TIPS AND TRICKS, General writing tips Options

[valkan]

I think it would be good and helpful to make a thread about writing tips :D


I'll go first:


I find that when you're editing your story, it's good to break down every sentence by saying them outloud and fixing what sounds wrong (or doesn't fit).

Nine times out of ten, you'll correct yourself automatically!


Naturally this only works with English, but even if you have a general knowledge of the language, it should come naturally!


Also, if you're having trouble don't be afraid to ask another for help, sometimes you will need the eyes of another to be brutal so your fans won't!

[Azarethian Titan]

Description should always involve the six "senses". I will cover briefly on each.

1. Touch
This will involve the reactions and thought processes formed from this sense.

Here's an example:
Simple Sentence: The fire was hot.
Using "touch": The searing heat burned his/her skin.

The words in bold are words used in the aspect of touch. Do you see how this creates a more visual scene?

2. Sight
This will involve what you see around you, or what you see in your mind's eye. This includes actions, behaviours, colours, scenarios, etc.

Here's an example:
Simple sentence: The zombie was rotting.
Using "sight": Pieces of flesh were falling off the zombie that shambled forward as it stretched out its grimy hands to grab my head.

The words in bold involve the aspect of sight. They describe the movement, behaviour, action of the zombie and what it looks like.

3. Hearing
This will involve what you hear.

Here's an example:
Simple Sentence: The person was in pain.
Using "hearing": The person groaned in immense pain.

Notice that the world in bold defines the amount of pain the person is in.

4. Smell
This will involve what you smell. It can be either positive or negative, or a mixture of both.

Here's an example:
Simple Sentence: There was a pile of rubbish outside our house.
Using "smell": The pile of rubbish outside our house reeked.

Notice that the word 'reeked' was used to express an extremely bad odour.

5. Taste
This will involve what is tasted, be it physical or figurative (e.g. the taste of defeat).

Here's an example:
Simple Sentence: The berry was sweet.
Using "taste": The berry gave a burst of fruity flavour.

I'm aware that it'd be common sense that a berry would taste like... a well... fruit. But the repeat of it gives emphasis on the flavour.

6. Feelings
This will involve the thoughts and emotions.

Here's an example:
Simple Sentence: I was sad.
Using "feelings": There was great sorrow within my heart.

Notice that I exchanged the word 'sad' with 'great sorrow'. This creates a greater depth in the sadness your character feels.


Of course, the six "senses" aren't used alone (though they can be at times). Quite often, you will use them together to create a visual image.

Here's an example: The fetid stench (smell) of rotting flesh (sight) seemed to pulse (sight) and it fell with a grotesque splat (hearing) on the ground.

Notice that I have just used three aspects of the senses to describe? Note that a good grasp of vocabulary is also EXTREMELY important as it helps with your description. If you have a limited grasp for the English language, your ability to describe will be limited as well.

Finally, one other way to help with your description is usage of imagery. It can be something used to compare, or something out of place.

Here's an example: The undead was like the spawn of darkness.
Comparison: Note that I have compared the undead to a spawn of darkness, which automatically leads you to figure that it is a creature of darkness.
Something out of place: Ever since when was the darkness able to have offspring (in the real world at least)? This is when the word 'spawn' draws attention to your sentence.

I really hope that this guide to description in writing has helped you in some area of writing or another. Have fun writing. ;)

~AT