For those beginning writer's there are a LOT of rules you need to learn. You might learn these in a writing class. You might learn them by joining a writer's group. When you first write stories, you make a lot of these mistakes. Here are some tips.
- Use active voice
- Avoid using adverbs
- Don’t head hop
- Show; don’t tell
- Metaphors can be nice (but they can also be awful)
- Vary sentence structure (all sentences should not start with HE)
- Balance plot, character, and description
- Don’t use words repeatedly
- Don’t create run-on sentences
- Learn proper punctuation
- Use paragraphs wisely (not an entire story in one paragraph, please)
- Make dialogue realistic (don’t say things like “As you know”)
- Avoid infodumps
- Don’t tell the reader how someone ‘feels’
- You don’t have to start at the beginning
- Maintain the same voice (1st, 2nd, 3rd person) and tense throughout...unless there is a very good reason
- Don’t overuse exclamation points.
- Keep the pace moving; don’t get locked into one scene
- Don’t expect to make money; write because you love it
- Your first million words will be rubbish
- Write, write and re-write
- Learn to be critical of yourself
- Don’t blame the reader
- Don’t overuse any specific mechanic (metaphors, adverbs, flashbacks, etc.)
- Try to immerse yourself in your story's setting and describe it as you would to someone with sensory deprivation issues.
- When describing a setting, create sensory images, not just words, so the reader can actually feel it.
- Use words that show how the character reacts to it based on those feelings.
- Use subtle feelings, not just the seven deadly sins (anger, envy, greed, fear, love, etc.) Otherwise, your characters will feel like blunt-force instruments.
- A realistic character always believes he is doing the right thing even when it's wrong
- Don’t rely on Grammarly or Hemingway Editor to make a writer out of yourself. These software aids are crutches that encourage slothful writing. Like sex toys are to the orgasm, they merely urge one forward toward an inevitable conclusion, but they can’t get an author to write a good novel, short story or essay.
