You know the kind. One step forward and two steps back. Come on fess up.
I’ll admit some days this is more or less how I write. LOL
Good morning! Fueling up!
Just one quick look.
Research location. Where oh where to put this story? Oh, I’d love to visit Paris. I’ll check flights. Won’t take a minute.Time to rock-n-roll! I got this.
Need to chat with my critique partner. Just one question. My we have a lot to catch up on.
Let’s see what everyone is doing. Just one quick look.
Time to make the magic happen!WTF did I write that for? Editing, editing, and more editing.Maybe I need a little adaptation research.
She didn’t post that picture! On no.
Happy hour! It’s five o’clock somewhere. Tomorrow is another day. Cheers!
Hope you this brought a little fun to your week.
But do tell me. Am I wrong?
Do you write without distraction, nose to the computer?
By putting a little zing in your writing with power words.
Now I don’t mean to burst your bubble, but I’m not promising to instantly make you a NY Times bestseller. No, that’s gonna take a whole lot more information than I possess. However, should I ever be so fortunate as to ascend to such lofty heights, I’ll be in a better position to share the climb.
But back to improving. That’s where I’m at now. Tweaking and changing and learning how to better grab my readers. To that end, I’ve found a couple of terrific posts.
In these articles, they write about using powerful, thought-provoking words that will not only grab but also hold the attention of a reader. Both Ms. Cullins and Mr. Morrow also provide an extensive list of “powerwords” that help us get started.
Use the right one!
What did I glean from their posts?
Words have powerbut use the right ones.
Smart speakers, as well as writers, sprinklepower words without drawing attention to them.
Power words invoke emotion.
A story will be bland and dull without a few power words.
Not all powerwords are the same. Some invoke passion, others greed, fear, joy, or create comfort and curiosity.
Here is today’s challenge.
Check one of your favorite books, are powerwords used in the first paragraph?
Look at your current WIP, do you have powerwords to grab a reader?
Will adding a power word or two make the paragraph better?
Once I grasp this concept, things began going a little smoother. Now in each scene, I stop and ask what will the characters consequence be for each action.
Even the smallest of decisions can move a story forward. For instance, stopping to buy a coffee can result in meeting the right or wrong person. Turning left instead of right can result in an accident or a chance meeting.
See. Each decision your character makes must have a consequence sooner or later to drive the story to the end.
It’s simple cause and effect.
My current work in progress I’m using action-reaction to move each scene forward. Even the most mundane of things.
Such as…
action: she pulled her sweater tighter
reaction: draws unwanted attention
action: he seeks her out
reaction: love or hate, life or death?
This could go further and carry on in another chapter. And with a little luck, things will fall into place like a row of dominos.
Look at a scene in your WIP. Is there any action that could use a reaction? Even if it is ordinary, mundane and everyday stuff it might be what you need to fill in the gaps.
Read these great articles on consequences for our characters.
Jean's Writing 