This week: Overcome the Reader Edited by: Annette  
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Overcome the Reader
What does it take to force a reader to read?
Readers seem to have all the power. If they don't want to read your story or book, they can simply close their eyes. As writers, it's our job to keep those eyes open and reading. There are a few things that you can do as a writer to force those reader's eyes open.
Use everything
that you see, do, smell, taste, observe to inform your writing. Small gestures, ways to drink coffee, special spices in a dish ... include little nuggets of life into your writing that humanize your characters.
Dare to be weird
in your fiction. Do you have an idea that people tell you is too weird to be told? Ha! That's a sure sign you have to find a way to insert that bit of weirdness into one or several of your stories. One bit of advice I like to give is, "Your story needs a bird."
Don't be extra
in your writing. It's perfectly okay to write in simple language that is easily accessible to most. For instance, a dialogue tag is usually best served with "said." All those other words such as shrieked, hollered, reasoned, intoned, shouted, or exclaimed should be used rarely and only when they truly advance the story.
Skip metaphors
and just say what it is you want to say. Unless you want to prove that you can open up the thesaurus app while writing.
Listen
to people talking. Use those spy activities to inform the dialogue in your stories.
Humor
can feed off many words or just a few if you use words that elicit a strong response in many people. For instance, "income tax."
Be clear
in your descriptions instead of expecting the reader to guess anything. You're the writer. It's your job to create the images in their mind. Remember, the more they see, the more they want to see. The more they want to see, the more they want to read your stories. It's a self-serving cycle of readership if your readers can clearly see what you aim to describe.
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For my last For Authors newsletter "Ten Rules to Follow" , I received the following replies:
the Wordy Jay  wrote: Excellent advice! Thanks for sharing. 
Thank you for reading and commenting.
s  wrote: I was told there was one rule: There are no rules! Having said that, your 10 rules are really good.
Write every day - Yep. Definitely. Even if just an outline for a scene, every single day.
Write what you want - when I started doing this and stopped writing what everyone else was writing, I started selling my work
Show don't tell - tough to get your head around, but it's what makes a good story
No editing while writing - this goes against a lot of writing courses, but I agree with you. I only edit if I have to change something earlier to fit what's going on later, minor tweaks
Kill your darlings - yes! GRR Martin's books might be well done, but I hate reading stuff where I need a scorecard to keep track of the 32,987 characters
Outlines or pantsing? - I "pants", but I have an ending in mind and some specific events before I hit the paper
Never use passive voice … - I know, I know! All right? Yes, I have an issue with this. Or, this is the issue I am having.
Prologue or Chapter 1? - I use a prologue to indicate only the time period the story is being told from. Maybe half a dozen times in all my novels/novellas. If the story needs it, it works.
Read - you say cheap advice, but there are many writers on Twitter who claim to not read. That would be like me wanting to be a NASCAR racer and not drive.
Publishing - I'm a traditional publisher person. Never self-published. I won't say anything else.
Thanks for that! Awesomeness in a list!
Thank you for this detailed reply to my newsletter.
Quick-Quill  wrote: A great list to print and put next to your writing area.
Now that would be an honor to know my list is being kept that way.
Zeke wrote: This is very good advice.
Thank you for reading and commenting.
Beholden  wrote: At last some sensible advice. I am so sick of the trite little "rules" of writing that are thrown at one for daring to ignore one of them in a sentence. Know the rules, if you think they will help you, but then ignore them when your gut tells you to.
Ask yourself this question: how many writers of real stature ever attended writing classes? The answer is none, especially as all the really great ones lived before anyone thought to set up writing schools.
Hahaha. Writing schools. I guess everyone went to some sort of school. Everyone after Shakespeare at least.
hbk16 wrote: These are many interesting advice on how to write everyday . Some should consecrate a time per day for writing. This is possible when someone is inspired. Great issue!
Thank you for reading and commenting.
deltablue wrote: Good advice.
Thank you for reading and commenting.
s wrote: I responded to this in the Newsfeed when this same thing was posted, so I'll copy and paste that response, if that's okay...
Can writing life be boiled down to ten bits of advice?
No.
What? Not good enough? Fine:
1. Write what you want to read.
2. Do not write for anyone else.
3. You don't have to show anyone what you write.
4. Writing is personal; it is your choice to make it public.
5. Rules for writing are not rules - they are guidelines.
6. If you can't take criticism, don't show your work.
7. Writers need to read.
8. Write whenever you get the urge.
9. Trust yourself.
10. Believe in yourself.
OR, better yet, there is advice from Brian Clark of copyblogger
1. Write
2. Write more
3. Write even more
4. Write even more than that
5. Write when you don't want to
6. Write when you do
7. Write when you have something to say
8. Write when you don't
9. Write every day
10. Keep writing
THIS IS NOT MY WORK. I WOULD HAVE POSTED THE POSTER HERE, BUT I CAN'T UPLOAD THAT FILE TYPE APPARENTLY.
Still, Mr Clark's advice is probably the very best ever.
Writers definitely have got to write.
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For Authors: December 18, 2019 Issue [#9861]
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