Today we have a special guest, Willa Blair, sharing helpful hints on adding depth to your writing, especially after your first draft! Be sure to check out her sizzling cover and blurb. Take it away Willa....
Five Ways to Add Depth to
Your Writing
I’m
one of those writers who never has to cut word count out of their first drafts.
While I do write from an outline, I’m
always in a hurry to capture ideas and move through the story, so my first
draft tends to be very spare. Sometimes, I wind up doubling the word count once
I move to the editing phase.
So how do I take that awful
first draft and turn it into a story someone will want to read? There are five key things I do. One (or all) of them may work for you.
Add sensory experience. Readers see
through your point-of-view character’s eyes,
but they can also feel, smell, taste and hear along with the character. How do
your characters react to what their senses are telling them? Is the light too bright or too dim for their
eyes? Does a certain smell bring back a
long-forgotten memory? Does the sound of
someone’s voice make their heart beat faster? Does the touch
of someone they hate feel abrasive or slimy?
Add emotion. If you’re like me, the first thing that goes on the page is
conversation, followed by sketchy narrative or internal thoughts. But your reader wants to know, as your
character does or says things, what they feel about the situation they’re in, or the person they’re with. The emotion can be in sync with or
diametrically opposed to the words coming out of the character’s mouth - either way adds to another layer to the
story. Do they believe what they’re saying? Or are they lying to protect the person
they’re speaking to?
Are they distracted by something other than the conversation they’re in?
Add movement. Your
characters aren’t just sitting there, talking at each other. They’re
moving, waving their arms, making faces, whatever is appropriate. Their voice gets louder or softer, sweeter or
more strident. They lean forward or
back, or clench their fists. Their movements are a physical expression of their
emotional state.
Add to the scenery. What’s in the room with them? Furniture?
What kind? Candles or klieg
lights? Warm colors or cool? Flower arrangements? The scent from those flowers? If they’re
outside, do they hear birds? Is the sun
beating down or hidden behind clouds?
What kind of plants do they see?
Do they smell the ocean on the breeze?
Don’t overdo this — a few
hints will allow the reader to fill in the scene in their mind.
Add internal monologue. This is more
than just the immediate reaction to something that was said. This includes how a character perceives the
situation they’re in, how they relate it to something in their past,
or some expectation for their future, and what they expect to do about it. In romance, it’s
often happens in a separate scene that follows the action scene. They key thing
here is that it must lead to a new realization or decision that leads to new
action.
Once you’ve added these layers, you can think about what to cut
- repetition, over-used words, scenes that don’t
move the story forward, etc., but until you’ve
built these layers into your story, you’ve only
scratched the surface of the experience you can give your readers. Happy
writing!
Blurb:
The Healer’s Gift (A Highland Talents Novella)
Coira MacDugall paid with her
life for her attack on the Highland Healer. But her victim did more than heal
Coira’s fatal wound that
awful night. Now drowning in the
unwelcome emotions of others, Coira wonders if her new empathic ability was
meant as a gift or a curse.
Logen MacDugall must discover
who killed three previous lairds if he hopes to survive for long in the position.
He believes Coira’s new
sense can help him root out the conspirators, but after her disastrous time in
the Highlands, the last thing she wants is to get involved with another laird.
Logen must help Coira gain control of her talent in time to save him and their
clan from those intent on destroying MacDugall.
Can Coira believe this laird
truly loves her? Or will her memories lead her to madness again?
Buy Links:
BIO:
Willa Blair is the award-wining
author of Amazon and Barnes & Noble bestselling Scottish historical
paranormal romance and a contributor to USAToday’s Happy Ever
After romance blog.
Her popular Highland Talents
series, set in a pivotal point in Scottish history, is filled with men in
kilts, psi talents, and plenty of spice. Available
in ebook, print, and audiobook formats, the first three titles will soon be
joined by more novels of adventure and romance.
HIGHLAND HEALER an Amazon and B&N bestseller! Also at iBooks, KOBO and The Wild Rose Press
Highland Healer audiobook on Amazon, B&N, audible.com and Tantor Media
Highland Seer at The Wild Rose Press, Amazon, B&N, iBook and soon from Tantor Media
The Healer’s Gift (a Highland Talents novella) on Amazon and soon everywhere else
Goodreads: http://ning.it/Vswn8D
9 comments:
Thank you for coming out and sharing your thoughts with us today. I do agree that we should add those different feelings, sights, sounds, and senses to our stories to make them connect the reader. :)
Great post, Willa. Thanks for joining us today. Best luck. :)
Enjoyed your post Willa. I too add many more words after I write the first draft. It's worked for me.
Thanks for having me here today!
Glad to have you Willa. I highly recommend that people who want to try writing, read your suggestions.
Excellent suggestions in your post, Willa. Great cover, too.
Thank you, Willa. Good advice. Like you, I want to get the story out in the first draft, then have lots of layering to do. I need to heed your advice. Love your story and cover!
Great suggestions, Willa. They are points I know, but don't always use enough of, so thank you!
Thanks, everyone. I'm happy to help. These five are all simple concepts, but they're also things we often overlook, so worth listing and thinking about.
Good luck with your writing!
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