What is a writer? A writer is someone who writes. A writer typically writes every day, unless they are forced to flee a hurricane or a terrorist attack. When they absolutely can't write, they observe. If you don't write, you aren't a writer! Outlining, researching, planning, talking to people about writing, none of this is writing. You aren't a writer until you write!
Writers are the only artists who expect to achieve by waiting. Don't wait. The act of writing teaches you, inspires you, and generates ideas. Nothing helps you improve like writing. Here are two simple ideas that will strengthen your work: 1. Avoid the passive "ing". 2. Always hook your reader. "ING" is a silent killer. It weakens your work. Which example is stronger? Bill was walking to town. Bill walked to town. Jim was thinking about how to kill his wife. Jim wanted his wife dead; but how? A sample from one of my students follows: Today Kathy was walking away from Danville . She was leaving the Killians and their stupid relatives, and all their bourgeoisie bullshit. She was leaving the agony and the fear and the pain, both physical and mental, behind. But most importantly, she was leaving her husband. Yes, she was leaving John. Two hours later, the same student submitted this opening paragraph. The rewrite is tight, active, powerful and grabs the reader. Today Kathy would leave Danville , leave the Killians and their bourgeoisie bullshit. She would leave the fear and pain, but most importantly, she would leave her husband-yes, Kathy finally would leave John. The first paragraph is 50 mushy words. The rewrite is only 33, and has muscle. Try this: Get a manuscript on your screen. On your toolbar, press edit, press find, then type "ing" into the find browser. When an "ing" pops up, ask yourself if it would be more powerful to rewrite the sentence actively. This exercise is fun and will help your articles lose fat and gain muscle. When are "ings" OK? When you want to soften your story. Reread paragraph two of this article. I started with a strong, blunt statement. In sentence two, I used "ings" to soften the tone and give the reader a change of pace. I finished with a strong, repetitive statement for emphasis. HOOK YOUR READER Nothing is so sad as a good story the reader leaves before it gets good. Never write anything without a hook. The lead paragraph must surprise, amuse, intrigue, create conflict or tension, or ask a powerful question. It must make the reader want to know more. Which example do you prefer? Percy, the skinny new kid with the thick glasses, came to class early and sat in the back row. Percy, the skinny new kid with the thick glasses, came to class early and sat in back row. Unfortunately, he sat in Meathead Sweeney's favorite chair. No tension in the first example. In the second, we want to know how Meathead will respond. As an aside, note my choice of names to help project the image I desire. (These are names I considered before selecting Meathead: Hulk, Hawk, Cuda, Snake, Gorilla) Examples of hooks I have used on short stories. If I did my job, you should want to read the rest of the story, and may be a little frustrated that you can't. THE ENGAGEMENT "Dammit, Grady, tell me where we're going." "Relax, Susan." Her eyes danced over Grady's tight body. Biceps rippled beneath his tan as he snaked the Mercedes convertible through traffic. Susan loved Grady Mackenzie. But eight years was too damned long. It was time to tie the knot or cut the cord.
RELUCTANT KILLER
My door creaked open. She stood there, a butcher knife in her hand. I peeked from the covers.
"This is stupid, Greta."
"Don't try to talk me out of it, Greg."
DREAM TEACHER
Everyone loved Jimmy, our eighth grader. He was born with diastrophic dysplasia, a form of short-limbed dwarfism, so we knew he would never play in the NBA. But Jimmy seemed unaware of his condition. His dream was always to make the team. Since sixth grade, he had tried out for every sport, but never survived the first cut.
"I'll make it next time", he would smile, while his mother and I hid tears.
ONLY A HORSE
The snow crunched underfoot. My breath blossomed like pewter flowers in the still air. I wiped a tear with my glove. It's only a damned horse. That's what Ben Jensen had said at coffee yesterday. I hadn't slept. I inserted the needle into the rubber top of the bottle and loaded the syringe.
THE LAST TIME
I recall the day my old man died.
I hated those fishin' trips. It was a thousand miles from the station wagon to the river. I ran to keep up. Like thick, hairy snakes, pa's arms squeezed his drippy cooler, a taped-up cardboard box jammed with beer and ice. His belly was soaked when we reached the water.
THE BROKEN MIRROR
My seven-year-old tiptoed into my study, her hands behind her. "Please don't be angry," she sobbed.
"What's wrong, Susan?"
In today's busy world, readers need a reason to keep reading. It's our job to make them crave the rest of the story. Active verbs and strong hooks will do just that. Imagine fishing without a hook. The fish might take a look, grab the worm and swim off. To land the fish, a hook is mandatory.
Marty RicKard Bio
Marty RicKard attended William Penn College , Iowa State University and University of Southern Mississippi , from which he holds a BS degree in journalism and photojournalism. He also has a Masters Degree in photography, in addition to the Craftsman, CPP, and A-ASP degrees. Marty spent two years as a technical writer for White Motor Company, and has worked for the Charles City Press, Mason City Globe-Gazette, and Davenport Times-Democrat. He was co-owner of the weekly New Sharon Star, where he was twice named Iowa Master Columnist for his article, which was syndicated in twenty Iowa newspapers. For more than a decade Marty's regular column appeared in the Professional Photographer magazine. He has been published in many other magazines and newspapers, including Writer's Digest, Writer Advice, Golf Digest, Resource Magazine, Picture, Range Finder, and Darkroom. In addition to his writing credits, Marty has won numerous photography awards, has lectured in 48 states, and has traveled internationally as lecturer, and judge. He was one of thirty from the U.S. to participate in the first cultural exchange with China in 1986. He currently is a regular columnist for Lens Magazine, and a full-time writer of fiction and poetry. He is the author of two poetry books and one volume of short stories. He is an entertaining speaker.
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