Category: Writing Tips

The Meticulous Edit

On By Robert EvenhouseIn Writing Tips12 Comments

Lately I’ve ignored my blog. Not because I did not want to write on it, but because I am working on a self imposed deadline and I have had to dedicate all of my writing time to my novel. It’s the great tug of war between project and platform and I’ve lost. But I’m okay with that.

The joy of my novel has returned after being sucked dry by the upheaval and Editingenhancement of various plot details. Now, I’m flying through while examining each comma, period, adjective, and sentence. I’ve become a better writer and am editing faster and faster as I encounter the same mistakes. It’s like revisiting a photo album and watching yourself grow up as a writer as the novel goes along.

Here are some things that I’ve done to reduce waste. I realize the more I strip down each sentence, the better the flow of the story is.

  1. Destroy all prepositional phrases. Most of the time I realize these are unnecessary and each sentence is clearer when they are removed.
  2.  Delete long meandering paragraphs of description. I had a lot of these and they were darlings but I had to kill them. When I examine them in compared with my target audience (children 14-18), they must go. Young adult fiction has no time to wander about as it must contend with video games, online videos and the like.
  3. Look for duplicate words in the same paragraph and either cut them out or add something new.
  4. Be wary of adverbs. Excitedly, jovially, whatever-ly. I try to remove them all. However there are times when I feel they belong.
  5. Look for descriptive but non-descriptive words – large, small, box, red, dirty, bad smell and replace them with another more colorful one – gargantuan, miniscule, trunk, crimson, soiled, and pungent. Sometimes you’ll find one of these words takes the place of three.

These are just a few problems that I look for when editing and is just the tip of the iceberg. The main objective is to make each sentence as lean as possible.

If you are editing and have tips of your own, please share them in the comment section below. Otherwise, happy writing and editing.

Cheers,

Bob

What Is Your Writing Quirk?

On By Robert EvenhouseIn Writing Tips4 Comments

When I played soccer in high school I had a coach who often reminded us of the definition of insanity. “Boys!” he’d bark, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting different results!” I remember being really confused at first, then after awhile it clicked. If things aren’t going well in the game, trying harder might not be the answer. Instead we need to try something different.

As writers we are constantly refining the process of our craft. We try artist exercises or going for a walk. We attend classes and seminars, write upside down, whatever. If you asked every writer you knew they would probably all give different answers as to what helped them get to where they are.

For me, it’s pacing and muttering – Daniel Day-Lewis style (I know). I take on the persona of a character to see things from their perspective. If someone saw me and did not know what I was up to, I am fairly certain they would call some van to take me away.

How about you?

Do you have a writing quirk or habit that propels your craft?

Cheers,

Bob

No More Excuses

On By Robert EvenhouseIn Writing Tips6 Comments

As writers we could all use more time. I know I could. Time is my greatest ally and my deadliest foe. There never seems to be enough of it and I always need just a little bit more to complete my task.

So, below I have listed 4 ways to squeeze out some time to write. That way you and I can no longer have excuses and can stay focused on our tasks.

1. The grocery story. Silly I know, but bring your notebook with you everywhere and seize the opportunity. There are always little bits of time that, when strung together, equal that sizable chunk all writers long for.

2. Write during your lunch at work. I love socializing as much as the next person, but I have changed my lunch into a time to be productive. When do you relax then? Never. Remember your goal.

3. Take the last two hours of each day from 11-1 or 12-2 to write. At the end of a long day of work my bed seems like heaven. However, if I wait longer, how much more inviting will it be?

4. Get up at 5am to write. I have attempted this for the past few weeks and have been mildly successful. It has been an exhausting few weeks but I have made more progress than I’ve had in some time.

In the end, it all comes down to what you love. Does one night of watching the latest movie mean you will never finish a novel? No, of course not. But think of how much you could have gotten done during that two hours. So, evaluate your week, make a plan, set a goal and do whatever it takes to scrap together enough time to accomplish it.

Cheers,

Bob

Kurt Vonnegut On Short Stories

On By Robert EvenhouseIn Writing TipsLeave a comment

 

My friend Josh loves Kurt Vonnegut. If you know him it should come as no surprise. I bring him up today because I recently unearthed a few short stories to submit to a local writing contest. If you are a Michigander go HERE for details.

Whenever I begin a new project whether in writing or on the house I read and watch videos about how it is done. Obviously, short stories are more compact and can even be more complicated than a novel. You have to be precise in every single word in order to avoid wasting the readers’ time.

Below is a video of eight principles Mr. Vonnegut employed to write successful short stories. I am glad for his sage advice.

Cheers,

Bob

There Are No Rules

On By Robert EvenhouseIn Writing Tips4 Comments

Every workplace and country has laws or rules to help maintain organization and create clear paths that dictate how the societies or companies run. This produces efficiency. With a novel however, there are no such laws. I’ve done some research. And I’m proud to break some molds for you, if there were any.

As you construct your novel, I suggest you write what you wish to write and adhere to the three simple rules listed by W. Somerset Maugham below:

 There are three rules for writing a novel. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are -W. Somerset Maugham

What do I mean by this? Certainly I am not saying to merely write as you please? Yes I am. And does this mean I am suggesting you disobey all grammatical rules? No, I am not.

Novels have always been about voice. What do I mean by that? Simply think of your favorite books or writers. Are they your favorite because of the topic they write about or what the novel entails? Sure. Are they also your favorite because of the style they employ? Most certainly. Charles Dickens still appeals to millions for that reason.

So what are some of the rules you may destroy? Let me list my three rules to dispose or employ at your will, but not without some reflection.

Exclamation points – Have at them! Some writers or experts might shun them and say they are childish and don’t belong in a professional manuscript. A work containing such nonsense could not possibly be considered literature. Really? Again, think about Dickens and in particular Betsey Trotwood in David Copperfield. She exclaimed all of the time. Albeit if all of the characters needed exclamation points it would be horrible. So, yes you can use them. Why? because Tolkien, Lewis, Rowling, Dickens, Bradbury, etc, do. Just be careful you don’t overuse them. Be sure they are there because they must be. Meaning, they fit the character, the scene, the point of the story.  In the end it is the publisher’s formatting you have to adhere to, not some pretend writer with a blog or hack literary novelist.

Adverbs – WHAT! Yes. Calm down, calm down. I didn’t insult the literary masters of the past. Did you read the quote above? Seriously (pun intended). There are times when I am supremely annoyed when reading a book where every piece of dialogue ends with sardonically, seriously, intentionally, hurriedly. There are ways to omit adverbs. But think about it. How many novels have you read where the character said something charismatically? I believe (and don’t take my word for it, pull some books off of the shelf and see for yourself, they’re in there) that as wordsmiths, they are okay to use. Sort of like the note above regarding exclamation points – moderation is best. You are welcome to use them. Is there an uncanny way of utilizing this rudimentary tool of vocabulary? No, there is not.

Qualifiers – These little devils are often overused. Here are the most common qualifiers in English (though some of these words have other functions as well): very, quite, rather, somewhat, more, most, less, least, too, so, just, enough, indeed, still, almost, fairly, really, pretty, even, a bit, a little, a (whole) lot, a good deal, a great deal, kind of, sort of. Most of these need to be removed in your manuscript, however there are times when they can provide clarity when multiple characters are involved in conversation. Again, these are everywhere in literature, so if used please be sure to do so in moderation.

Obviously I am a novice writer so I am sure there might be cries and objections in the comment section below. However, I would recommend that before you take a rule to heart from a so called authority or critic, go to the text. Review your favorite novels and novelists and see if and how they employ these devices. Survey works in the particular genre you are writing and see how they are used in today’s novels. Does the rule still apply?

Write well and write free my friends.

Cheers,

Bob

Why You Should Always Promote Your Work

On By Robert EvenhouseIn Writing TipsLeave a comment

When I started writing I didn’t like to talk about what I was working on. I was shy because I wasn’t even sure what I was writing exactly, as my story was still taking form. I was hesitant to share my work because when you tell people you like to write in your free time, questions get asked – and I fumbled for answers. I hated sounding uninformed about my own work, especially if I were talking with someone who has writing credentials because I would always get a look that meant they thought I wasn’t serious about writing.

I don’t know about you but sometimes I find it hard to pigeon hole my work. Everyone has an opinion and the novice writer can be one negative comment away from scrapping their work altogether, even if it is good.

But, after stating all of the above, I submit to you to become an expert in promoting your work. How? See below.

  1. Talk about it with your family, friends, and co-workers. This helps you refine your elevator pitch. That way if someone important in the writing community asks you, you are prepared.
  2. Write a synopsis or two or a hundred. I once shared my book idea with a friend at work and a co-worker overheard and ask, “Oh, what movie is that?” That made me smile.
  3. Think about your target audience. Maybe even pitch it to a family member who might fit this demographic.
  4. Develop a one minute presentation about your work.

Now there are ways this can be done, with respect for people’s time and space. There are also ways to do this to annoy the heck out of people, see here. Be sure to know the line and only offer the information if asked.

Why? What is so important about doing this? Because in the normal humdrum of life, you never know who you could strike up a random conversation with while on the bus, plane, work meeting, dinner, etc. They could be a regular Joe like you and me.

Or, they could be an agent looking for a book like yours.

Cheers,

Bob

Get Serious About Your Work, Writer

On By Robert EvenhouseIn Writing Tips6 Comments

Today is Monday, the start of a new week that will be filled with success and failure. The key for the part-time writer is to find, well, time.

There are many distractions that can stop you from reaching your writing goals, or any goal for the matter. There are places where you will want and need to give time: family, friends, and work (maybe not!). There are optional activities that will require time eventually: Laundry, dusting, cleaning out the garage, power washing the house or car. And finally there are those things that suck us into the whirlpool of time wasted: television, internet, movies, and other mindless (but tremendously fun) entertainment.

Stop here. I am not trying to be a motivational speaker, but perhaps I am being one now. There are many times I have to remind myself what I am. There are days when I have to seek out a hour to write, whether that is in the morning at 5:30am or at night from 12am until 1am.

I write this not to make you or I feel guilty but to focus on the task at hand. Time is irrevocable. Once spent, there is no getting it back. While Mr. Phelps’s or Mr. Bolt’s Olympic events will be tremendously entertaining, I am positive that they did not get to where they are now by watching the latest episode of _____ every night.

So today, take television, sleep, and even reading off the mantle. Take writing, if it is your dream, and put it in its proper place.

Write sometime this week.

Cheers,

Bob

Advice For Aspiring Writers

On By Robert EvenhouseIn Writing Tips5 Comments

 

Stephen J Cannell died a couple of years ago. I probably would not know who he was if he was still alive. However, when obituaries are posted around the web and condolences flood it, I get suspicious. It was then I discovered one of the writers for the A-Team, one of my favorite shows from the 1980s. 

Mr Cannell wrote every day for 5 hours! He co-wrote or co-created over 40 TV shows and wrote several novels. Below is a fantastic interview for writers who are in the grand struggle of producing a work.

Here’s a couple of clips:

Find some time to write this weekend.

Cheers,
Bob

 

Writer’s Bootcamp: Get Into Writing Shape!

On By Robert EvenhouseIn Writing TipsLeave a comment

I don’t know much about John Dufresne. I haven’t read anything he has written. But, as I was at the local library on Monday, I went to the writing reference section and checked out some books on writing including his book The Lie That Tells a Truth. I found such wonderful exercises at the beginning I could not help but share. If you like these, you may want to check out his book which is turning out to be a very inspiring and helpful read.

He begins the first chapter which is titled Getting in Shape by asking you to stop reading. Doesn’t that sound a bit odd? Probably not the greatest way to sell books, leaving out the elementary writer’s rule of hooking the reader and all. Then he lists three writer’s exercises which I recommend doing now. They will help you both tone and discover those specific writing muscles we let turn into flab from time to time.

Remember before you begin, remove all distractions. Phone, family, work, email, internet. Remove yourself from everything and dive into the writer’s bootcamp.

1. Here and Now! This is the first exercise. Write about where you are physically. Your writing room, bed, kitchen, outside, where ever. Write in first person, present tense.  Write about what your senses pick up – see, hear, touch, taste, smell. Use each one to create a sensory “image” of where you are right now.

At the end he leaves a handy little quote worth remembering by W.H. Auden – “The first act of writing is noticing”.

2. Something Missing. Evaluate your life. What is it that you wish you had but do not. It could be a relationship, something you lost perhaps an heirloom, or deeper. For instance, something that keeps you awake at night and causes you to wake up in cold sweats. Write about whatever this is and allow it to take form.

3. Where you were born. Think about where you were born, where you grew up. What was it like? How does it defer from where you live now? If you are still there, write about what has changed since you were young.  Where did everyone work? What was the “talk of the town”. How did people talk, walk, or dress? What were the stories of the town, the old building round the corner, the decrepit ice cream shoppe (and why the sign read shoppe and not shoppe)? Write about your school, the places people did not mention, where the uppity people lived, and the haunting secrets buried in that dilapidated mansion over which grey clouds always seem to linger?

Now you’ve written unbridled for thirty minutes. Well done you’ve effectively lifted writer’s weights!

Check out his book. Buy it, or rent it from your library, give your writer’s self a present today. After all, you’ve earned it.

Cheers,

Bob

How To Write A Book Proposal

On By Robert EvenhouseIn Writing Tips5 Comments

I promised, back at the beginning of the month, to send out a proposal to an agent. I feel unprepared, like a parent sending their child off to kindergarten for the first time. However, it must be done, eventually. I am a writer after all and this is, inevitably, the next step.

But, how do you construct a book proposal? How do you prepare your little beauty to step out of the nest with confidence?

As you might very well know, there are many ways to publish and I plan to try the Mount Everest of them–traditional publication.

The following is advice on, and an outline of, a basic book proposal. You might ask when is the appropriate time to write one of these and the answer is two fold. Non-fiction proposals can be both before and after the book is finished, but for Fiction there is no wiggle room. You must have a completed novel before sending in the proposal.

Please keep in mind that each agency, agent, and publisher, might have different criteria of what they need. Please see their submission guidelines before submitting. Also, do your research. Don’t spend your time sending your thrilling space odyssey novel to a nature magazine. Know who you are submitting to in order to find out what they usually publish. Otherwise, all of your time and mental strain over your proposal is for naught.

I. Overview

This is your elevator pitch. In two or three paragraphs write the synopsis of your book, What is this book about? This might be the only time you have the attention of an agent or editor so make them beg for more. Having trouble knowing how to write one? You can find examples of these on the back of nearly every book. Also, bounce ideas off your writer friends.

II. Target Audience

Who is the audience? Is it a children’s book? Is it a YA novel? Is it a picture book? Is there a market for it? If your work can reach a secondary audience name them as well. Basically, name all parties that might be interested in this book. Don’t be bashful, but be realistic. Your grandma will probably not be interested in your book on Weapons of the World.

III. About the Author

This is your time to shine. Who are you? What is your experience or credentials? Do you have a blog or twitter following? Do you have another platform? One thing to be encouraged by is if you are a first time author there are agencies that are looking especially for first time novelists. You don’t have to have 300 short stories published for someone to read your work. Though, it wouldn’t hurt.

IV. Competition

If there is an audience, what other books are currently reaching them? Please do not say you are writing a YA book that reaches the EXACT SAME audience as Harry Potter. While it may be true, it draws unfair comparisons. Know other books that might be in closer competition.

If you are writing a Romance novel, read the back of every romance novel in your local bookstore then write down the ones that sound similar to yours. After this, go home and research them until you are the expert in what is selling, and how you can do better.

V. Marketing and Promotion

Unfortunately, authors are expected to do more for their sales in recent years, especially if they want to be successful. This means speaking engagements. This means book signings and radio or television appearances and interviews in the local paper or your favorite magazine.

This might sound both intimidating and presumptuous. The best place to start might be an author you know who has experience in these sorts of things. If not, ask the local bookstore manager how authors do book signings and even go to a few of them yourself. Then check at the library to find out what you need to do to get some talking time there. Also, if there is a local radio station or university that owns a radio station or television spot, call and talk with them.

Don’t forget your blog, Twitter account, Facebook, and any other social media/writing outlet you might utilize. All can be used for the promotion of your book.

VI. Sample Chapters

I don’t think I need to say a whole lot about this but the particular agency where you are sending your novel may have certain criteria. It might be the first two, three, or five chapters or merely a few of the best chapters in your book. Read the guidelines carefully and do EXACTLY what they say.

In conclusion, the one thing I would like to stress the most if I have not already is, be sure you follow the rules! Don’t deviate. Don’t be “creative” or try to stand out. Don’t reformat your proposal using cute font. Be professional and serious, no rose perfumed parchment. I don’t know how many times I have read or listen to an interview with an agent that said the reason a lot of novels are disqualified is because they are either not good, or don’t follow the directions in the submission process.

It’s Friday, (WOOHOO!!!) and this means there is only one more week to go on my self-imposed book proposal deadline so I had better get cracking. If you are ready to do the same, good luck my friend.

Cheers,

Bob