Writing Tips | This That and Other Things

Readers of commercial fiction want to see a winner at the end. Readers of literary fiction are prepared to accept more ambiguity. In either case, the ending must be powerful. Great endings leave the reader satisfied, even if the rest of the book is weak. Weak endings leave the reader disappointed, even if the book was good.

Most of us can write a good beginning. The middle is the most difficult part of a book, but a good ending is essential.

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Cheat Sheets For Writing Body Language

Posted: April 5, 2014 in Writing, Writing Tips

Translate emotions into written body language

We are always told to use body language in our writing. Sometimes, it’s easier said than written. I decided to create these cheat sheets to help you show a character’s state of mind. Obviously, a character may exhibit a number of these behaviours. For example, he may be shocked and angry, or shocked and happy. Use these combinations as needed.

The Top Five Tips For Using Body Language

Use body language to add depth to dialogue.
Use it because more than 50% of human communication is non-verbal.
Use it to show how your character’s emotions affect his or her actions.
Use it to help you show, rather than tell your reader everything.
Use it in moderation. If overused, it can slow your story down.

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219 Alternative Words for Said

Posted: March 28, 2014 in Ideas, Writing, Writing Tips

http://www.spwickstrom.com/said/

10 Things I Wish I Had Known as a Beginning Writer

Posted: February 28, 2014 in Writing Tips

http://www.authorspublish.com/10-things-i-wish-i-knew-as-a-beginning-writer/

10 Ways to Introduce Conflict Into Dialogue

Posted: January 17, 2014 in Writing, Writing Tips

Characters meet resistance through conflict with other characters. This does not mean they have to physically fight. Dialogue plays a big part in conflict.

The narrative of a story defines the plot and description sets the scene. Dialogue shows us how characters react to events in their own words. It shows us what they’re willing to tell other characters and what they need to hide. Dialogue is an effective way to increase conflict, tension, and suspense in your book.

Find lists here.

219 Words to Use Instead of ‘Said’

Posted: January 17, 2014 in Writing, Writing Tips

There is nothing wrong with using the word said in written dialogue. Be careful not to treat the word said as a word to be avoided. Well written dialogue should never rely on tags such as the ones below, but should convey its own attitude. When using words instead of said, be sure you utilize them properly. For example, you cannot laugh and talk at the same time. “That is so funny, laughed Bob,” should not be used. A person can laugh before or after they speak, but not while they speak. Think about how your character is going to speak and the emotion that they are experiencing. Think it out before you write it down. Let me give you some examples. The following sentence does not use the word said:
“I hate you,” spat Bob in disgust. Now think about that sentence. Can a person spit in disgust and speak at the same time?
Watch what happens this time when I use the word said and describe Bob’s actions:
“I hate you,” said Bob as he clenched his fists. His lips snarled with rage as he stormed out the room, vowing never to return.
Here is another example where the word said works just fine:
“Do have some more gravy, Bob,” said Darla, spooning it out herself.
For dialogue to be effective it must appear to be realistic. The person reading your story must believe that your characters actually talk this way. You should use dialogue to reveal insights into characters, set the mood, and even to clarify plot points. I was once told that when writing dialogue, to think of it as action. Use dialogue to make something happen.

Use the list below carefully and remember that there is nothing wrong with using the word said in dialog.

Get the list here.

Synonyms For Words Commonly Used By Students

Posted: January 16, 2014 in Writing, Writing Tips

Taken from : http://larae.net/write/synonyms.html

Amazing– incredible, unbelievable, improbable, fabulous, wonderful, fantastic, astonishing, astounding, extraordinary

Anger– enrage, infuriate, arouse, nettle, exasperate, inflame, madden

Angry– mad, furious, enraged, excited, wrathful, indignant, exasperated, aroused, inflamed

Answer– reply, respond, retort, acknowledge

Ask– question, inquire of, seek information from, put a question to, demand, request, expect, inquire, query, interrogate, examine, quiz

Awful– dreadful, terrible, abominable, bad, poor, unpleasant

Bad– evil, immoral, wicked, corrupt, sinful, depraved, rotten, contaminated, spoiled, tainted, harmful, injurious, unfavorable, defective, inferior, imperfect, substandard, faulty, improper, inappropriate, unsuitable, disagreeable, unpleasant, cross, nasty, unfriendly, irascible, horrible, atrocious, outrageous, scandalous, infamous, wrong, noxious, sinister, putrid, snide, deplorable, dismal, gross, heinous, nefarious, base, obnoxious, detestable, despicable, contemptible, foul, rank, ghastly, execrable

Beautiful – pretty, lovely, handsome, attractive, gorgeous, dazzling, splendid, magnificent, comely, fair, ravishing, graceful, elegant, fine, exquisite, aesthetic, pleasing, shapely, delicate, stunning, glorious, heavenly, resplendent, radiant, glowing, blooming, sparkling

Begin – start, open, launch, initiate, commence, inaugurate, originate

Big – enormous, huge, immense, gigantic, vast, colossal, gargantuan, large, sizable, grand, great, tall, substantial, mammoth, astronomical, ample, broad, expansive, spacious, stout, tremendous, titanic, mountainous

Brave – courageous, fearless, dauntless, intrepid, plucky, daring, heroic, valorous, audacious, bold, gallant, valiant, doughty, mettlesome

Break – fracture, rupture, shatter, smash, wreck, crash, demolish, atomize

Bright – shining, shiny, gleaming, brilliant, sparkling, shimmering, radiant, vivid, colorful, lustrous, luminous, incandescent, intelligent, knowing, quick-witted, smart, intellectual

Calm – quiet, peaceful, still, tranquil, mild, serene, smooth, composed, collected, unruffled, level-headed, unexcited, detached, aloof

Come – approach, advance, near, arrive, reach

Cool – chilly, cold, frosty, wintry, icy, frigid

Crooked – bent, twisted, curved, hooked, zigzag

Cry – shout, yell, yowl, scream, roar, bellow, weep, wail, sob, bawl

Cut – gash, slash, prick, nick, sever, slice, carve, cleave, slit, chop, crop, lop, reduce

Dangerous – perilous, hazardous, risky, uncertain, unsafe

Dark – shadowy, unlit, murky, gloomy, dim, dusky, shaded, sunless, black, dismal, sad

Decide – determine, settle, choose, resolve

Definite – certain, sure, positive, determined, clear, distinct, obvious

Delicious – savory, delectable, appetizing, luscious, scrumptious, palatable, delightful, enjoyable, toothsome, exquisite

Describe – portray, characterize, picture, narrate, relate, recount, represent, report, record

Destroy – ruin, demolish, raze, waste, kill, slay, end, extinguish

Difference – disagreement, inequity, contrast, dissimilarity, incompatibility

Do – execute, enact, carry out, finish, conclude, effect, accomplish, achieve, attain

Dull – boring, tiring,, tiresome, uninteresting, slow, dumb, stupid, unimaginative, lifeless, dead, insensible, tedious, wearisome, listless, expressionless, plain, monotonous, humdrum, dreary

Eager – keen, fervent, enthusiastic, involved, interested, alive to

End – stop, finish, terminate, conclude, close, halt, cessation, discontinuance

Enjoy – appreciate, delight in, be pleased, indulge in, luxuriate in, bask in, relish, devour, savor, like

Explain – elaborate, clarify, define, interpret, justify, account for

Fair – just, impartial, unbiased, objective, unprejudiced, honest

Fall – drop, descend, plunge, topple, tumble

False – fake, fraudulent, counterfeit, spurious, untrue, unfounded, erroneous, deceptive, groundless, fallacious

Famous – well-known, renowned, celebrated, famed, eminent, illustrious, distinguished, noted, notorious

Fast – quick, rapid, speedy, fleet, hasty, snappy, mercurial, swiftly, rapidly, quickly, snappily, speedily, lickety-split, posthaste, hastily, expeditiously, like a flash

Fat – stout, corpulent, fleshy, beefy, paunchy, plump, full, rotund, tubby, pudgy, chubby, chunky, burly, bulky, elephantine

Fear – fright, dread, terror, alarm, dismay, anxiety, scare, awe, horror, panic, apprehension

Fly – soar, hover, flit, wing, flee, waft, glide, coast, skim, sail, cruise

Funny – humorous, amusing, droll, comic, comical, laughable, silly

Get – acquire, obtain, secure, procure, gain, fetch, find, score, accumulate, win, earn, rep, catch, net, bag, derive, collect, gather, glean, pick up, accept, come by, regain, salvage

Go – recede, depart, fade, disappear, move, travel, proceed

Good – excellent, fine, superior, wonderful, marvelous, qualified, suited, suitable, apt, proper, capable, generous, kindly, friendly, gracious, obliging, pleasant, agreeable, pleasurable, satisfactory, well-behaved, obedient, honorable, reliable, trustworthy, safe, favorable, profitable, advantageous, righteous, expedient, helpful, valid, genuine, ample, salubrious, estimable, beneficial, splendid, great, noble, worthy, first-rate, top-notch, grand, sterling, superb, respectable, edifying

Great – noteworthy, worthy, distinguished, remarkable, grand, considerable, powerful, much, mighty

Gross – improper, rude, coarse, indecent, crude, vulgar, outrageous, extreme, grievous, shameful, uncouth, obscene, low

Happy – pleased, contented, satisfied, delighted, elated, joyful, cheerful, ecstatic, jubilant, gay, tickled, gratified, glad, blissful, overjoyed

Hate – despise, loathe, detest, abhor, disfavor, dislike, disapprove, abominate

Have – hold, possess, own, contain, acquire, gain, maintain, believe, bear, beget, occupy, absorb, fill, enjoy

Help – aid, assist, support, encourage, back, wait on, attend, serve, relieve, succor, benefit, befriend, abet

Hide – conceal, cover, mask, cloak, camouflage, screen, shroud, veil

Hurry – rush, run, speed, race, hasten, urge, accelerate, bustle

Hurt – damage, harm, injure, wound, distress, afflict, pain

Idea – thought, concept, conception, notion, understanding, opinion, plan, view, belief

Important – necessary, vital, critical, indispensable, valuable, essential, significant, primary, principal, considerable, famous, distinguished, notable, well-known

Interesting – fascinating, engaging, sharp, keen, bright, intelligent, animated, spirited, attractive, inviting, intriguing, provocative, though-provoking, challenging, inspiring, involving, moving, titillating, tantalizing, exciting, entertaining, piquant, lively, racy, spicy, engrossing, absorbing, consuming, gripping, arresting, enthralling, spellbinding, curious, captivating, enchanting, bewitching, appealing

Keep – hold, retain, withhold, preserve, maintain, sustain, support

Kill – slay, execute, assassinate, murder, destroy, cancel, abolish

Lazy – indolent, slothful, idle, inactive, sluggish

Little – tiny, small, diminutive, shrimp, runt, miniature, puny, exiguous, dinky, cramped, limited, itsy-bitsy, microscopic, slight, petite, minute

Look – gaze, see, glance, watch, survey, study, seek, search for, peek, peep, glimpse, stare, contemplate, examine, gape, ogle, scrutinize, inspect, leer, behold, observe, view, witness, perceive, spy, sight, discover, notice, recognize, peer, eye, gawk, peruse, explore

Love – like, admire, esteem, fancy, care for, cherish, adore, treasure, worship, appreciate, savor

Make – create, originate, invent, beget, form, construct, design, fabricate, manufacture, produce, build, develop, do, effect, execute, compose, perform, accomplish, earn, gain, obtain, acquire, get

Mark – label, tag, price, ticket, impress, effect, trace, imprint, stamp, brand, sign, note, heed, notice, designate

Mischievous – prankish, playful, naughty, roguish, waggish, impish, sportive

Move – plod, go, creep, crawl, inch, poke, drag, toddle, shuffle, trot, dawdle, walk, traipse, mosey, jog, plug, trudge, slump, lumber, trail, lag, run, sprint, trip, bound, hotfoot, high-tail, streak, stride, tear, breeze, whisk, rush, dash, dart, bolt, fling, scamper, scurry, skedaddle, scoot, scuttle, scramble, race, chase, hasten, hurry, hump, gallop, lope, accelerate, stir, budge, travel, wander, roam, journey, trek, ride, spin, slip, glide, slide, slither, coast, flow, sail, saunter, hobble, amble, stagger, paddle, slouch, prance, straggle, meander, perambulate, waddle, wobble, pace, swagger, promenade, lunge

Moody – temperamental, changeable, short-tempered, glum, morose, sullen, mopish, irritable, testy, peevish, fretful, spiteful, sulky, touchy

Neat – clean, orderly, tidy, trim, dapper, natty, smart, elegant, well-organized, super, desirable, spruce, shipshape, well-kept, shapely

New – fresh, unique, original, unusual, novel, modern, current, recent

Old – feeble, frail, ancient, weak, aged, used, worn, dilapidated, ragged, faded, broken-down, former, old-fashioned, outmoded, passe, veteran, mature, venerable, primitive, traditional, archaic, conventional, customary, stale, musty, obsolete, extinct

Part – portion, share, piece, allotment, section, fraction, fragment

Place – space, area, spot, plot, region, location, situation, position, residence, dwelling, set, site, station, status, state

Plan – plot, scheme, design, draw, map, diagram, procedure, arrangement, intention, device, contrivance, method, way, blueprint

Popular – well-liked, approved, accepted, favorite, celebrated, common, current

Predicament – quandary, dilemma, pickle, problem, plight, spot, scrape, jam

Put – place, set, attach, establish, assign, keep, save, set aside, effect, achieve, do, build

Quiet – silent, still, soundless, mute, tranquil, peaceful, calm, restful

Right – correct, accurate, factual, true, good, just, honest, upright, lawful, moral, proper, suitable, apt, legal, fair

Run – race, speed, hurry, hasten, sprint, dash, rush, escape, elope, flee

Say/Tell – inform, notify, advise, relate, recount, narrate, explain, reveal, disclose, divulge, declare, command, order, bid, enlighten, instruct, insist, teach, train, direct, issue, remark, converse, speak, affirm, suppose, utter, negate, express, verbalize, voice, articulate, pronounce, deliver, convey, impart, assert, state, allege, mutter, mumble, whisper, sigh, exclaim, yell, sing, yelp, snarl, hiss, grunt, snort, roar, bellow, thunder, boom, scream, shriek, screech, squawk, whine, philosophize, stammer, stutter, lisp, drawl, jabber, protest, announce, swear, vow, content, assure, deny, dispute

Scared – afraid, frightened, alarmed, terrified, panicked, fearful, unnerved, insecure, timid, shy, skittish, jumpy, disquieted, worried, vexed, troubled, disturbed, horrified, terrorized, shocked, petrified, haunted, timorous, shrinking, tremulous, stupefied, paralyzed, stunned, apprehensive

Show – display, exhibit, present, note, point to, indicate, explain, reveal, prove, demonstrate, expose

Slow – unhurried, gradual, leisurely, late, behind, tedious, slack

Stop – cease, halt, stay, pause, discontinue, conclude, end, finish, quit

Story – tale, myth, legend, fable, yarn, account, narrative, chronicle, epic, sage, anecdote, record, memoir

Strange – odd, peculiar, unusual, unfamiliar, uncommon, queer, weird, outlandish, curious, unique, exclusive, irregular

Take – hold, catch, seize, grasp, win, capture, acquire, pick, choose, select, prefer, remove, steal, lift, rob, engage, bewitch, purchase, buy, retract, recall, assume, occupy, consume

Tell – disclose, reveal, show, expose, uncover, relate, narrate, inform, advise, explain, divulge, declare, command, order, bid, recount, repeat

Think – judge, deem, assume, believe, consider, contemplate, reflect, mediate

Trouble – distress, anguish, anxiety, worry, wretchedness, pain, danger, peril, disaster, grief, misfortune, difficulty, concern, pains, inconvenience, exertion, effort

True – accurate, right, proper, precise, exact, valid, genuine, real, actual, trusty, steady, loyal, dependable, sincere, staunch

Ugly – hideous, frightful, frightening, shocking, horrible, unpleasant, monstrous, terrifying, gross, grisly, ghastly, horrid, unsightly, plain, homely, evil, repulsive, repugnant, gruesome

Unhappy – miserable, uncomfortable, wretched, heart-broken, unfortunate, poor, downhearted, sorrowful, depressed, dejected, melancholy, glum, gloomy, dismal, discouraged, sad

Use – employ, utilize, exhaust, spend, expend, consume, exercise

Wrong – incorrect, inaccurate, mistaken, erroneous, improper, unsuitable

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Archive for the ‘Writing Tips’ Category

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