Writing is NOT just a solitary pursuit!

We've all heard it said that writing is a solitary pursuit. We can even visualize writers in ages past, slaving away in garretts or hermit-like abodes. In reality, writing is an endeavor built on forging relatioships.

• Between you and the reader
• Between the reader and the subject or characters
• Between you and the editor
• Between you and your agent
• Between you and other writers

I'll go even a step further and propose that writing something for publication is like going on a first date!

If you think about it you'll see it's true. With writing, like first dates, the first impression counts. When you write your first line is your first impression and many times it determines whether or not your reader will go any further in the relationship.

Mistake Number One
One mistake we make is in how we present our story (in fiction-especially book length). We've all met people who try to give us their life story in the first thirty seconds we meet. It's not comfortable and I often find myself running for the exit. This was illustrated in a popular episode of the TV show Seinfeld. Does anyone remember the 'Close Talker' episode? Sometimes we open our novels with too much information and we overwhelm the reader. There's a term for this, backstory.

Mistake Number Two
Another first date mistake we make in writing is in non-fiction. We've all met the person who exaggerates everything. It's hard to take anything they say at face value. I've actually found myself looking outside, if this type of person says it's sunny, just to verify the truth. We can come across that way in articles and non-fiction books if we aren't careful about where we get our facts. It takes time to do in depth research, but the reputation you'll have as a writer is priceless.

Mistake Number Three
The last mistake we sometimes make is the blind date. Now, I know there are exceptios to the rule, but generally blind dates don't end well. It also doesn't end well for us as writers if we don't know our audience. We have to take time to know who our audience is. This is equally true if we're writing books or articles or devotions.
So now it's your turn - how have your relationships with the reader turned out?

Don't forget to join the conversation!
Blessings,
Edie

Connecting With Your Reader - Part 3

Last week I gave you some tips on how to connect with the reader through specific nouns and active verbs. This week I want to zero in on the specific verbs, nouns and adjectives we choose when we write.

I have to give a special shout out to author, Mindy Starns Clark, because she pointed this problem out in a manuscript I showed her last year. The particular piece I showed her was fiction, but I’ve found this technique just as helpful with articles and other non-fiction projects.

She pointed out that my verbs, and some of my adjectives didn’t match the mood of my scene. I was attempting to write a very tense scene where my main character was quite scared and tense. Instead of amplifying and reinforcing this mood with my verbs. I used pleasant verbs. Let me give you an example.

Setup: My main character, Pet, has just received a death threat on her cell phone.

Still clasping the phone, Pet scrambled into her wooly robe and rushed down the hall. As she plopped down in an overstuffed chair in the corner she dropped the offending phone beside her and began to massage her temples. How could this happen?

Notice the comforting words I unconsciously chose?

• Clasping the phone
• Wooly robe
• Plopped
• Overstuffed chair
• Massage

These particular words don’t convey the mood of the scene I was writing. Let me show you my rewrite:

Still clenching it in her fist, Pet scrambled into her robe and rushed down the hall barefoot, wincing at the cold hardwood floors. Without turning on any lights, she crossed into the living room and knocked her shin on the coffee table. She balanced on the edge of the couch, running her fingers down her shin to make sure there was no blood.

Notice the different word choices:

• Clenching
• Wincing at the cold hardwood floors
• Knocked her shin

The action in the two examples is basically the same, but the specific words I chose now matched the mood I wanted to convey.

To make this easier, get in the habit of making word pools. A word pool is a list of words that convey the mood or sense that you wish to show.

• Decide on the emotion your character is feeling and use specific words to convey that feeling.
• Layer in senses to reinforce the emotion.
• Don’t jar your reader with words that imply a different emotion

I use the technique of word pools when I write articles for print or online. For example, when I write for a men’s publication, I have a list of words that I think convey a specific masculine viewpoint. Conversely, I have a list of words that convey a female viewpoint. When I write for a men’s magazine, I’m very careful not to use any of those ‘girlie’ words.

Keep adding to your personal word pool lists and you'll find your writing will have a new depth. Here are a few topics tojumpstart your collection:

• stress
• joy
• fear
• excitement
• devestation
• worry

Don't forget to join the conversation!
Blessings,
Edie

Connecting With Your Reader - Part One

Every writer wants to connect with her reader through the words on the paper or screen. And we’ve all felt the thrill that comes from a perfectly crafted sentence. You know the type – it’s made up with something that makes the reader feel something, think about your point and apply what you’ve just said.

When I started writing I referred to those rare instances as magic or inspiration. Now, with some experience behind me, I’m a bit more deliberate in crafting them. I want to share some of the tricks that will help you make your writing shine. These suggestions are specifically for non-fiction freelance writing, articles, devotions, etc. But they also translate well when writing fiction.

First, you want to find a specific point of connection with your reader. As I’ve said before, writing is all about relationships. There are several ways to connect with your reader.

• Tell a story – you can use this to show common ground with the reader.
• Ask a question – this can show that you understand what the reader is concerned about.
• Tap into an emotion – it helps to engage the reader’s heart when you begin.

Second,  you need to establish credibility with your reader. What you want to do is invite the reader to walk down this path with you. You may be writing an article about weight loss and want them to consider your method. There are several ways of doing this as well.

• Quote an expert – if you’re not a fitness expert and you’re writing that weight loss article, borrow the expertise of someone who is.
• Use personal experience – maybe you’ve lost weight. This would be relevant to the reader.
• Find an understandable statistic – statistics are good to use IF they are quantifiable. In other words, 3 out of 4 people, not 15.5 percent of the population under age 30.

Word of Warning – don’t lecture, preach or point your finger at anyone.

We’ll explore more tips next week. In the meantime, share how you connect with your reader.

Don’t forget to join the conversation!
Blessings,
Edie