Tag: Author

“Just”… No

~ The-Aspiring-Author ~ Leave a comment
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During my two month mentorship with Martha Brockenbrough, author of The Game of Love and Death. Martha highlighted a writing tick that I didn’t realize I had…

The tick was using just in my writing—a lot. Like fifteen times in twenty pages a lot. It was my writing crutch and I hadn’t even realized it (how embarrassing). But, once my eyes were opened to it—Oh goodness, did I see it.

For example, the below snippets were taken from the pages Martha Brockenbrough reviewed:

…Just please protect her…

…just make sure you look after yourself…

…I just wanted to be…

Can you see how just is not necessary?

It doesn’t enhance the sentence, it just sits there like an inedible garnish on a dish—Yuck!

As you don’t need that inedible garnish on your tasty plate, get that word off your compelling page…

…Please protect her…

…make sure you look after yourself…

…I wanted to be…

See? So much better once the crutch word has been vanquished from the sentence, don’t you agree?

If just isn’t your crutch word—you’re not off the hook yet! There are other adverbs that can weaken a writer’s writing.

Below is a list of the most over-used adverbs. Do you overuse any of them? (Be honest…)

  • Just
  • Very
  • So
  • Kind of
  • Really
  • Totally
  • Actually
  • Seems
  • Suddenly
  • Probably
  • Could have
  • Hopefully
  • Perfect
  • Viciously
  • Usually

If you use a crutch word, don’t fret! Thanks to Control+F, you can easily track those adverbs down after you finish writing and replace them. Easy fix!

Last Piece of Advice: Don’t settle for an adverb modifying a weaker verb, when you can use a great verb. Your writing—and readers—will thank you!

Keep on writing!

The Best Writing Advice I Have Received: Part 1

~ The-Aspiring-Author ~ Leave a comment
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The best advice I have received can be summed up in two words. Part 1 is about the first word…

Write!
Writing is like a muscle—it only becomes stronger if you work it out every day.

Bill Konigsberg, author of the best-selling novel Openly Straight and co-founder of my writing program, gave my class the best advice about how to become a better writer. He told us to make it part of our daily routine to write at least 350 words A DAY.

Up until I started the program, I was used to writing when I was inspired. So, the idea of sitting down and writing every day was daunting.

I tried to follow Bill’s advice—I really did. I made the attempt and sat in front of my computer every day. But, obstacles kept getting in my way when I tried to put words to paper.

Instead of writing, I was usually stopped by these inhibiting writing suspects: I was too tired (I had a long day at work), distractions (TV, etc.), or (my favorite) I needed to think about the scene more to figure out what to write next.

All sound valid, and can be valid. But, I noticed that once I stopped giving in to the obstacles…they lost their persuasiveness.

I might not write 350 words, but I do write every day. I’ve learned how to eliminate all distractions, and I can pickup where I left off easily. It took time (and determination), but it’s possible. Best of all—I can see that my writing is benefiting from this change.

It’s an obvious piece of advice, but it’s obvious for a reason—it works!

Keep writing every day, I believe in you.

Aspiring Author Stuggles

~ The-Aspiring-Author ~ Leave a comment

My current work-in-progress’ status: ?

Writing. Work-in-progress. Revisions (plural). To anyone that isn’t a writer, these words might sound a little daunting. But, to a writer…these words are daunting.

The life of a writer is not easy. One of my favorite quotes (that I repeat often in my head) is:

“Being a writer is like having homework every night for the rest of your life.” – Lawrence Kasdan

Let that quote sink in. For the rest of your life. Now, with that in mind…who’s ready to write?!