A reader has many reasons to abandon a text! These 6 basic tips will improve your chances of being read… until the end.
1 – Delete sentences that are too long
Shorten your sentences, especially those whose complement is far from the subject. Avoid the abuse of commas, replace them with a period (while avoiding the telegraphic style).
2 – Alternate the length of your sentences
To give rhythm to your text and avoid monotony, alternate short and long sentences.
3 – Express yourself simply
If he has to open a dictionary to follow you, the reader will quickly get bored: use simple words!
4 – Favor action verbs
Action verbs will make your text more dynamic.
5 – Remove unnecessary adjectives
An adjective must add an idea to the word it qualifies, it must increase its meaning (example: “An open door”). Otherwise it is useless.
6 – Keep only the essential transitions
Try to link your sentences by the logic of the idea, do not overuse conjunctions or expressions such as: because, in fact, nevertheless, moreover, on the other hand, in the end, on the one hand, in fact, for his part, on his side, etc. Be original, avoid starting your sentences with “So…”
6 Mistakes to Avoid Before Starting a Manuscript
You have the idea, you have the desire, a long weekend and the computer waiting for you… Before diving headlong into writing, discover the mistakes you could avoid.
1- get off to a flying start
You are overflowing with ideas, and you have no doubt that you will have finished this novel in three months (let’s say, six…). Unfortunately, at the end of the 2nd chapter it’s a black hole. To avoid this, don’t go without biscuits! Take notes, list your characters, ask yourself what their motivations are, question the different elements of the plot, choose a narrator and a point of view that will allow you to write the best possible story …
2- have eyes bigger than your stomach
If you can only spare an hour or two a week to write, starting a trilogy is not a good idea and you risk feeling overwhelmed by the scale of the project! To avoid this, set realistic goals and adapt your project to the time you have available.
3- think you have plenty of time to write it
Let’s be clear: no one is expecting this manuscript. So you might as well still be here in ten years, telling yourself that you have plenty of time to write the immense novel writing that you carry within you… To avoid this, set yourself writing goals: so many ‘hours per week or so many words per day. Experiment, see what suits your writing pace best and… stick with it!
4- think you don’t have time to write it
You have a great project, but here it is: your schedule is overflowing, the youngest asks for his bottle, the eldest is pestering you to help her revise her history test, and then there is this leak in the bathroom … You tell yourself that it would be wiser to wait until summer to start writing, but you were already thinking that last year! To avoid this, take the bull by the horns and take stock of the time spent daily for each activity outside of your professional activity: there is a good way to save ½ hour that you can devote to writing, at least if you can. really want to.
5 – wanting to finish before starting
We would all like to be able to write a novel in a month, and for it to be a success too! In reality, it is a little more complicated and putting the cart before the horse often only produces a smokescreen. To avoid this, give yourself a framework, prepare a schedule and set writing appointments… and above all: write!
6- ignore the reader
Do you dream of being published? In this case, you must take the reader into account. Not to please him or flatter him, but to make him feel emotions. Forgetting that someone is going to read you puts you at risk of being obscure or boring. To avoid this, put yourself in the reader’s place and ask yourself if you are giving them enough information for them to understand what you are saying (which does not mean explaining everything).