We're almost done with this handout titled Writing the Popular Novel by Janice Bennett and as bad as I've been at posting it I'm hoping to do them all this week so all I have to do is release them. We'll see how this goes...
So if you remember you're polishing that wonderful manuscript of yours. This time we're going to look at the sentence structure.
1.) Are your sentences varied in length.? Have you mixed up the type of sentences - use of clauses, and over all structure?
2.) Does the length of your sentence, word choice and overall tone match the mood of each scene?
3.) Are any of your characters doing things that conflict with their personality? How about the scene? Are they doing conflicting actions at the same time?
4.) Have you avoided using the "to be" verb and their substitutes? The ones Janice names are feel, seem, look and appear.
5.) Have you avoided starting your sentences with "There is" and "There was." The next part is what I've seen as an editor. Are the beginnings of your sentences varied? Have you started a lot of sentences with he or she. Have you reworked those sentences so they start with something else?
6.) This one is one of my favorites - I've always heard of it as floating body parts. but Janice asks if there are any eyeballs running around the scenery.
7.) And have you removed those great cliches we all seem to use in the rough draft?
Only two more posts to go on this one.
So if you remember you're polishing that wonderful manuscript of yours. This time we're going to look at the sentence structure.
1.) Are your sentences varied in length.? Have you mixed up the type of sentences - use of clauses, and over all structure?
2.) Does the length of your sentence, word choice and overall tone match the mood of each scene?
3.) Are any of your characters doing things that conflict with their personality? How about the scene? Are they doing conflicting actions at the same time?
4.) Have you avoided using the "to be" verb and their substitutes? The ones Janice names are feel, seem, look and appear.
5.) Have you avoided starting your sentences with "There is" and "There was." The next part is what I've seen as an editor. Are the beginnings of your sentences varied? Have you started a lot of sentences with he or she. Have you reworked those sentences so they start with something else?
6.) This one is one of my favorites - I've always heard of it as floating body parts. but Janice asks if there are any eyeballs running around the scenery.
7.) And have you removed those great cliches we all seem to use in the rough draft?
Only two more posts to go on this one.
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