There are no true rules to writing, only guidelines that a writer should follow, and below are 3 tips to improve writing skills.
The 3 Tips
- Use Similes and Metaphors no more than necessary
- Avoid Cliche's
- Do not over explain
1. Use Similes and Metaphors no more than necessary
A simile is a figure of speech, and figures of speech have there place in a story and are useful, the problem arises is when a simile or metaphor come one after a another, they distract the reader, and its a sign of a lazy writer and often leads to telling more than showing. The reader needs time to make the comparison. A story should flow with ease, easy to follow and read. If you have to use a simile or metaphor there is nothing wrong with that, but only use when it is necessary to convey an idea.
2. Avoid Cliche's
Similes and Metaphor do have there place as long if used no more than necessary, and if you have to use some form of figure of speech avoid the cliche at all cost, unless it fits with the story, ninety nine percent of the time they don’t. Cliche's are phrases that are used by everyone that doesn’t feel fresh and new, and a sign of a lazy writer. If you find them in your writing delete them and replace.
Examples of Cliche's
- Big as a whale
- Like a mad man
- Hungry as ox
- Fat as a cow
- At death’s door
- Grinning from ear to ear
- One in a million
- Busy as a bee
- Weigh a ton
- On cloud nine
- Happy as a clown
- Once in a life time
- Raining cats and dogs
- Flat as a pancake
- Sing like a bird
- Big as a house
Note: There are tons of cliche's and avoid if possible. Instead of saying something like: He was big as a whale and couldn’t fit through the door.
Instead say something like: His belly was so big and round that his gut hung over his waist, balls of fat hung off his arms, and couldn’t fit through the door.
Notice without using a figure of speech it drew the reader in and gave more detail, and better conveyed the idea.
3. Do not over explain
Avoid the trap of explaining too much. It is seldom advisable to give the reader all the information, it slows the reader down, and in most cases it leads to a lot of telling, and a story should be active and not passive. Rarely does the passive voice work. People by nature are curious, and this curiosity leads people wanting to find the answers, being curious is to seek excitement, therefore the active voice in most cases works best. There is a balance to the mount of information to give the reader and can only be determined on the writer and the story the writer is writing.
Summary
The above information will improve the writing skills of anyone who doesn’t employ in their writing. As writer you soon learn there are no true rules, only guidelines that a writer should follow. If you have the skill to pull of using cliche's and the ability to give a lot of detail then by all means do it, but in most cases not even the best of writers can pull it off, so, be careful. With that said, learn as much as you can, read and write even more. With each word you put on paper your skills will grow. So, love your craft, enjoy the process, and bring to life that story in your head.
Follow. Up-Vote. Resteem.
@smackit
Image source: https://pixabay.com/en/library-literature-book-wisdom-3185061/
@smackit
Image source: https://pixabay.com/en/library-literature-book-wisdom-3185061/
These are handy tips, although, as with any writing guidelines, plenty of famous authors break them at every possible chance. Thanks for sharing, though, I think it's like being a painter, learn to paint the world as it is, then, like Picasso, you can show us your vision of it. Learn to write by following the rules, so that you understand and choose to work against them. Great post!
@markrmorrisjr
Well said. As in any endeavor you have to learn the basic and the fundamentals. There are no rules in writing, only guidelines, and there is no rule about following guidelines. But someone new to the craft has to learn tricks of the trade first and figure what works and doesn't, and if a writer if confident in their voice and style explore and experiment.
Thank You