Cartoon by Debbie Ohi
Have you ever read a book and thought, “Wow, I wish I could write like that”? Or have you been ready to quit writing because yours doesn’t come close to that of your favorite author?
This is a good thing. Seriously, it is. The next time you feel that way, stop and analyze what it is about the writing you that grabs you. Maybe the author has a way with description that makes you yearn to be able to do the same. Maybe she has a talent for keeping you glued to the book until the wee hours of the morning.
It’s possible there are several things about her writing that leaves you breathless. That’s okay, too. Write it all down. Now pick one thing you want to improve on the most (for example, conveying emotion). Don’t worry if there’s more than one thing. You’ll work on the others later. Just focus on one element at a time for now.
1. Pick up (from the bookstore or library) books that pertain to that element of writing you want to work on. For example, if you want to improve how you show emotion so that your reader can connect with your characters (very important, by the way) you might want to check out books on characterization, such as: Getting Into Character by Brandilyn Collins; Characters, Emotion & Viewpoint by Nancy Kress; Breathing Life Into Your Characters by Rachel Ballon.
2. Check out the bite-sized pieces of advice found on writers’ blogs. Every Friday, Adventures in Children’s Publishing lists the great links of the week which includes many on various elements of writing fiction. There’s always something for everyone.
3. Find your favorite sentences or paragraphs from the author’s work you envy and from other books you love (if you feel that particular element is strong in them). Type them out, and analyze what makes them work and what you love about them. (For an example on emotion, check out this post.). Highlight them. Write all over them. Do whatever it takes for you to learn from them.
4. Find a passage in your manuscript that you know needs work, and rewrite it based on everything you’ve learned in steps #1 and #2.
By studying the advice from different resources and by analyzing the works of several authors, you’ll develop a style that’s uniquely yours and not a poor copy of someone else’s. And then maybe one day someone will be drooling over your writing and wishing they could write as brilliantly as you.