Writing tips!

Here are a few ideas and suggestions to get you started.  

If you have a specific interest or need, email me!  See the presentations page for additional workshops.

Body Language!

Up to 93 % of communication is non-verbal. Including tone of voice, eye movement, posture, hand gestures, facial expressions and more. The pressure of body language can especially be felt in emotional situations. Body language usually prevails over words.  Use body language in your writing.  Show the reader what your characters are feeling rather than telling them!

Know Your Character!

A writer should know their characters intimately, but only those traits that are key to defining a given character should be revealed to the reader.  Write back story about each character that will not appear in your novel.  You should be able to answer detailed questions about the character.  If the character isn't real to you, the reader cannot become friends with them or see themselves in the character's place.

Dialog!

Dialog makes the characters you create come alive on the page, no matter what genre you are writing.  Effective Dialog is not only entertaining –it moves the plot along, gives background information and makes your characters more realistic. Learn correct punctuation for writing dialog.  Poor grammar will flag you as an amateur.

Correct: “I don’t like onions,” he said.

Incorrect: “I don’t like onions”, he said.

Incorrect: “I don’t like onions,” He said.

Fade: “I wonder where my dog is . . . ”

Interruption: “Look at that dog's teeth! I hope he doesn’t – ”

I will add more tips as I find time.  For details on these topics and more, contact me for a group workshop.  I now offer individual help for beginning writers as well  --  Email me for details.  

Email Cara