Show, Don’t Tell
Use actions and research to make your point. What you stand for should speak for itself.
Utilize all Five Senses
Many stories are based on observations made from sight; however, a blind man’s version of the same story will be very different. Do not use all 5 senses to describe one thing as that would be overly descriptive.
Use an Active Voice
An active voice is when the subject is accomplishing the verb “The three types of conflict are…,” or “The bear ate the food.” On the contrary, a passive voice is when the subject is not directly performing the verb like “There are three types of conflict…” or “The food was eaten by the bear….” It’s okay to use a passive voice, especially when the subject is unknown, but many times it’s wordy and less emphasizing. Did you notice the previous sentence was passive?
Provide Conflict or Contrast
When placed next to each other, contrasting colors stand out. Writing and ideas are no different. In fiction, conflict makes the plot a little more exciting and gives it more purpose. The three main categories of conflict are man vs. himself, man vs. God, and man vs. man. In non-fiction, contrasting ideas sometimes make for a great means to remove bias and get to the truth in addition to creating a compelling masterpiece.
Focus on your Nouns and Verbs
Use adjectives and adverbs sparingly. Instead, find a better noun or verb to describe what the adjectives and adverbs are modifying. For instance, replace “loudly walk” with a “stomp” or “tap dance.”
Use Proper Grammar
Some rules of grammar are meant to be broken, but the more you allow yourself to get into the habit of breaking all the rules like you are texting, the harder it’s going to be on you when it comes time to write on a professional level, whether it be for school or for work.
