Crossworlds
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Bonus Material

Tuesday Tips: Write how you talk

1/10/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
Ever read a book where the author seems like they're trying to imitate Lord of the Rings? Or show off a complex vocabulary? 

Sure, there's a time and place to be a little more formal. You don't need to like, literally write how you talk, like, um, all the time. This especially won't work if your writing for character in the past, or if they're very different from you. Royals aren't going to "stay in and chill" tonight. Or if there's a profoundly important object, go ahead and give it a little more attention and description.


But don't dedicate too much description to ordinary things. 

Sometimes I'll be looking at books on amazon, and the synopsis details a very complex plot, yet the book is less than 200 pages. Alright, great! This means they cut right to the action, right?

​Yet when I read the preview, the story opens with a very detailed description. Like, the most important thing to know is how shiny, soft, and luminescent (I mean, really?) the character's hair or whatever is. Or, the details of the carvings on stone in a room we're never going to return to.

I didn't pick up this book for you to prove to me you know big words. You promised a good story. Tell it.


To these authors:
"It is my desire for you to cease your obnoxious activity."

Um. I mean, 
"I wish you would stop doing that."

Picture
Also, being casual gets you moving. You’ll be getting words on the page a lot faster, because you won’t be trying to be super formal. This is a great way to find your own unique voice as a writer, and your own personal style. You already have your own voice. Nobody else talks just the way you do. This will also make your dialogue more genuine.

I know it can feel weird, especially if you're still in school. English classes teach us to be a little more formal. 


But now, you're writing for yourself (and if you're not, please ask yourself who exactly you're doing this for). You get to do whatever you like. Creating your own story is one of the most freeing experiences there is. Don't let yourself be held back.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    June 2021
    April 2021
    June 2020
    May 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.