RANDOM EDITING FACT #1

*PAID ADVERTISING*

Try Grammarly’s plagiarism checker free of charge, because to be original is to show the world that you are capable of greatness.

*********************

Random Editing Facts are short snippets I will place on the blog every now and then. Nothing big or fancy. Enjoy!

 

When writing, try to always remember this simple rule, and to implement it for every action.

(Yes, I’m pretty sure that ^^^ is a bodybuilder saying, but it works!)

You cannot pick something up, without eventually putting it down. You cannot walk through a locked door, without unlocking it. You cannot take a drink of something, unless you have a drink in your hand. You cannot walk outside, and then magically be back in your house, without the act of coming inside. You cannot walk up steps, without walking back down, unless you take an elevator. It goes for other things as well. Your character cannot be looking out the window at the wet, rainy day and walk outside right after the rain has stopped, sit on the grass, and not get her butt wet. That is unrealistic. Make that scene shine for you, or don’t use it. Don’t just choose to leave out the details that are getting in the way. 

Also, another thing that people need to watch out for. If you have both hands full, say your character has a book in one hand and a toddler in the other arm, that character cannot grab a cup of hot coffee. What is the character going to grab it with? That elusive third arm?  We all sometimes wished we had one, but unless it is an alien book, it just doesn’t work.

Your character needs to put something down, before they can pick something else up.

Do you get my drift? Order of events, even the smallest of details, are important. Readers notice these things. They leave negative reviews because of them. They want things to make sense. Even if it is a fantasy land, readers want the smaller things acknowledged. In Harry Potter, even he still had to say Lumos to make the light on his wand come on, and Alohomora to unlock a door.

Hope this helps someone, somewhere!

Editing Services