This document provides tips and techniques for creative writing devices that can be used to strengthen writing through the revision process. It discusses using the active voice, specific details, imagery, quotes, characterization, showing rather than telling, and vivid scene descriptions. It also provides writing exercises for writers to practice being more specific, finding descriptive words, and writing character descriptions.
This document provides tips and techniques for creative writing devices that can be used to strengthen writing through the revision process. It discusses using the active voice, specific details, imagery, quotes, characterization, showing rather than telling, and vivid scene descriptions. It also provides writing exercises for writers to practice being more specific, finding descriptive words, and writing character descriptions.
This document provides tips and techniques for creative writing devices that can be used to strengthen writing through the revision process. It discusses using the active voice, specific details, imagery, quotes, characterization, showing rather than telling, and vivid scene descriptions. It also provides writing exercises for writers to practice being more specific, finding descriptive words, and writing character descriptions.
This document provides tips and techniques for creative writing devices that can be used to strengthen writing through the revision process. It discusses using the active voice, specific details, imagery, quotes, characterization, showing rather than telling, and vivid scene descriptions. It also provides writing exercises for writers to practice being more specific, finding descriptive words, and writing character descriptions.
Where to hand in hardcopy? Box outside Block C Level 9 (Turn right at main glass door, walk towards toilets, at the end of the passageway, there is another glass door. There will be a box on the left corner by that glass door.)
No LECTURE OR TUTORIAL next week. LECTURE SLOT = consultation hours (10-11.30AM LT22, I will be there).
No need consultation? Spend your free week wisely and complete the assignment well. Good writing requires good editing REVISING YOUR COPY One of the hardest lessons to learn is how to revise ones copy.
Most writers, no matter how experienced they are, find it difficult to put words to paper with exactly the right order, tone and quality on the first try.
Therefore, they continue to polish and refine what they have written. The refining process doesnt come easily.
Too many writers fall in love with their own language.
Once they commit it to paper, they cant bring themselves to throw away this beautifully turned phrase or that five-syllable word, or those scintillating, unnecessary adjectives, no matter how inappropriate the wording might be to the end product. As writers, you must train yourself to treat words as tools, not as tiny mirrors to your own brilliance and wit.
You must force yourself to stand back from your own copy and study it on its own merits.
In effect, each writer is his or her own worst enemy.
As any good professional can tell you, youll only begin to improve as a writer only when you learn to spot your mistakes and weed them out. Tips to better writing Time creates distance. It allows personal enthusiasm to wane and sharpens judgement. If you arent pressed for time, take advantage of it. Give yourself a mandatory cooling-off period. Stack your copy and lay it aside for a few days. When you come back to it, divorce your ego from it. Try and read it as though it came from someone elses computer. What can you do? 1. Examine your copy from several perspectives as editor, reader and critique.
2. Check the structure to see if it works.
3. Test each paragraph for flow and linkage to its neighbours.
4. Study each sentence for weaknesses and make sure you dont have any spelling or punctuation problems.
Remember that editing for the sake of editing accomplishes nothing each correction must improve the copy. USEFUL WRITING DEVICES Some standard writing devices that can strengthen your material in the process of revision.
Use the active voice Its better to make the subject of your sentence do something rather than let something be done to it. The man stabbed the child is stronger than The child was stabbed by the man.
The first sentence is active and the second, passive.
But theres more to putting action in your verbs than merely avoiding the passive voice.
Be specific Whenever possible, skip generalisation and be concrete.
Tom Williams fell down is not as effective as Tom Williams tripped on slab of concrete before losing his balance and falling into the gutter
Continued Never settle for the first verb that pops into your head, if theres a better one available.
Look for verbs that are closer to your meaning.
Dont use shout if what you really mean is bawl or bellow or roar or shriek.
Check your thesaurus for synonyms.
Thumb your dictionary and thesaurus for words with precise meaning.
Use imagery Remember that verbs can be abstract too.
The wind blew through the trees tells the reader something but not enough.
Was it a soft breeze? Try imagery. The wind whispered through the trees.
Perhaps it was a heavy wind The wind trashed the trees.
Either verb gives the reader a better clue than the first to the strength of the wind.
But if you use imagery, be selective.
Imagery should be used to illuminate, not to show off. Brighten your articles with quotes Your readers like to hear people talk.
If you are writing a profile about a specific person, by all means let the reader listen in on what the profile subject has to say.
Quotes enliven your copy even if you arent writing a profile.
Use quotes freely but, again, be selective.
Your story should not be all about quotes; quotes enhance not monopolise the story.
Use characterisation Not only do your readers want to hear a person talk, they want to see the person.
Bring the people in your article to life. Allow your readers to picture them vividly.
Give them a glimpse like the following excerpt:
Ken Johnson is a short, rumpled little man who wears a green beret and his collar turned up. He has a fat nose and big ears and he looks a bit like one of the gargoyles on the Cathedral Notre Dame. Continued A writer can also give readers insight into a persons character by: showing the person in action demonstrating the persons attitudes and personality presenting significant biographical details showing the reactions and comments of other people
If you intend to delve into a subjects character, you should get to know the subject well.
Be observant when you go in for an interview.
Watch for mannerisms.
Make notes of things that impress you visually, as well as taking down the subjects words
Show, dont tell Dont be judgmental. If you tell a reader that a person is friendly, or nervous, or angry, or despondent, the reader may get some idea what you mean, but judgmental words represent different things to different people.
Show the reader. Show: The shy smile The shaking hands The gritted teeth The long, low sigh
Instead of writing The professor acted strange, say The professor drooled on his tie, staggered against the blackboard and slid to the floor moaning Describe scenes Vivid, brief descriptions of scene and setting can help immensely in holding readers attention and propelling them through a story.
Description can create atmosphere or mood without telling a story.
The jukebox is almost hidden under the stuffed head of a buffalo. Someone has dropped in a quarter and punched that old western favourite, Laras Theme, by Roger Williams. Diners are sipping screwdrivers and martinis and whittling on two pound T-Bones. Every so often there is a choink as somebody pops a beer top. Writing Exercises Be Specific: Write the following in more specific sentences
Alison injured her knee after falling. Ken is sad after failing. Melanie raised her voice to her sister, Candice, during a fight. George was frightened by the sound. Luke was happy after winning the competition. Find more descriptive words for the following: at least 2 different words for each
Anger Sad Confusion Upset Content Confused Tired Run Eat Happy
Write a 1 paragraph description of the following person to make her look attractive.
40-year-old Sandy Atkins Short Average weight, small waist, wide hips Doesnt smile a lot Wears boring clothes Wears glasses Chin length brown hair with a blunt fringe Blue eyes Has a hairy mole on right cheek Large nose with wide nostrils
