My Top 3 Tips for Writing
Regular Writing
I heard this over and over but I just couldn’t seem to get into a writing routine.
I tried to set a daily routine but I still work a full-time job and a lot of days I write when I have 15-30 minutes but it was not on a regular basis.
Then I started blogging each week with the help of my simple editorial calendar and I can see how regular writing is helping me move forward as a writer.
I am finding my unique voice, enhancing my creativity and and my self-confidence is increasing.
Whether you write daily, weekly or monthly, you must write regularly.
Show, Don’t Tell
When I am writing, I try to show and not tell to keep my reader’s involved in my story.
I show dialogue, sensory details and actions instead of telling or stating the facts.
One thing you need to remember is don’t show and tell.
For example, ‘The dog is excited and jumping up and down.’ Excited is the tell and jumping up and down is the show and you don’t need both.
This is something you can look for when you are editing your work.
You can tell or show but don’t show and tell.
Read It Out Loud
This is one of my favorite editing tips because you can catch all kinds of errors in your writing.
Here are a few examples of things I find when reading out loud.
- It tells me immediately if a sentence doesn’t flow right.
- It not only helps me find my voice, but make it stronger.
- It shows me where I need a transition.
- It helps me find misspelled words, grammatical errors, and punctuation.
If you have never done this before, try it out and see what you can find.
Sandra,
So glad to see you’re writing on a regular basis now. I hope you’re having fun doing it, too.