Prescription Ten

"Skilled writers know how to use words and sentences and paragraphs to transfer material from their own minds into the minds of other people. And they also know how to use language to make things happen inside their readers, to make them laugh or cry, to inform them, to persuade them, to teach." Barbara Baig

The top reasons why readers abandon a book they’ve started:

- Weak writing;

- Ridiculous plot;

- Unlikable main character.

But the #1 reason by far is: slow pace, tedious and boring.

To write a great book, you need to find out what constitutes a bad book. Find out the elements readers don’t like, then . . . don’t include those things.

1. WEAK WRITING -

Unremarkable, vanilla-sounding prose. You need to emanate a little style, or what agents and editors refer to as “voice.” Read outside your genre. Or read poetry, like Ray Bradbury counseled. Simply learn intriguing wordsmithing skills. This will expand your style almost automatically.

2. RIDICULOUS PLOT -

Thriller writers are especially prone to this. Don't do it, no matter how tempted! Every plot needs to have some thread of plausibility. The more outrageous your plot is, the harder you have to work to justify it.

3. UNLIKABLE MAIN CHARACTER -

The trick to writing about a character who is unlikable (i.e. does things we generally don’t approve of) is to give the reader something to hang their hat on. Scarlett O’Hara, for example, has grit and determination. Give readers at least one reason to hope the character might be redeemed.

4. SLOW, BORING -

When asked what makes a compelling story, Alfred Hitchcock said to write about "life, with the dull parts taken out.” Create a compelling character and put him in a “death match” with an opponent (the death being physical, professional, or psychological) and only write scenes that reflect or impact that battle.

The above principles are simple and straightforward. Learning how to implement them takes time, practice and study - which should never stop. As a writer, you are slowly 'becoming' and improving your skill daily. It is the same with any skill: Practice makes Perfect. Write on!

Word of the day - TORRID: scorching, burning, passionate, ardent, hurried, rapid, blistering, arid, parched, sweltering.

Character flaw # INCOMPETANT: unable to execute tasks no matter what the size or difficulty;

Here are a 'quick ten' writing tips to get the juices flowing:

1. Write every day - writing is a muscle and needs to be exercised to get stronger.

2. Don't procrastinate - 'Sorry, I can't help you today. Today I'm writing.'

3. Fight through writers block.

4. Learn from the masters - Show, don't tell.

5. Find your muse - other writers, human relationships.

6. Hone your craft - there are two things more difficult than writing: editing, and expert level sudoku.

7. Ask for feedback - develop a thick skin; criticism from others makes you a better writer.

8. Read, read, read - great writers are great readers.

9. Study the rules, then break them - find your own voice, find your own grammar; establish your own set of rules.

10. Keep it together - demons keep a tortured writer's spirit alive, they give you a tiny burst of energy, but won't do squat for your writing.