me Amadeus

He first wrote songs for the Pointer Sisters and Earth, Wind & Fire before ending up with a hit of his own. In recent times he has written songs for and produced for Babyface, Jessica Simpson and Destiny’s Child. But as for his own singing career? Well, that’s just the way it goes. C’est La Vie.

1987 and the #6 Hit
Robbie Nevil-C’est La Vie

Member of the Raspberries,70’s solo hit maker, then gone, until he got dirty and went dancing.

1988 and the #25 Hit
Eric Carmen-Hungry Eyes

Oh Danny, you went on to play Joseph and set box office records. You married Rosco P. Coltrane’s daughter and co-wrote films with Flicka. But we will always here you should, because you are always Young and Restless, Hey, Kids Rock and Roll.

1989 and the #45 Hit
Michael Damian-Rock On

Next time around it will be the 10 Ladies We’ve Forgotten About. Journey with me through the decades as I try to rediscover the music that made me.

Much Respect
Ronovan

© Copyright-All rights reserved-RonovanWrites.wordpress.com-June 11, 2014.

Nonsense and Such: The Animal Minded or None-A Poem?

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Lost Man in Chair

Nonsense and Such: The Animal Minded or None

by: Ronovan

I never saw the flight of a turtle dove

Its shell must weigh so much

But when the howler monkey screeches

Why does he choose to say it such

 

And how much tross could an alba tross

If an alba could tross tross

The truth of the matter is so simple

You determine it by a coin toss

 

Where does the rilla go

When he must be somewhere

Wherever it must be

He will go in his suit of hair

 

What does the snake wear with its rattle

When it attends a formal function

Whatever it is it must be secure

Lest there be a wardrobe malfunction

 

And how will the old coot bandi about

When the season does change

Most likely find another place

But still in down under range

 

Some may wonder what has happened

To the mind of this odd man

I will explain to you someday

When I can catch it with my hand

 

© Copyright-All rights reserved-RonovanWrites.wordpress.com-May28, 2014.

Blue Socks

Ronovan Writing 101-Blogging University , , , , , , , ,

Blue Socks

by: Ronovan

 

I sat at the bus stop and laughter announced the arrival of Rod and Emerile. Rod nodded, I returned with a weak smile. He picked it up the meaning, glancing to my right.

The figure held the brim of a black fedora, twisting it out of shape. Rod elbowed Emerile. Both went silent staring up the street and into the sun as if looking for the bus.

Fingers squeezed into fists around the felt. They trembled as they settled upon his knees.

An occasional sigh was cut off by chocking sounds. Aftershave fought with the exhaust fumes of passing cars. He placed the fedora over his knee and took his left hand in his right, thumb touching the ring on his finger as if afraid it would break.

People became silent as they walked up to wait for the bus. The honking of horns began silent as if they knew. The hiss of airbrakes signaled the arrival of the bus. The man stood up and put on the crumpled brimmed fedora.

Rod and Emerile stood to one side as others did the same. The man nodded. The dark black suit climbed into the bus revealing a glimpse of navy blue socks.

© Copyright-All rights reserved-RonovanWrites.wordpress.com-June 11, 2014.

Brown Eyes

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Brown Eyes

by: Ronovan

 Brown Eyes

Sweetness of Maple Gold

Richer than any money

The depths of the soul

Reflected in Amber Honey

The Blues and Greens

They have all been written

Epic love stories and poems

And battles by men smitten

For me I say no

I am trapped in your deep

That mysterious depth

That liquid mahogany of your keep

Eyes the shade to see my smile

Not lost in the hues of skies and seas

The beauties of the world

Have eyes such as these

 

Who is the first brown eyes many men my age or older fell in love with? Yes, Audrey Hepburn.

© Copyright-All rights reserved-RonovanWrites.wordpress.com-June 10, 2014.

Wordless Wednesday: Wake me When the Editing is Over

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Lion Asleep on Rock
ronovanwrites © Original Photo by RonovanWrites

Writing Tip: Streamlining Your Scene

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Writing Tip: Streamlining Your Scene

by: Ronovan

 

Kill the darlings! Kill them all!

Agents, writing coaches, and even the pros say “Kill your darlings.” It’s the truth. Kill ‘em. Every last lovely one.

Pause for the tears to fall.

Pause over.

Edited Sheet of Writing

I’ll tell you that I only learned about Flash Fiction a month or so ago, or actually learned that’s what a process was called, although I had been using it for years. You take a scene and break it down to its essentials in as few words as possible.

  • No extra adjectives
  • No extra adverbs
  • Tell the story in the dialogue what is happening
  • Do NOT get explanatory on the reader

They want the dialogue and to find out what’s going on. Yes, there are times when you have scenes with no dialogue. I’m going to give you an example of a scene without much dialogue, before and after cutting it down to the bare essentials. (I hope I didn’t copyright infringe there.)

Here is a romance scene that we’ll see if it can be cut down. I’m not a romance writer so don’t laugh too much. It is 216 words for a very brief scene.

The man looked across the shadowy room and gazed longingly at the silk covered form of what he had desired for so long. She had finally given in. After so many long and frustrating nights of games played and rejections he could tell that she wasn’t going to deny him this time.

He waited for her to come to him. The chasing had been his to do so far, now it was her turn. The moonlight shining through the window shimmered off the red form as she moved to him.

Her breathy voice was more than he had ever imagined it would be. Her red lips and whispered words tickled his ear in a way that he could feel it in his toes. A pain that was much longed for swept through his body.

“Why are you making me wait? You know I’m ready,” she said as her glossy nails slid down his chest, slowly finding their way.

He swallowed hard and slowly took a breath to gain control before speaking. “How do you know I’m rea…,” his voice was cut off.

“I know,” she said as the smile spread across her face. There was nothing more he could say. Silk slid under fingertips as the tender skin of her shoulder gave heat to his lips.

 

I don’t read romance novels, although I write them in my mind. So I don’t even know if I wrote that properly but it will give me something to go with.

Sexy woman whispering
gettyimages © Original Photo by Kent Larsson

Now here is the cut down version.

The man looked across the room at the body he had desired for so long. After so many  frustrating nights of games played and rejections he could tell that she wasn’t going to deny him this time.

The chasing had been his to do so far, now it was her turn to come to him. The moonlight shining through the window shimmered off red silk as she moved.

Her lips whispered words in his ear that sent a pain of longing sweeping down his body.

“Why are you making me wait? You know I’m ready,” she said, her nails sliding down his chest, slowly finding their way.

He slowly took a breath before speaking. “How do you know I’m rea…,” his voice was cut off.

“I know,” she said. She smiled.

Silk slid under fingertips as her skin burned his lips.

 

The word count for this scene is now 141 down from 216. I cut out a lot of unnecessary descriptions in the beginning that would be revealed along the way. I cut the description of the shadowy room, it was unimportant. I also left out the color of her lips. You tell me if the scene works now, just as well as before or better or worse.

Why all the cutting? To get to where the reader wanted to go while still giving the same mood and not wasting the readers time. Also I leave some things to the imagination of the reader. The physical descriptions of the two people are not given. This means they could be anyone and thus any woman or man can slip into the scene and imagine their fantasy lover.

I didn’t  have many opportunities at dialogue tags in this scene but in heavy dialogue scenes you need to occasionally throw in a he said or she said just to keep the reader on track.

  • Keep the paragraphs short, even if not traditionally grammatically appropriate.
  • This is not an English class.
  • Pull the reader to the next part and make them want to moved onward.

If this had been some psychological court case type thing, maybe there would have been more interior monologue, or maybe not. I tend to like the faster paced ideas when there are two or more people involved. A one person scene can get as ‘thoughty’ as they want to be. (Yes, I made up one of my new words.)

Yes, I would have done more with this scene if I were really writing it, but this was just for an exercise.

Let me know what you thought of the scene. Did either scene work? Was one better than the other? Why?

© Copyright-All rights reserved-RonovanWrites.wordpress.com-June 10, 2014.

 

Flash Fiction: A Writer’s Friend

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Flash Fiction really helps me cut down to the meat of what I want to say.

Ronovan's avatarronovanwrites

If you’ve never written Flash Fiction then you are missing a great opportunity to learn what Literary Agents and Editors are looking for, ‘Show Don’t Tell’.

As writers we make a major mistake when we first begin writing, we look at word count and page numbers. I advise you to either turn off the word count on your program, or put something over it so you can’t see it. And also don’t format for page numbers to show. Just write.

Let the story tell the story. Your first draft is just that, a first draft, a blueprint to be build upon.

Sure the industry looks at word count often but it’s the story that sells. Writing Flash Fiction does something great for your skills. Write a scene as you normally would, then strip it down to under 600 words or 300 words. If you can do this and still convey…

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Writing Tips: Short and Sweet Keeps Them in Their Seats.

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Some writing is just too long and I won’t read it no matter how good you tell me it is!

 Man in Pain

It sounds harsh but it’s true. And it’s not because you’re not good. There are many types of audiences out there a writer is attempting to engross in their story, article, or whatever other type of writing it may be. Even a research piece needs to keep this in mind.

  • Make that first sentence engaging-If that first sentence hooks me I might keep going and give it a chance.
  • Keep the paragraphs short-Short paragraphs gives me this false sense of not committing to a long read. It also allows me to pause quickly if need be and come back to the article if I have to ‘step’ away for a moment without the idea I missed something or having or reread a long paragraph.
  • If Blogging, give me some visuals-Visuals make for a little something to keep me there and bring me back to reading. It also can help visual people click with your piece and add deceptive length without adding to reading time.
  • If Blogging keep this in mind-You may be the only reading material that some people are engaging in. I have problems reading books now. I can’t commit to it because I know after two chapters I can’t keep going. Blogs, however, give me something I can read and learn from that are quick and to the point. Break the article up into two parts if it is extremely long. That last part is just a suggestion. (But it might bring back people for a second day of viewing to your Blog. Authors keep that in mind too.)

Unless I am familiar with the work of the writer I will often bail if I see those long paragraphs. We aren’t in a Grammar or Writing class where you have to do things just so.

  • We write how people talk
  • We write short paragraphs
  • We use double negatives

If you are Blogging think of Flash Fiction in your article. Just get to the point and get out. Yes, add humor and entertain, but when it comes to the points you are making don’t draw them out.

Short and Sweet Keeps Them in Their Seat.

© Copyright-All rights reserved-RonovanWrites.wordpress.com-June 03, 2014.

Toppings

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Toppings

by: Ronovan

 Two Men Talking

I sat quietly at the bus stop as Rod and Anton walked up.

 

“You can’t be serious, man,” said Rod.

 

“Hey, you’re belief that the number of choices indicates a lack of committing is not proven by any quantifiable research,” said Anton.

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Writing Tip: Observation Lounge

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Writing Tip: Observation Lounge

by: Ronovan

 

Being stuck in an airport terminal without any electronic devices probably seems like sheer…bad places…to some people. For me, I see it as opportunity to hone a craft.

Aiport Terminal Waiting

Airports are crossroads of the world, culture, society. If you really think about it, the only electronic device you might even want to use is some recording device.

 

I would use a delay of say 6 hours to listen to conversations and jot down phrases that just capture a moment. Also writing down a visual scene in detail including the emotions it brings out would be great for my writing journal.

 

Writers always look for descriptions of so many things in their work; people, clothing, hair, jewelry, sounds, even smells. A six hour workshop on observation of imagery would be something we all could use.

 

In truth we could do this intentionally by going any place that has a fairly large gathering of people; a park, a mall, and even a grocery store. There are little interactions between people you can mention in writing that makes for a connection to the reader that you just take for granted in everyday life.

Inspired from a prompt from The Daily Post.

© Copyright-All rights reserved-RonovanWrites.wordpress.com-June 10, 2014.