Our writing can be flat sometimes. It’s the worst thing that can happen to us. If the writer is bored, then the story is boring. We need to spice up the recipe. Once writers brush up on their writing style, they’ll find more motivation and inspiration. How the project reads and floats is what gives your story life. Writers have to roll out a red carpet before revealing their main character. Style is a complicated concept to learn. In school, I never covered these kinds of topics; instead, I looked through Youtube videos. After days of research, I’ve found 5 fundamentals that writers need to keep in mind.
Metaphors:
For me, metaphors are the most difficult parts of writing yet the most important. Metaphors connect us to the scene, the character, and even the villain. Readers will understand the situation more once you compare whatever it is you are writing about. But how do we do this?
“Maven is more desperate, surprising himself as much as me. He knows I’m sinking fast, a stone dropping through the river. And he wants to drown with me. Excerpt From: Victoria Aveyard. “Red Queen.” Apple Books.”
Mare is comparing herself to a stone. The connection points Victoria Aveyard makes are; 1.) She is sinking in her situation, 2.) she’s sinking into her steamy kiss with Maven, and 3.) the setting takes place near a river. Metaphors don’t always need 3 connection points, but the more power the connection, the more influential the metaphor. I’d also like to point out this example has a lot of the build-up to it, so don’t think you have to start this strong. The best place for a metaphor is when you’re facing an obstacle, or you’re trying to describe something the senses can’t capture. Yes, the sense could capture Mare’s kiss, but the metaphor gave it meaning.
Sensory:
I’m sure you know of the five senses, but can you work them into your writing. We sometimes forget readers can’t see what the writers see. They are a blank canvas ready to be splattered with the bright colors of paint. You shouldn’t overwhelm us with several senses but instead just explain two.
““I was just trying to watch the game.” Scarlett wrapped herself deeper into the curtains, but Legend pulled her away. His hand was as cold as snow, his youthful face concealed by a shadow. Frost nipped Scarlett’s naked shoulders. Legend laughed and wrapped both hands around her waist. “I didn’t invite you here to watch, precious.” His mouth moved closer to hers, as if he was about to kiss her. “I want you to play the game,” he whispered. Then he threw her off the balcony. Excerpt From: Stephanie Garber. “Caraval.” Apple Books.”
We see and feel what Scarlett is experiencing along with deceptive dialogue. Knowing how the scene looks and feels causes the audience to be sucked in. We feel the frost nipping at her shoulders. Next, we see Legend pull Scarlett out of the curtains. Finally, we experience the fall and fear Scarlett is witnessing.
Word choice:
Denotations vs connotations. Curiosity vs nosy. Denotation is the dictionary definition. Connotations have a different tone of the word. Nosy has a more negative depiction, and you would NOT use it if you were writing about Sherlock Holmes. ( Well, maybe you could)What you should focus on is your word choice. Keep in mind your sentences require clarity and simplicity. Don’t overload the reader with unnecessary words.
““Don’t touch me!” I jerk away, glaring, clutching the foot of his bed like it might be a weapon. “I should shoot you all over again for doing that to me! I should — I should — ” “What?” He laughs. “You’re going to throw another pillow at me?” I shove him hard, and when he doesn’t budge, I start throwing punches. I’m hitting his chest, his arms, his stomach, and his legs, anywhere I can reach, wishing more than ever that he weren’t able to absorb my power, that I could actually crush all the bones in his body and make him writhe in pain beneath my hands. Excerpt From: Tahereh Mafi. “Ignite Me.” Apple Books.”
Juliet is trying to fight her love interest, and from the sound of it, she’s angry. The words she uses to describe her movements make sense. We have a sense that she is fighting aggressively but failing at the same time.
Show vs Tell
Show me, don’t tell me your character is in pain. Instead, show me your character crying in the corner. The show sees your character using her power. This part of the writing style brings your story to life. Every writing professor emphasizes with this in their teaching. This fundamental is like adding frosting to the cake. In fiction, you have to show the scenes. Other than words, Readers have no other visual. This is how you experience the final battle or explain the first kiss. Show us.
“Her hands felt guided. She didn’t fully understand, nor was she completely in control. But she trusted. Kyoshi braced her stomach, filled her lungs, and slammed her feet into the Crowding Bridge stance. Echoes of power rippled from her movement, hundredfold iterations of herself stamping on the ice. She was somehow both leading and being led by an army of benders. A column of gray-stone seafloor exploded up from the surface of the ocean. It caught the hull of Tagaka’s cutter and listed the ship to the side, tearing wooden planks off the frame as easily as paper off a kite. Excerpt From: F. C. Yee & Michael Dante DiMartino. “Avatar, The Last Airbender: The Rise of Kyoshi (The Kyoshi Novels Book 1).” Apple Books.”
Kyoshi, the GOAT Avatar, is bending earth she can not see. From the words we are given we are able to see the picture of the earth bender using her extraordinary strength.
Descriptions
Descriptions can make or break your story. Either you can set the scene, establish a problem, or overload readers with exposition. We have moments where we stop and absorb how the character looks and why the things the way things are in the description. I would try to avoid dialogue for as long as I can when writing these. Get your description out before or after the conversations.
“Principal Falcon has a bronze sculpture of a falcon on the edge of his desk. I stare at it, wondering if it’s the sole reason he became a principal. No other office would have held this sculpture so well. Maybe a government office, like Governor Falcon. I’m sitting between my mom and Olivia. My mom got dressed up and insisted that I dress up too. I didn’t, per se, but I’m not wearing sweats. She sits on my left in her attorney clothes — wide-legged black slacks that tie at the waist, silk white blouse tucked in, black pointed-toe stilettos. Her legs are crossed, the bottom foot bouncing. Excerpt From: Joya Goffney. “Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry.” Apple Books.”
This example Establishes the scene. We observe the thought process of the main character Quinn. It’s simple and to the point, paving the way for more dialogue. We learn how Quinn views her principle, how serious her mother can get, and how anxious she feels.
In conclusion, the writing style is challenging. Did I miss anything? Do you have your own tips you want to share? Leave your thoughts in the comments.
