Cindy Woodsmall | Seven Key Things to Avoid When Writing
September 18, 2015
There is nothing quite like taking a journey with fictional characters. I
love when
inspiration hits and I know what will happen in the story. But more than
that, I love
using that story to explore the reasoning and nuances of the characters’
weaknesses
while finding the frailty of their strengths.
Sometimes digging deep to explore the character and the story they’re caught
in is so
much fun it feels as if I’m soaring far above Earth’s terrain on a warm
summer night. I
see the lay of the land, or in this case, the story, and I write about it.
Can you see
the silvery moonlight gently falling on snowcapped mountains, the lush
valleys, and the
rippling bodies of water as we fly overhead? Beautiful, isn’t it?
But perhaps just as often, I find writing to be really hard work, as if
gravity has
pulled me to the ground and I’m on my knees, digging out that terrain with
nothing but
my bare hands, feeling the pain of blisters from clawing into rocky dirt.
But you know what? It’s worth the effort.
When the manuscript is complete, I send it to my editor. During my ten years
of working
with her, I’ve learned a few thing on her don’t list. I’m going to share
them with you
and hope you find them helpful.
To keep readers glued to the story, try to avoid the following:
1. Focusing too much on the mechanics. While good writing is
important, sometimes
new writers work so hard at things like word usage and sentence structure
that readers
are pulled out of the most important thing: the story.
2. Overusing certain words. Some words, like pronouns and helping
verbs, are used
thousands of times in a full-length novel and readers don’t mind them. Most
other words
aren’t so easily overlooked, especially if used in close proximity. Words
like return,
hint, linger, tremble, believe, shocked, and suddenly may stir emotions in
readers, but
too much of a good thing turns their positive power into reader frustration.
3. Using strong verbs where they’re not really needed. Words like
stomp, march,
and trudge are strong verbs. Most of the time your character can simply
move, walk, or
go to a spot. The everyday movements of our characters don’t need to be
exaggerated.
Less is often more when it comes to verbs. When we’ve shown the characters’
emotions
through action and dialogue, readers will know how they went from one place
to another.
The exception to that principle is if you have an action scene where it’s
important to
note how the character moved about.
4. Using complicated words. As authors we want the words to carry our
readers as
if they were on a magic carpet ride. We don’t want readers to trip over the
rug. A
thesaurus is a perfect tool to find the most powerful yet simple word
possible.
Sometimes you’ll need to rewrite the sentence in order to keep the energy
and strength
of the scene intact while keeping the words uncomplicated. Using simple
words allows the
story to shine through.
5. Slowing down a scene to explain or justify your character’s feelings.
Instead,
show in advance why she/he feels that way. For example, if you have a young
girl being
bitten by a dog or telling a friend about the scars she got from a dog
attack, when a
dog starts running toward her later in the novel, you don’t have to explain
her
reaction. The readers will understand the character’s fear and they’ll feel
it with her.
6. Conveying a character’s thoughts or feelings through another character
reading his
or her facial expression. In real life, we usually can’t discern
people’s thoughts
or plans by looking at their faces. We may sense their mood, but we aren’t
usually
intuitive about the specifics of their hearts or minds.
7. Laziness. Do whatever amount of research and rewriting is
necessary to make
the story worthy of readers’ investment. Their time is a gift. Don’t take it
lightly. GIVEAWAY
Are you a writer? What do you avoid? Leave a comment below and be entered
for a chance
to win a copy of TIES THAT BIND.
Cindy Woodsmall is a New York Times best-selling author whose
connection
with the Amish community has been featured on ABC Nightline and on the front
page of
The Wall Street Journal. She is the author of The Bridge of Peace,
The Hope of
Refuge, and The Sound of Sleigh Bells.
Her ability to authentically capture the heart of her characters comes from
her real-
life connections with Amish Mennonite and Old Order Amish families. Cindy
lives in
Georgia with her husband, their three sons, and two amazing daughters-in-
law.
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Ariana’s comfortable Old Order Amish world is about to unravel. Will
holding
tightly to the cords of family keep them together—or simply tear them apart?
Twenty-year-old Ariana Brenneman loves her family and the Old Ways. She has
two
aspirations: open a café in historic Summer Grove to help support her
family’s ever-
expanding brood and to keep any other Amish from being lured into the
Englisch life by
Quill Schlabach.
Five years ago Quill, along with her dear friend Frieda, ran off together,
and Ariana
still carries the wounds of that betrayal. When she unexpectedly encounters
him, she
soon realizes he has plans to help someone else she loves leave the Amish.
Despite how things look, Quill’s goal has always been to protect Ariana from
anything
that may hurt her, including the reasons he left. After returning to Summer
Grove on
another matter, he unearths secrets about Ariana and her family that she is
unaware of.
His love and loyalty to her beckons him to try to win her trust and help her
find a way
to buy the café—because when she learns the truth that connects her and a
stranger named
Skylar Nash, Quill knows it may upend her life forever.
Ties That Bind is the first novel in the Amish of Summer Grove series.
Read the first chapter of TIES THAT BIND
Comments
23 comments posted.
Re: Cindy Woodsmall | Seven Key Things to Avoid When Writing
No I'm not a writer (Marissa Yip-Young 5:50am September 18, 2015)
There's a book in my head that I've always wanted to write, but as of yet, I haven't put pen-to-paper yet. When I do get the guts to get started, I plan on using a lot of the tips that I've read over the months on this site from all the talented writers that visit here. One of my pet-peeves is using words that you need a dictionary beside you to decipher the sentence while you're reading, so I would keep my book as down-to-earth as I could, and to try and keep my story flowing as easily as possible. Trying to keep the word count low might be a problem, but I feel I have a good book to write, and have been urged by a few people to write. Now if I could only get the nerve up!! Your latest book sounds too good to not pass up, even though I read all Amish books anyway!! Congratulations on your latest book!! I already have it on my TBR list, and it will make for a great Fall read!! The cover is beautifully done as well!! (Peggy Roberson 7:45am September 18, 2015)
I am not a writer but like to put my thoughts down from time to time. (Pam Howell 9:54am September 18, 2015)
I am not a writer in the sense of writing a book, but I do write reviews of every book I read, even though not everyone likes the way I write and sometimes I get criticized for it and rejected.
I try to avoid the simple things. I never say, "It's a good book", or "Don't waste your money". I try to answer the six questions when I write, and when I do that, I feel as though I accomplished what I set out to do. (Edward Washington 10:51am September 18, 2015)
I am not a writer but I do record my hopes, dreams and experiences. (Sharon Berger 1:38pm September 18, 2015)
I love to read Amish books. I love their devotion to family and their strong morals. I have often thought that it would be great to go back to the simple life...things were simpler even 50 years ago. I was raised in a big city but back then I didn't have to worry about walking home from school by myself or riding the bus late at night. Reading stories about the Amish makes me feel good again. (cHARLETTE bOND 1:43pm September 18, 2015)
I used to write a lot more than I do now. I avoid erotic and a lot of the paranormal stuff like vampires and shapeshifters and sci fi. (Nancy Luebke 2:41pm September 18, 2015)
I'm an aspiring writer. I know what my story is. I know my characters, the time period, the settings and the history. I have a fairly good outline in my head. I've done tons of research and know a great deal about the subject and theme. Unfortunately, I avoid getting truly started. I only have half of the first chapter actually written. (Irene Menge 4:55pm September 18, 2015)
NOT A WRITER (Debbi Shaw 10:42pm September 18, 2015)
I'm not a writer but I could tell "The Story of My Life ", and that would be a book there. I guess most could tell an exciting part of their life .Would love to read this book . Thanks for this chance to win . (Joan Thrasher 9:40am September 19, 2015)
Thank you for the opportunity to win this book. (Kathy Church 10:52am September 19, 2015)
No, I'm not a writer. However, back in my much younger day's (teeny bopper that is) I wrote poems, short stories, and my thoughts :) Best of luck to all who have entered (Holly Loch 3:15am September 20, 2015)
I am not a writer but do know other writers - I love learning about how they write and the entire process - it's different for each writer! (Felicia Ciaudelli 8:16am September 20, 2015)
I'm not a writer, but when my kids were young they always wanted me to tell them scary stories I made up. (Jamie Steadman 11:59am September 20, 2015)
I'd love to write,but don't think I have the write stuff. Theresa N weceno(at)yahoo(dot)com (Theresa Norris 6:56pm September 20, 2015)
I am not a writer but do make a note of important thoughts (Timothy Younger 8:33pm September 20, 2015)
I'm not a writer, though I occasionally have to summit an article or information for a newsletter or bulletin. I try to make sure I include all the pertinent information and if possible a little humor. (Flora Presley 10:22pm September 20, 2015)
No, I am not a writer. I really do appreciate all the hard work that writers put into each book with their character development and research into time periods and location settings among other things. Amish fiction is my favorite genre to read. (Maryann Skaritka 12:25pm September 21, 2015)
I am not a writer but I avoid horror and sci-fi as a reader. (Denise Austin 5:58pm September 21, 2015)
I'm not a writer but a proofreader for several authors. (Nadine Stacy 6:36pm September 21, 2015)
I am not a writer but I do love to read and I love Amish stories. (Doris Lankford 6:59pm September 21, 2015)
I couldn't write my way out of a paper bag, but I just love the cover to this book, and I really like the story line. (Faye Gates 7:21pm September 21, 2015)
Only a reader, and your book sounds like a great read. (Laura Davis 8:22pm September 21, 2015)
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