I love a good fantasy story. When beta reading fantasy stories, all the beginning writers want to do the same things: 1) talk about the weather 2) throw in all these strange names, items, plants, and places at once. Think about it this way: what if J.K. Rowling had started Harry's adventure at Hogwarts with … Continue reading Fantasy Noun Stew
Category: Writer’s Woes
Purple Prose
A common problem I see in beginning writer's manuscripts is an overload of exposition. It's been dubbed "exposition overload" for a reason. Don't tell the reader about the weather, pretty scenery, or how the bakery down the streets smells in the wintertime before we get to the main character (MC). Only note these things if … Continue reading Purple Prose
Adjectives
I love a well placed adjective. Key words: well placed. An adjective is: a descriptive word or phrase that modifies a noun. An adjective describes a noun. An adverb describes a verb. An adjective tells what a noun is (hot, bright, solid, thin), whereas an adverb describes how something is (slowly, mildly, carefully). The bright … Continue reading Adjectives
