Spoiler alert: There’s a bonus writing tip. Yes, it is “don’t use spoiler alerts.”
This is a story about adultery to teach you some grammar guidelines.
1. Put Periods and Commas Within Quotation Marks
According to her, she’s “single,” so she’s going to a meeting with a guy “friend.”
2. Use Single Quotations When Quoting Inside Other Dialogue
A quote within a quote is called a nested quote. The punctuation for nested quotes can get tricky.
“She said she wants to ‘fish in other waters.’”
In the UK, these guidelines are reversed. Single quotations for regular dialogue. Double quotations for nested quotes.
‘She insisted that she will “fish in all waters.”’
3. Remove “That”
Most can be cut. Search them out and annihilate them to smooth your writing.
4. Use Stronger Words
Look for this combination: was + -ing.
Example: He was talking softly.
Revised: He whispered.
5. Remove Indirect References
To keep your readers in your characters’ heads, avoid indirect references.
Example: I heard the doorbell ring, then I saw the mailperson leave. His walk looked familiar.
Revised: The doorbell rang, then the mailperson left. His walk looked familiar.
In real life, we don’t “hear,” “see,” or “watch” events happen. Our brains do all the work. Let your characters experience their world firsthand.
Exception:
“She watched the Olympics with her ‘friend.’”
With nested quotes, periods and quotation marks go inside both sets of quotes. Yay, both sets!
In this case, watching is a choice, and friend isn’t a nested quote; it’s a scare quote.
Scare quotes are used for emphasis, irony, mockery, or sarcasm. They shouldn’t be used in writing a lot.
You’ll often see scare quotes in real life as two fingers on each hand blinking in the air. In the wild, that is, life, they can be used to show disagreement or to highlight a hidden meaning as well.
6. Capitalize Direct References. Lowercase Indirect References
Yup, more references.
Direct reference
“Mom, are you going to another meeting without Dad?”
“Mom’s going to the store, Dad.”
There are three rules for these sentences:
- Capitalize the first letter in a sentence. I know you know this one, lol.
- Your character is talking directly to their mom or dad, so both are capitalized.
- Even though “Dad” is indirectly referenced (he’s not being spoken to), it’s still capitalized because “Dad” is a pronoun. If you can replace “Dad” with a name, then it’s still capitalized - sometimes. This rule has exceptions.
Exception:
“I love you, babe.”
Usually, terms of endearment begin with a lowercase letter. If you decide to capitalize these kinds of words, do it consistently.
Indirect reference
“My mom is a cool person.”
“I don’t agree; I hate your mom.”
You and your friend are talking about your mom. Negatively, though let’s be honest, your friend might have a point. Even if your character is telling themselves how cool their mom is, begin with a lowercase letter.
7. Get Rid of All Clichés — Most of the Time
Clichés weaken your writing.
Here’s a list of 681 clichés that will improve your manuscript when you leave them out.
This exception is strictly my opinion:
Sometimes, if your characters use informal dialogue, a cliché can work. People use clichés in real life.
Adding a few clichés can add more realism to informal speech, especially when the story is set in modern times.
8. Remove Pet Phrases
It’s universally true— no, it’s not — that all writers have pet phrases. These are those phrases and words that we love to put in our works, don’t notice is in our works, and use all the time.
Figure out what your pet phrases and words are, and put only one in your work. Then, create original phrases.
Some examples I’ve seen are “it’s all I can do not to” and “blows out a breath.”
The second one is mine. I admit it.
9. Give Your Characters Personalities
Dull characters make bored, uninvested readers. So, to keep your readers in your story, write compelling characters who don’t have rice cake personalities. Many readers won’t care what happens to your characters if they don’t care about your characters. Get your readers emotionally invested.
One way to give your characters personalities is to make sure they react to events, people, and traumas. Here are four other ways to spice up your characters and improve your story.
Bonuses
Because what writing nerd doesn’t love bonus writing tips. I know I do.
10. Lowercase “He Said,” “She Said”
“Honey, what’s going on with you and this friend?” he asked.
“Hmm. Wouldn’t you like to know? Sweetie,” she said.
11. Don’t Spoil the Suspense With “Suddenly”
Suddenly, Mom’s friend burst through the door, bleeding and screaming for help. He’d been mauled by a dog, and Dad was a doctor.
When you start a sentence with “suddenly,” your readers already know something big is about to go down. All that suspense you’ve been drip-feeding them = poof, gone. Don’t put a spoiler alert before the twist.
Okay, okay, seriously, last tip.
Roles like “doctor,” “lawyer,” “manager,” etc., often begin with a lowercase letter.
Improving your writing is doable. You’ve got this!
Leave a Reply