Writing tips

Everyone has different writing styles and techniques, some prefer third person while others like first, some describe too simplistically (showing not telling) while others go overboard (purple prose). But if you finally decide you want to finish (or start) that manuscript, there are a few basics that are useful to remember:

1.      Set yourself a goal. This can be daily, weekly however often you want it to be as long as you tell yourself “I’m going to write 500 words this week,” and then actually do it, you’ll be done before you know it.

2.      Keep on reading. A step to becoming a good writer is becoming a good reader. Don’t limit yourself to what you see at the top of Amazons Bestseller List, (not that it isn’t helpful) delve beyond that and read things you might not normally.

3.      PSG. That’s Punctuation, Spelling and Grammar which although seem obvious, can be easily overlooked in a first draft and not long after forgotten about. So keep an eye on your writing because it’s a lot easier to edit a short paragraph than it is to edit 50,000 words.

4.      How many characters do you have? As tempting as it is don’t go overboard on the number of main characters in your story or you’ll struggle with developing them later on in your story. 

5.      The plot thickens… Plan the start and end of your story so you have a clear idea of what you’re writing about. This will make it easier for you to write a story without having to too much worry about plot holes.

If you have any extra tips email me at lettora@live.co.uk