All Episodes

November 19, 2024 23 mins

SHOW NOTES:

Writers, particularly early in their careers, make mistakes. Often the
same ones over and over. Here are a few pitfalls to avoid.
 


OVERWRITING:

Too many words 

Too cute by far 

Strained Metaphors 

Purple prose 


DIALOG:

Tag alert 

Characters all sound the same 

Inane conversations 

“As you know” chatting 


SHOW VS TELL:


DESCRIPTION:

Not too much 

Not too little 

Just enough—the telling details 



SCENES:

In and Out quickly—in medias res 

Leave question/tension at end 



POV:

Stay in one at a time 

Except Omniscient—hard to do 

PACING: 

Fast but not too fast 

Vary pace 



BACKSTORY:

How much? 

When? 

ENTERTAIN: 

Mark as Played

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