WEBVTT
00:00:05.440 --> 00:00:08.000
Welcome to the Write for a Reason podcast.
00:00:08.080 --> 00:00:09.439
My name is Janet Wilson.
00:00:09.519 --> 00:00:13.279
I'm a publisher of Christian fiction for young people with dernier publishing.
00:00:13.439 --> 00:00:26.480
If you're a Christian and new to writing stories for kids and teens, stay tuned for encouragement, creative writing tips, and actionable strategies you can implement immediately to become a better writer and get your books out into the world.
00:00:26.719 --> 00:00:32.479
Today we're going to be talking about writing tight sentences, and I have 10 top tips for you.
00:00:32.640 --> 00:00:37.280
Number one, writing tight sentences is part of the editing process.
00:00:37.439 --> 00:00:43.920
So when you write your first draft, it doesn't matter how much you ramble, as long as you have everything down you want to say.
00:00:44.079 --> 00:00:48.479
Don't worry about how loose your sentences are until you've finished your first draft.
00:00:48.640 --> 00:00:51.119
Don't be tempted to tidy up everything as you go along.
00:00:51.280 --> 00:00:54.719
You need to have your whole framework down before you get to the details.
00:00:55.039 --> 00:01:02.719
This is my earnest advice free write your whole story before beginning the editing process and tightening up your sentences.
00:01:02.880 --> 00:01:11.920
I wish someone had told me this much earlier in my life because you can spend a lot of time going over the same paragraph over and over again, and then you kind of lose the flow of the story.
00:01:12.079 --> 00:01:16.799
So free write your first draft and then go back and look at your sentences to tighten them up.
00:01:16.959 --> 00:01:21.439
Top tip two tight doesn't necessarily mean short.
00:01:21.599 --> 00:01:25.599
You will of course need to vary the lengths of your sentences and your paragraphs.
00:01:25.840 --> 00:01:31.840
One long, rambling sentence may be better separated in two or three, or maybe simplified in some way.
00:01:32.079 --> 00:01:33.439
Clarity is the key.
00:01:33.599 --> 00:01:39.200
Generally speaking, it's better when writing for children not to have sentences with several clauses.
00:01:39.359 --> 00:01:42.799
That will of course depend on the age group of your target readers.
00:01:42.959 --> 00:01:46.079
The younger they are, the simpler the construction needs to be.
00:01:46.319 --> 00:01:48.400
If you're not sure, do some research.
00:01:48.560 --> 00:01:51.439
Look at popular books for the age group you're writing for.
00:01:51.519 --> 00:01:53.840
They will give you an idea of what's expected.
00:01:54.000 --> 00:01:57.680
Or show your work to a teacher, they will give you some honest feedback.
00:01:57.920 --> 00:02:01.280
Top tip number three, avoid using the passive tense.
00:02:01.439 --> 00:02:06.719
Now I have done a podcast about this before, but so this is just a quick reminder.
00:02:06.959 --> 00:02:10.400
So the bread that was put out for the birds went quickly.
00:02:10.560 --> 00:02:11.439
That's a passive.
00:02:11.599 --> 00:02:15.439
And the birds quickly at the bread Yamini put out is active.
00:02:15.680 --> 00:02:22.479
You see how the pace also increased in the second example as well as giving a clearer picture of exactly what happened?
00:02:22.639 --> 00:02:25.840
Which leads me on to top tip number four.
00:02:26.080 --> 00:02:27.199
Be specific.
00:02:27.439 --> 00:02:30.080
Let your readers know exactly what's happening.
00:02:30.319 --> 00:02:36.719
So if you say the boys messed about at lunch, that would give readers only a vague picture of the boys in action.
00:02:36.960 --> 00:02:39.280
What were the boys doing exactly?
00:02:39.520 --> 00:02:41.759
Were they pinging rubber bands at each other?
00:02:41.919 --> 00:02:48.319
Kicking a ball made of paper around the classroom, grabbing in the gutters for bits of metal for a collection they're making?
00:02:48.560 --> 00:02:53.759
Does lunch mean while they're eating lunch, or are we talking about playtime during the lunch break?
00:02:53.919 --> 00:02:57.520
It's really easy to see things in your own eye as you're writing.
00:02:57.759 --> 00:03:01.599
The trick is getting your readers to see what you see.
00:03:01.680 --> 00:03:04.639
And you can only do that if you are specific.
00:03:05.039 --> 00:03:07.520
So the boys messed about at lunch.
00:03:07.680 --> 00:03:09.919
Now you can make that a lot better.
00:03:10.159 --> 00:03:13.840
Think of a TV camera lens videoing your characters in action.
00:03:14.000 --> 00:03:17.680
If all we see is the boys messing about at lunch, the photographer is a long way off.
00:03:17.840 --> 00:03:20.879
If we see the boys pinging rubber bands, we're close up.
00:03:21.039 --> 00:03:24.800
Aim for close-up shots unless you specifically need a wide view.
00:03:24.960 --> 00:03:27.439
So, top tip number five.
00:03:27.840 --> 00:03:31.039
Avoid giving unnecessary details.
00:03:31.199 --> 00:03:35.599
So beware giving dull, boring details to readers that really don't matter.
00:03:35.840 --> 00:03:39.599
How many details in the following loose sentence are not needed?
00:03:39.840 --> 00:03:52.240
After a delicious lunch, Olivia quickly took out her smart new blue suitcase, gathered together all the clothes on the bed, then packed everything in the suitcase one item at a time, checking each thing off on her carefully written list.
00:03:52.400 --> 00:04:00.960
Then when she'd completed all her careful preparations, she carried the case downstairs, unlocked the door, and put the suitcase into the boot of her car before leaving.
00:04:01.199 --> 00:04:04.159
Okay, I have exaggerated on that one, but I'm making a point.
00:04:04.319 --> 00:04:06.960
Do we need to know Olivia had a vague, delicious lunch?
00:04:07.120 --> 00:04:09.919
Do we need to know her suitcase is smart, blue, and new?
00:04:10.080 --> 00:04:12.400
Do we need to see Olivia checking off every item?
00:04:12.560 --> 00:04:14.719
Do we need to know the list was carefully written?
00:04:14.879 --> 00:04:19.519
If all these things are vital to the story, yes, fine.
00:04:19.680 --> 00:04:25.439
But if not, how about Olivia packed her suitcase, flung it in the boot of the car, and left.
00:04:25.600 --> 00:04:29.759
The key is to give all the information you need and omit the information you don't.
00:04:29.920 --> 00:04:33.279
So before we go on to top tip number six, I'd like to give you an exercise.
00:04:33.439 --> 00:04:38.160
Take any book off your bookshelf that you started but never managed to get to the end of.
00:04:38.319 --> 00:04:39.920
Read a page or two at random.
00:04:40.160 --> 00:04:44.480
Chances are that a good proportion of the sentences are loose.
00:04:44.639 --> 00:04:46.720
Pick one or two and have a go at tightening them.
00:04:46.879 --> 00:04:49.040
Okay, let's get back to top tip number six.
00:04:49.279 --> 00:04:52.639
Describe when you need to and not when you don't.
00:04:52.800 --> 00:04:59.360
This follows on from the previous point and is sometimes difficult to assess, only you can know if you really need to keep that description in.
00:04:59.519 --> 00:05:05.360
If you're building up tension or setting a scene, a good bit of description could be exactly what you need.
00:05:05.519 --> 00:05:10.319
If on the other hand readers don't really need to know what the teapot looks like, leave that out.
00:05:10.399 --> 00:05:13.839
And if you're not sure, try both and keep the version you like best.
00:05:14.079 --> 00:05:18.720
Okay, we're moving on to top tip number seven, cut out filler words.
00:05:18.959 --> 00:05:24.319
There are so many of these adverbs, empty phrases, poor word choices.
00:05:24.480 --> 00:05:27.199
We can improve all these with a good edit.
00:05:27.439 --> 00:05:29.199
Here are a few culprits.
00:05:29.360 --> 00:05:31.680
Do cut out unnecessary adverbs.
00:05:31.839 --> 00:05:34.720
I might do a whole podcast on that one day.
00:05:34.959 --> 00:05:40.399
You do not need to say he rushed quickly because rush already denotes speed.
00:05:40.560 --> 00:05:44.079
In the same way you can cut out weak words by using strong words.
00:05:44.240 --> 00:05:49.360
For example, he hated her with a vengeance could become he loathed her.
00:05:49.519 --> 00:05:52.879
And then you will also have removed a cliche, which is great.
00:05:53.040 --> 00:05:56.160
Watch out for your favourite filler words too.
00:05:56.480 --> 00:06:02.319
Mine is just I find it in my writing all the time, and just have to cut it out.
00:06:02.560 --> 00:06:03.199
Sorry about that.
00:06:03.360 --> 00:06:04.319
So what's yours?
00:06:04.480 --> 00:06:08.560
You may find that you say actually, really, or there may be something else.
00:06:08.720 --> 00:06:10.800
Have a check through, see if you can find one.
00:06:11.040 --> 00:06:12.639
Top tip number eight.
00:06:12.879 --> 00:06:16.959
Be clear about what is happening, not what is not happening.
00:06:17.199 --> 00:06:19.040
Use positives, not negatives.
00:06:19.199 --> 00:06:21.519
This is a small but important point.
00:06:21.680 --> 00:06:28.399
So you could say Billy didn't play football with the boys at playtime, but that doesn't tell us about what Billy was doing.
00:06:28.560 --> 00:06:29.600
What do you think about this?
00:06:29.759 --> 00:06:34.160
Billy sat on a bench at the edge of the playground and watched the boys play football.
00:06:34.319 --> 00:06:38.560
Readers need to see your characters in action, what they're doing, what they're not doing.
00:06:38.720 --> 00:06:40.560
That's a nice tight sentence.
00:06:40.720 --> 00:06:43.600
Top tip number nine be specific, not vague.
00:06:43.839 --> 00:06:49.120
Readers don't like hints and vague ideas generally, they want the truth told clearly.
00:06:49.199 --> 00:06:53.439
So suppose Rihanna was neglected as a child.
00:06:53.600 --> 00:06:58.160
If this is what you tell readers, they'll only have a vague idea of feeling sorry for the girl.
00:06:58.319 --> 00:07:07.680
If you tell readers that her parents locked her in her room at weekends with nothing to eat in the dark, we understand the issue clearly, and clarity is good.
00:07:07.839 --> 00:07:13.839
There are also kind of vague words and phrases like staff, things, bits and pieces.
00:07:14.000 --> 00:07:19.120
Suppose Denzel is running away, he puts some things in a bag, is a little bit vague.
00:07:19.279 --> 00:07:24.399
If Denzel is running away, what he chooses to take with him could be of paramount importance.
00:07:24.639 --> 00:07:26.959
So let your readers know what he has in his bag.
00:07:27.120 --> 00:07:28.800
They will love the inside information.
00:07:28.959 --> 00:07:33.040
This is one reason for finishing your first draft before tightening your sentences, by the way.
00:07:33.199 --> 00:07:36.639
At the end of the story, you'll know exactly what Denzel needed to take with him.
00:07:36.879 --> 00:07:39.120
Aw, it's great being a writer, isn't it?
00:07:39.279 --> 00:07:42.399
Top tip number ten, last one, check your punctuation.
00:07:42.560 --> 00:07:46.879
A vital component of every tight sentence is tight punctuation.
00:07:47.120 --> 00:07:50.000
Read every sentence aloud to check for flow.
00:07:50.160 --> 00:07:55.680
Do you need to check a comma into a semicolon or make one long sentence into two, or even perhaps three?
00:07:55.839 --> 00:07:56.959
Yep, go for it.
00:07:57.120 --> 00:07:59.120
Tighten up that punctuation.
00:07:59.279 --> 00:08:02.079
Here's another exercise for you before I leave you.
00:08:02.319 --> 00:08:05.519
Leave your work alone in a darkened file for a week or two.
00:08:05.680 --> 00:08:11.040
Then ask a patient and encouraging friend, whoever, it doesn't really matter, to read your work aloud to you.
00:08:11.199 --> 00:08:15.279
Don't correct them if they stumble, correct your manuscript instead.
00:08:15.519 --> 00:08:18.399
And that's your ten top tips for tight sentences.
00:08:18.560 --> 00:08:22.879
It's all too easy to let words, sentences and scenes clutter up our stories.
00:08:23.040 --> 00:08:28.160
Too many words can clutter up our writing in the same way that a circuit of things can clutter up our homes.
00:08:28.319 --> 00:08:34.320
The clutter can be nicely constructed and well thought out, but sometimes we can have too much of a good thing.
00:08:34.480 --> 00:08:38.320
By considering all these top tips, you should be able to have a good declutter.
00:08:38.480 --> 00:08:41.120
Anything that's not needed, cut it or reduce it.
00:08:41.279 --> 00:08:44.639
And what is important will really now stand out.
00:08:44.799 --> 00:08:47.840
You will have improved the pace and made your readers happy.
00:08:48.000 --> 00:08:53.679
And that's it! So if you'd like lots more free creative writing tips, hop on over to writeforreason.com.
00:08:53.840 --> 00:09:01.440
You'll find lots more resources and encouragement to help you write excellent, relevant, fun novels and get them into your readers' hands.
00:09:01.600 --> 00:09:06.159
If you haven't yet done my free course, Gripping Beginnings, you can sign up and start straight away.
00:09:06.320 --> 00:09:09.759
This will help you grip your readers from the very first page of your story.
00:09:09.919 --> 00:09:11.519
And that is important, isn't it?
00:09:11.679 --> 00:09:19.440
We also have a membership group and there's the Rightful Reason Academy, which will give you everything you need to write excellent stories.
00:09:19.679 --> 00:09:24.159
Don't put it off, my friends! Today is a gift to use wisely.
00:09:24.320 --> 00:09:30.320
Only you can write your book, and if you've been called to write, someone is waiting for it.
00:00:05.440 --> 00:00:08.000
Welcome to the Write for a Reason podcast.
00:00:08.080 --> 00:00:09.439
My name is Janet Wilson.
00:00:09.519 --> 00:00:13.279
I'm a publisher of Christian fiction for young people with dernier publishing.
00:00:13.439 --> 00:00:26.480
If you're a Christian and new to writing stories for kids and teens, stay tuned for encouragement, creative writing tips, and actionable strategies you can implement immediately to become a better writer and get your books out into the world.
00:00:26.719 --> 00:00:32.479
Today we're going to be talking about writing tight sentences, and I have 10 top tips for you.
00:00:32.640 --> 00:00:37.280
Number one, writing tight sentences is part of the editing process.
00:00:37.439 --> 00:00:43.920
So when you write your first draft, it doesn't matter how much you ramble, as long as you have everything down you want to say.
00:00:44.079 --> 00:00:48.479
Don't worry about how loose your sentences are until you've finished your first draft.
00:00:48.640 --> 00:00:51.119
Don't be tempted to tidy up everything as you go along.
00:00:51.280 --> 00:00:54.719
You need to have your whole framework down before you get to the details.
00:00:55.039 --> 00:01:02.719
This is my earnest advice free write your whole story before beginning the editing process and tightening up your sentences.
00:01:02.880 --> 00:01:11.920
I wish someone had told me this much earlier in my life because you can spend a lot of time going over the same paragraph over and over again, and then you kind of lose the flow of the story.
00:01:12.079 --> 00:01:16.799
So free write your first draft and then go back and look at your sentences to tighten them up.
00:01:16.959 --> 00:01:21.439
Top tip two tight doesn't necessarily mean short.
00:01:21.599 --> 00:01:25.599
You will of course need to vary the lengths of your sentences and your paragraphs.
00:01:25.840 --> 00:01:31.840
One long, rambling sentence may be better separated in two or three, or maybe simplified in some way.
00:01:32.079 --> 00:01:33.439
Clarity is the key.
00:01:33.599 --> 00:01:39.200
Generally speaking, it's better when writing for children not to have sentences with several clauses.
00:01:39.359 --> 00:01:42.799
That will of course depend on the age group of your target readers.
00:01:42.959 --> 00:01:46.079
The younger they are, the simpler the construction needs to be.
00:01:46.319 --> 00:01:48.400
If you're not sure, do some research.
00:01:48.560 --> 00:01:51.439
Look at popular books for the age group you're writing for.
00:01:51.519 --> 00:01:53.840
They will give you an idea of what's expected.
00:01:54.000 --> 00:01:57.680
Or show your work to a teacher, they will give you some honest feedback.
00:01:57.920 --> 00:02:01.280
Top tip number three, avoid using the passive tense.
00:02:01.439 --> 00:02:06.719
Now I have done a podcast about this before, but so this is just a quick reminder.
00:02:06.959 --> 00:02:10.400
So the bread that was put out for the birds went quickly.
00:02:10.560 --> 00:02:11.439
That's a passive.
00:02:11.599 --> 00:02:15.439
And the birds quickly at the bread Yamini put out is active.
00:02:15.680 --> 00:02:22.479
You see how the pace also increased in the second example as well as giving a clearer picture of exactly what happened?
00:02:22.639 --> 00:02:25.840
Which leads me on to top tip number four.
00:02:26.080 --> 00:02:27.199
Be specific.
00:02:27.439 --> 00:02:30.080
Let your readers know exactly what's happening.
00:02:30.319 --> 00:02:36.719
So if you say the boys messed about at lunch, that would give readers only a vague picture of the boys in action.
00:02:36.960 --> 00:02:39.280
What were the boys doing exactly?
00:02:39.520 --> 00:02:41.759
Were they pinging rubber bands at each other?
00:02:41.919 --> 00:02:48.319
Kicking a ball made of paper around the classroom, grabbing in the gutters for bits of metal for a collection they're making?
00:02:48.560 --> 00:02:53.759
Does lunch mean while they're eating lunch, or are we talking about playtime during the lunch break?
00:02:53.919 --> 00:02:57.520
It's really easy to see things in your own eye as you're writing.
00:02:57.759 --> 00:03:01.599
The trick is getting your readers to see what you see.
00:03:01.680 --> 00:03:04.639
And you can only do that if you are specific.
00:03:05.039 --> 00:03:07.520
So the boys messed about at lunch.
00:03:07.680 --> 00:03:09.919
Now you can make that a lot better.
00:03:10.159 --> 00:03:13.840
Think of a TV camera lens videoing your characters in action.
00:03:14.000 --> 00:03:17.680
If all we see is the boys messing about at lunch, the photographer is a long way off.
00:03:17.840 --> 00:03:20.879
If we see the boys pinging rubber bands, we're close up.
00:03:21.039 --> 00:03:24.800
Aim for close-up shots unless you specifically need a wide view.
00:03:24.960 --> 00:03:27.439
So, top tip number five.
00:03:27.840 --> 00:03:31.039
Avoid giving unnecessary details.
00:03:31.199 --> 00:03:35.599
So beware giving dull, boring details to readers that really don't matter.
00:03:35.840 --> 00:03:39.599
How many details in the following loose sentence are not needed?
00:03:39.840 --> 00:03:52.240
After a delicious lunch, Olivia quickly took out her smart new blue suitcase, gathered together all the clothes on the bed, then packed everything in the suitcase one item at a time, checking each thing off on her carefully written list.
00:03:52.400 --> 00:04:00.960
Then when she'd completed all her careful preparations, she carried the case downstairs, unlocked the door, and put the suitcase into the boot of her car before leaving.
00:04:01.199 --> 00:04:04.159
Okay, I have exaggerated on that one, but I'm making a point.
00:04:04.319 --> 00:04:06.960
Do we need to know Olivia had a vague, delicious lunch?
00:04:07.120 --> 00:04:09.919
Do we need to know her suitcase is smart, blue, and new?
00:04:10.080 --> 00:04:12.400
Do we need to see Olivia checking off every item?
00:04:12.560 --> 00:04:14.719
Do we need to know the list was carefully written?
00:04:14.879 --> 00:04:19.519
If all these things are vital to the story, yes, fine.
00:04:19.680 --> 00:04:25.439
But if not, how about Olivia packed her suitcase, flung it in the boot of the car, and left.
00:04:25.600 --> 00:04:29.759
The key is to give all the information you need and omit the information you don't.
00:04:29.920 --> 00:04:33.279
So before we go on to top tip number six, I'd like to give you an exercise.
00:04:33.439 --> 00:04:38.160
Take any book off your bookshelf that you started but never managed to get to the end of.
00:04:38.319 --> 00:04:39.920
Read a page or two at random.
00:04:40.160 --> 00:04:44.480
Chances are that a good proportion of the sentences are loose.
00:04:44.639 --> 00:04:46.720
Pick one or two and have a go at tightening them.
00:04:46.879 --> 00:04:49.040
Okay, let's get back to top tip number six.
00:04:49.279 --> 00:04:52.639
Describe when you need to and not when you don't.
00:04:52.800 --> 00:04:59.360
This follows on from the previous point and is sometimes difficult to assess, only you can know if you really need to keep that description in.
00:04:59.519 --> 00:05:05.360
If you're building up tension or setting a scene, a good bit of description could be exactly what you need.
00:05:05.519 --> 00:05:10.319
If on the other hand readers don't really need to know what the teapot looks like, leave that out.
00:05:10.399 --> 00:05:13.839
And if you're not sure, try both and keep the version you like best.
00:05:14.079 --> 00:05:18.720
Okay, we're moving on to top tip number seven, cut out filler words.
00:05:18.959 --> 00:05:24.319
There are so many of these adverbs, empty phrases, poor word choices.
00:05:24.480 --> 00:05:27.199
We can improve all these with a good edit.
00:05:27.439 --> 00:05:29.199
Here are a few culprits.
00:05:29.360 --> 00:05:31.680
Do cut out unnecessary adverbs.
00:05:31.839 --> 00:05:34.720
I might do a whole podcast on that one day.
00:05:34.959 --> 00:05:40.399
You do not need to say he rushed quickly because rush already denotes speed.
00:05:40.560 --> 00:05:44.079
In the same way you can cut out weak words by using strong words.
00:05:44.240 --> 00:05:49.360
For example, he hated her with a vengeance could become he loathed her.
00:05:49.519 --> 00:05:52.879
And then you will also have removed a cliche, which is great.
00:05:53.040 --> 00:05:56.160
Watch out for your favourite filler words too.
00:05:56.480 --> 00:06:02.319
Mine is just I find it in my writing all the time, and just have to cut it out.
00:06:02.560 --> 00:06:03.199
Sorry about that.
00:06:03.360 --> 00:06:04.319
So what's yours?
00:06:04.480 --> 00:06:08.560
You may find that you say actually, really, or there may be something else.
00:06:08.720 --> 00:06:10.800
Have a check through, see if you can find one.
00:06:11.040 --> 00:06:12.639
Top tip number eight.
00:06:12.879 --> 00:06:16.959
Be clear about what is happening, not what is not happening.
00:06:17.199 --> 00:06:19.040
Use positives, not negatives.
00:06:19.199 --> 00:06:21.519
This is a small but important point.
00:06:21.680 --> 00:06:28.399
So you could say Billy didn't play football with the boys at playtime, but that doesn't tell us about what Billy was doing.
00:06:28.560 --> 00:06:29.600
What do you think about this?
00:06:29.759 --> 00:06:34.160
Billy sat on a bench at the edge of the playground and watched the boys play football.
00:06:34.319 --> 00:06:38.560
Readers need to see your characters in action, what they're doing, what they're not doing.
00:06:38.720 --> 00:06:40.560
That's a nice tight sentence.
00:06:40.720 --> 00:06:43.600
Top tip number nine be specific, not vague.
00:06:43.839 --> 00:06:49.120
Readers don't like hints and vague ideas generally, they want the truth told clearly.
00:06:49.199 --> 00:06:53.439
So suppose Rihanna was neglected as a child.
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If this is what you tell readers, they'll only have a vague idea of feeling sorry for the girl.
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If you tell readers that her parents locked her in her room at weekends with nothing to eat in the dark, we understand the issue clearly, and clarity is good.
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There are also kind of vague words and phrases like staff, things, bits and pieces.
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Suppose Denzel is running away, he puts some things in a bag, is a little bit vague.
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If Denzel is running away, what he chooses to take with him could be of paramount importance.
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So let your readers know what he has in his bag.
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They will love the inside information.
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This is one reason for finishing your first draft before tightening your sentences, by the way.
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At the end of the story, you'll know exactly what Denzel needed to take with him.
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Aw, it's great being a writer, isn't it?
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Top tip number ten, last one, check your punctuation.
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A vital component of every tight sentence is tight punctuation.
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Read every sentence aloud to check for flow.
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Do you need to check a comma into a semicolon or make one long sentence into two, or even perhaps three?
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Yep, go for it.
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Tighten up that punctuation.
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Here's another exercise for you before I leave you.
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Leave your work alone in a darkened file for a week or two.
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Then ask a patient and encouraging friend, whoever, it doesn't really matter, to read your work aloud to you.
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Don't correct them if they stumble, correct your manuscript instead.
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And that's your ten top tips for tight sentences.
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It's all too easy to let words, sentences and scenes clutter up our stories.
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Too many words can clutter up our writing in the same way that a circuit of things can clutter up our homes.
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The clutter can be nicely constructed and well thought out, but sometimes we can have too much of a good thing.
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By considering all these top tips, you should be able to have a good declutter.
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Anything that's not needed, cut it or reduce it.
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And what is important will really now stand out.
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You will have improved the pace and made your readers happy.
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And that's it! So if you'd like lots more free creative writing tips, hop on over to writeforreason.com.
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You'll find lots more resources and encouragement to help you write excellent, relevant, fun novels and get them into your readers' hands.
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If you haven't yet done my free course, Gripping Beginnings, you can sign up and start straight away.
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This will help you grip your readers from the very first page of your story.
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And that is important, isn't it?
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We also have a membership group and there's the Rightful Reason Academy, which will give you everything you need to write excellent stories.
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Don't put it off, my friends! Today is a gift to use wisely.
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Only you can write your book, and if you've been called to write, someone is waiting for it.
