So You Want To Write a Healthy Story
By Tracie Dickerson
After years of reading The Writer, Writer’s Digest and Poets and Writers our editors have compiled a list of writing suggestion for your consideration.
Here are twenty-nine tips future authors:
- Write your story. Don’t worry about anything. A first draft is just the start.
- Use action verbs as often as possible. (Jumped, Screamed, Bellowed)
- The rule of three—tie three thoughts together in sentence. (Dr. Smith squirted a stream of peroxide onto a surgical pad, bent forward, and dabbed at the stitches.)
- Try an original simile. (As silent as falling snow.)
- Add a metaphor. (His thoughts caused his brain to explode.)
- Add some suspense in the beginning of your story. Hook the reader.
- Your opening story sentences and your closing sentences should have a Tie the beginning to the ending.
- Remember that everything, from the first word, is preparing your reader for the ending of the story.
- Dialogue—don’t forget it.
- Have your characters use their five senses (Touch, taste, smell, sight and hearing).
- Theme (Always have a theme).
- What lesson is taught by your story?
- Put a thread throughout story. The thread will hold the story together. (Usually is the theme).
- Short story –Time frame should be – one day, one hour or one minute.
- Remember– people relate to their own experiences.
- Write about your life experiences.
- Sleep on your story for a few nights.
- Write about a crisis and a transformation, in your main character.
- Choose a title that has more than one meaning.
- Be thought provoking.
- (The frozen vodka poured down in a fiery ball.)
- Speak from your heart!
- Try to write some “Gem” sentences.
- Rewrite, reread, redraft your story a number of times.
- Read it out loud.
- Have a friend critique the story.
- Remember and insert your sense in the story smells, tastes, touch, sounds and sight.
- Keep a writing journal- write in your key observations, people’s dialogue, ideas for stories, titles for stories, and key words or phrases that you might want to incorporate.
- Research, Research, Research–use Google, Wikipedia and other sources.
This list is not meant to discourage your desire to write. But this list will make your story more vibrant, colorful and readable.
