tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post9139868601794176845..comments2024-03-17T06:03:00.362-04:00Comments on Fiction University: 5 Edits to Strengthen Your Writing, Right Now Janice Hardyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comBlogger61125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-73294036591813541902018-10-12T11:16:48.002-04:002018-10-12T11:16:48.002-04:00Happy to help :)Happy to help :)Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-34632796268341867492018-10-11T05:27:18.933-04:002018-10-11T05:27:18.933-04:00Thank you for this. I hadn't realised that I u...Thank you for this. I hadn't realised that I use "started" unnecessarily A LOT! Catherine Cawthornenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-71779402689321389232018-09-29T09:09:38.341-04:002018-09-29T09:09:38.341-04:00I've been trying to avoid the "started&qu...I've been trying to avoid the "started" and "began" sentences. I figure either my character is doing the action or isn't, no in-between stuff. The word "as" slips into my writing often. I'm learning how to catch it and dump it into the trash.Glynis Jollyhttps://ascriptedmaze.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-1012099146329415282018-09-28T14:03:49.018-04:002018-09-28T14:03:49.018-04:00Which is exactly why I think it gets used so often...Which is exactly why I think it gets used so often. Toward is a great way to handle it, and I also like headed for. They show the action beginning without the weirdness. Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-43724582537637863272018-09-28T13:58:18.415-04:002018-09-28T13:58:18.415-04:00Yeah, I have trouble with some of these showing up...Yeah, I have trouble with some of these showing up in my writing too, especially the "started" one. My problems comes when describing an action that hasn't yet completed. If one writes "Bob walked to the truck," that sentence implies that he made it all the way to the truck before the next sentences occurs, which often isn't what the writer has in mind. And the easier (laziest) way to solve the problem is by saying "he started to walk to the truck" which allows dialogue to occur while he's still in the process of walking. Another trick in this case is by using the qualifier "toward" as you did above. Saying "Bob walked toward the truck" helps solve the problem since he doesn't have to make it all the way to the truck to satisfy the sentence. As soon as Bob begins moving toward the truck, he's already done what the sentence implied. Just my two cents. Chemist Kenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09738272332470397248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-64218478630175012132018-09-28T11:47:17.184-04:002018-09-28T11:47:17.184-04:00I have an entire article on trying. It needed its ...I have an entire article on trying. It needed its own post :) I think I cover almost on there as well, but I can't remember. Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-14640234355386394882018-09-28T11:46:05.207-04:002018-09-28T11:46:05.207-04:00Absolutely.
Absolutely. <br />Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-1449797906641729922018-09-28T11:18:33.465-04:002018-09-28T11:18:33.465-04:00Please throw in 'trying' and 'almost&#...Please throw in 'trying' and 'almost' with #5! My pet peeve mirrors yours, but I also wonder how characters try to do things or almost do/feel/think things.<br /><br />Bob almost felt sorry for her. <br /><br />Well, Bob either did or didn't -- or is he teetering and can't make up his mind. Either way, as a reader, I'm forced to contemplate what the heck Bob really felt.<br /><br />Great original post -- and even better refresher! Thanks, Janice!Maria D'Marcohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07909374867721777133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-59768954486408121782018-05-11T15:02:32.242-04:002018-05-11T15:02:32.242-04:00Your list is well thought out, thanks! I have enco...Your list is well thought out, thanks! I have encountered several of these myself. My least favorite is "started" or "began", it slows things down at best and gums up at the worst.Wordrefinerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11976694299682415359noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-17194852482530286412014-04-08T07:50:47.737-04:002014-04-08T07:50:47.737-04:00Oh good, glad it was useful. Oh good, glad it was useful. Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-61201807218350026032014-03-31T01:21:50.608-04:002014-03-31T01:21:50.608-04:00Thank you so much my writing is a lot clearer beca...Thank you so much my writing is a lot clearer because of this list :-)uchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14458068621677286284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-63680806844254109882014-02-24T10:23:21.035-05:002014-02-24T10:23:21.035-05:00Glad you learned something new. Hope they help!Glad you learned something new. Hope they help!Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-80472519306312914152014-02-21T16:59:14.910-05:002014-02-21T16:59:14.910-05:00Good advice. ^ ^ A couple of these I knew, but oth...Good advice. ^ ^ A couple of these I knew, but other's I didn't.<br /><br /><a href="%E2%80%9D//storitorigrace.blogspot.com%E2%80%9D" rel="nofollow">Stori Tori's Blog</a>Victoria Grace Howellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01849013182543674707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-74128801581104043542014-02-14T13:11:36.040-05:002014-02-14T13:11:36.040-05:00Glad you found it useful!Glad you found it useful!Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-44697976463830934172014-02-05T08:42:26.242-05:002014-02-05T08:42:26.242-05:00Excellent advice! Thank-you; I'll be returning...Excellent advice! Thank-you; I'll be returning to this page again.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06975605606326675260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-7144280941429083582013-04-19T23:49:53.920-04:002013-04-19T23:49:53.920-04:00Wow !! what a great your five tips.I always search...Wow !! what a great your five tips.I always search this type of tips in online and today I got them from your post.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07916537599428640015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-16693639954911479332013-03-08T11:14:42.808-05:002013-03-08T11:14:42.808-05:00Thanks guys! I love lists, especially when editing...Thanks guys! I love lists, especially when editing. There's just something satisfying about them. Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-38208201186464650652013-03-07T12:41:47.922-05:002013-03-07T12:41:47.922-05:00Seriously helpful post. About to go do a search a...Seriously helpful post. About to go do a search and find right now. Thanks for the tips!Vaughan Dicksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03845105240574840753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-58374005681448843022013-03-05T16:54:25.611-05:002013-03-05T16:54:25.611-05:00Great list. I hope I never forget these tips. Than...Great list. I hope I never forget these tips. Thanks :) MaribethAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-81259187311010955882013-03-05T16:41:04.223-05:002013-03-05T16:41:04.223-05:00Yes, yes and yes! I find myself flagging these wor...Yes, yes and yes! I find myself flagging these words ALL the time.Jordan McCollumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16523599384793856702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-47159649930707058212013-02-19T07:26:19.907-05:002013-02-19T07:26:19.907-05:00Charlie, we all are, so no worries :) And first dr...Charlie, we all are, so no worries :) And first drafts don't count. We can be as messy as we want there.<br /><br />Lilmisslondon, thanks! You can subscribe through email or the RSS feeds. Both of those links are on the left-hand menu, under the table of contents lost. I don't think there's any way to follow me through your blog. Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-44634826966389844922013-02-17T23:10:26.589-05:002013-02-17T23:10:26.589-05:00Wow. So many small things that make such a huge di...Wow. So many small things that make such a huge difference! I'm really going to have to go word by word through my draft to catch these little buggers. Thank you so much! Can I follow you through my own blog somehow? You're articles are wonderful!<br />www.fromonewriter.blogspot.comlilmisslondonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17180400829913051618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-26556193631046436812013-02-16T17:46:12.902-05:002013-02-16T17:46:12.902-05:00Thanks for sharing such great advice. I confess I&...Thanks for sharing such great advice. I confess I'm guilty of some of these but have taken notes and will try harder lol! Charlie Plunketthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03159378506499088772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-21057118324415708982013-02-16T07:28:21.319-05:002013-02-16T07:28:21.319-05:00Classicista, totally! On the bright side, you know...Classicista, totally! On the bright side, you know about it so you can check on it when you revise :)Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-66213362532483649782013-02-13T12:05:40.311-05:002013-02-13T12:05:40.311-05:00'As' and 'while' plagued my first ...'As' and 'while' plagued my first book. Cutting them made a big difference, and I rarely use them at all anymore. One that still ets me is 'saw'--I edit it out constantly. Of course the character 'saw' something--if it's through his/her POV, we wouldn't know it if they didn't see it! Classicistahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05832224684614908165noreply@blogger.com