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By Mike Owens
Writing, as an artistic outflow of one’s thoughts, experiences, and creativity, can be burdened by the author’s attempts to use rich, vibrant words.
Overusing similes or metaphors is a common mistake among new authors.
The weight of Jon’s thoughts crushed him like the force of a seagull landing on a crab.
That unusual word picture doesn’t move the storyline forward; rather, it causes the reader to stop and ponder the simile itself (thus, drawing attention from the message).
Another common mistake is the use of overly descriptive dialogue tags.
“Hand over your purse,” the thief snarled menacingly.
Can someone snarl her words? Can she simultaneously sigh, laugh and sneeze? I’ve never seen it happen.
A good rule of thumb: If it doesn’t move the story along, get rid of it. No matter how much you like the word, phrase, sentence, or chapter, if the story slows down, it’s got to go.
Keep your writing real.
Mike Owens is a Project Manager for WinePress Publishing. He enjoys working with authors from the start of their book to the final product.
The editorial team for WinePress of Words includes Carla Williams (Executive Editor), Laura Christianson (Editor and Coordinator), Josiah Williams (Marketing Specialist), and Thomas McGee (Designer and Developer).
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