The Biggest Mistake Writers Make in Openings
What’s the biggest mistake I find writers make in their opening paragraphs? They begin in the wrong place. Too long of an on-ramp. Throat clearing. There are lots of names for it, but it all boils down to this—find an interesting sentence to begin your work! Draw the reader in immediately. Don’t bore them before they get started. I’m not saying you don’t have to write that long on-ramp, I’m just saying it doesn’t have a place in your edited work. Read the story aloud and zero in on where it gets interesting. That’s your beginning. I have lots of other tips on how to write an effective beginning. I’ll be talking about this subject at the Pine City Public Library on Saturday, November 3rd from 10 a.m. – 1...
Read MoreThe Most Important Book on a Writer’s Shelf
The most tattered and worn reference book on my shelf is The Synonym Finder, by J. I. Rodale. It claims to be the largest, most comprehensive thesaurus in print. I don’t know about that, but I do know that this book is my most helpful writing tool. When I’ve used the same word twice in a paragraph and I need to find a new way to say the same thing, I go to The Synonym Finder. The word dagger, for instance, has almost 30 alternatives. Looking for a title? The Synonym Finder can help you find one. Just look up a frequently used word in your text and see if there might be a clever alternative. Can’t think of how to spell a word? Not sure what a word means? Want a more active verb to describe your character’s actions? I use this book for...
Read MoreWhat Changes in Your Memoir?
A well-told story always involves change—the main character is lost and unable to function in the world and, as the book proceeds, he finds his way through the maze of life to a new understanding of what it means to be a citizen of our world. Memoir is no exception to this rule of change. Even in the shortest of stories, something must be different at the end. A new understanding is gained, a new self-assurance is found, a new way of looking at a situation is created. When writing your own story, look for the growth stages in your life. How did you manage to raise children, work full-time and volunteer for a cause every week? How did you survive after the death of a spouse? How did you work your way through depression into a brighter world? Look for the...
Read MoreFree Edit!
October is my favorite time of year. Not only are the bugs finally gone and the leaves a glorious color, but October is also my birthday month. I’ve never been one to celebrate. Often the day goes by without fanfare. But last year I decided it was time to begin celebrating each birthday as a reflection of my thankfulness for another year on this earth. A year ago today I telephoned my oldest and dearest pals from high school and arranged my own birthday party, a tradition we have honored at each of our birthdays. The lunches with my high school friends have been the highlight of my year, reminding each of us to celebrate the milestone instead of moaning about the wrinkles on our faces. So what could I do this year, besides the annual birthday lunch, to...
Read MoreFree Edit!
October is my favorite time of year. Not only are the bugs finally gone and the leaves a glorious color, but October is also my birthday month. I’ve never been one to celebrate. Often the day goes by without fanfare. But last year I decided it was time to begin celebrating each birthday as a reflection of my thankfulness for another year on this earth. A year ago today I telephoned my oldest and dearest pals from high school and arranged my own birthday party, a tradition we have honored at each of our birthdays. The lunches with my high school friends have been the highlight of my year, reminding each of us to celebrate the milestone instead of moaning about the wrinkles on our faces. So what could I do this year, besides the annual birthday lunch, to...
Read More