Bad Habits to Avoid
It’s all about variety. Whether it’s the length of sentences, the complexity of the words used, or the type of writing (description, action, summary, dialogue), don’t stick with one style for too long.
description
Details & Description 203-02
In photography they say the act of looking at one thing is also the act of looking away from something else. The same can be said of description. When writing description, it’s important to consider what’s left unsaid. For example, a character stands in the middle of a street. Audiences will either assume that the street is empty or that the character is ignoring the activity around them, both of which convey meaning.
Prose 203-01
Prose is general writing, in contrast with dialogue, poetry, and other forms that have more specific rules and meaning. Prose includes description/exposition, summarization, and statements/actions. What follows is a series of techniques and ideas to help revise and strengthen an existing rough draft, not techniques for writing a rough draft. Keep in mind that writing is all about creating contrast, and sometimes it may make sense to deviate from these guidelines.
First Impressions 103-02 (Revealing Character I)
One way to engage audiences is through characters. Audiences enjoy getting to know the characters, building up to an “ah ha” moment, when the audience understands a little more about who the character is, and how that relates to the story as a whole.