Have you ever run into really flat writing?
It’s the kind of wooden writing you see from many non-writers. Desultory, lifeless. There’s no passion at all in it…just a straight narrative. A retelling of events.
It can be a trait for newbie writers, too. Eager to cross their t’s and dot their i’s, they might lose the energy and excitement in the passages they’re penning.
I’ve even read scenes in published books that seem really flat. It’s like the writer wasn’t even trying that day. I’ve had days like that, too—where I was just throwing it on the paper and knew I’d go back and fix it later. But I did make the writing livelier during the revision process.
Tips for Infusing Life in Your Writing:
Consider your voice. Are you trying to have a wooden, flat storytelling style? (J.D. Salinger’s Holden Caufield had a monotone delivery for Catcher in the Rye—but Holden is depressed.) If not, try to find your voice. When you’re telling a story about your weekend to a friend, you wouldn’t tell it in a wooden, flat style. How you tell the story is uniquely yours…but you need to discover that voice.
Cut out the dead wood. Is there a scene that’s really pedantic? Is it necessary? Pinpoint the information that the scene is there to convey. If it doesn’t advance the plot, develop conflict, or assist characterization, then why is it there? Cut it out. If it does advance the plot, see if there’s a way to rewrite the scene to give it more feeling.
Create settings that pop. There’s nothing worse than reading descriptive lists in a story. Listing the types of birds at the birdfeeder, listing the flowers blooming in the garden, listing the foods on the menu. Make your setting pop by using vivid words and imagery.
Change the sentence structure. Are you stuck in a subject-predicate pattern? Try switching the arrangement of your sentences a little. Start a sentence with a verb, prepositional phrase, or adverb.
Get your characters moving. Are your characters spending too much time sitting at diners and talking? Talking over coffee? Talking over supper? Maybe it’s time to kick your characters in the rear and get them to move around a little. They don’t have to be jogging or anything—they could be looking for something they misplaced and be absentmindedly answering the protagonist’s questions. They could be washing their car. Change the scenery, use some verbs. Give them some action to respond to or have them instigate action.
After writing this post, I realized it was way too long for a blog. I’ve got five more ways to liven up your writing tomorrow…hope you’ll come back by.
Great post and I’m looking forward to more ideas. I HAVE used the flat voice intentionally before, though I’m not sure all readers would catch the why. We’ll see!
Michele
SouthernCityMysteries
Exce3llent advice (as always), especially about getting your characters into new settings and having them do something. I cringe at how much time I spend with my characters having a meal. But at least now I’m moving the venue around a bit — hot dogs in the park, exotic restaurant, etc. (and don’t forget how this opens the door for using the senses, another thing many writers forget. It’s not only what they see)
Great post and very helpful. Can’t wait for the rest.
Great tips, as usual. I find that a corpse always seems to liven things up.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. I would pay to buy a book you wrote on writing, Elizabeth. Really.
Karen
I really like the last one. Naturally people gather over meals, in cars, etc., so you don’t realize it until it’s over. It’s fun to try and think out of the box!
Great post. And good reminders for all of us.
Great suggestions for livening the story! I find reading literature livens up my voice? I’m always more energized if I read for ten minutes, then write. It tickles the muse. :)
I left you an award at my blog:
One Lovely Blog Award
Cheers!
~ Corra
Elizabeth – Thanks for these great ideas about making one’s writing livelier! I especially like your ideas about working with characters and setting to “brighten things up.” Time to look over my WIP…. : )
Fantastic advice, Elizabeth! I suffer occasionally from the Talking Heads syndrome. I’m aware of it as I’m writing, but my thought is I’ll go back and fix it on my second (and probably third or fourth) go-through.
Elspeth
This is a great list to refer to when working on revisions. I’ll be back tomorrow so I can add the five additional ideas to it.
Elizabeth, you are the blogging queen! Your blog never fails to be interesting and enlightening. The things I look for while editing, you write about here. I LOVE your posts and look forward to them!
These are great nuggets of advice for all writers, whether newbies or multi-published. I will definitely be back tomorrow, Elizabeth.
Helen
Straight From Hel
Corra–Great idea, Corra! You’re right…reading other people’s writing is really inspiring and can put some of the pizazz back into our own WIP.
Thanks for the award!
Michele–I think experienced readers would get it, for sure.
Jane–Thanks!
Crystal–Thanks so much! I’m glad I’m hitting on things you see as a professional editor.
Terry–Thanks. I have a lot of eating going on in my Memphis BBQ book, but it’s an epicurean mystery, so I’m supposed to! But you’re right–changing the venues and the menus and including the different sights and smells makes the passages more interesting. I hope so, anyway! :)
Thanks Helen!
Mason–Thanks!
Alan–That’s what I always say! Don’t know what to do next? Have a saggy middle? Throw a dead body into the mix. :)
Since I’m writing flat these days, I’ll be back tomorrow!
Karen–You’re so sweet! I’d have to learn how to write non-fiction, though…I think it’s a challenging genre.
Sylvia–Thanks!
The hardest thing for me, and when my writing gets flat, is when my characters are depressed. Especially around 2/3 through the book when things seem to be going badly, my character’s world seems bleak, that’s when I have problems.
I really like this advice: “Get your characters moving.” My character likes schedule but perhaps I can force her into an awkward situation, that would get her going.
ann
Thanks for the tips Elizabeth! Now that you mentioned it my characters are doing a bit too much sitting.
Did you know J.D. Salinger wrote naked? (he was a bathtub writer like yours truly) But I digress… I LOVE your suggestions, particularly the getting rid of dead wood and getting characters moving–hard to be bored when people are doing stuff!
I also like a bit of unexpected–child characters are good for that–saying something odd… making an observation that makes sense to THEM but throws adults off.
Cutting is a favorite of mine. I find I can cuts words, phrases, scenes, heck, I even cut a chapter out of my first book. I guess that means I put too much in, huh? Sigh.
Best Regards, Galen.
Imagineering Fiction Blog
Kristen–Honestly, in real life it’s probably where most conversations occur. But it does get boring to read after a while.
Carol–Thanks so much!
Ann–It sounds like forcing your character to do something would create a lot of stress for her. Stress is always good for conflict. :)
Margot–Thanks! Yes, it’s time for me to look over my ms, too. :)
Elspeth–Oh me too. Those disembodied heads are just yakking away!
Hart–I didn’t know that about Salinger! But then…he did everything a little differently, so I can easily imagine it. And it certainly worked out for him really well!
The unexpected observation–good idea! It gives the reader something to gnaw on for a while.
Galen–I cut a ton, too! I’m always too wordy the first go-round.
Tamika–Thanks! Hope it helps.
You always have such great advice, Elizabeth! I used to be able to put up with flat writing longer when I had more time. Now that I’m so busy, I find myself with much less patience for it.
I am a HUGE fan of Anne Tyler and I am currently reading her latest book, (I wait for each new novel with great anticipation), titled Noah’s Compass. She’s one author that can make the mundane electrifying. Two people sharing a cup of coffee, or fired chicken across the table from each other, proves to be more interesting and intriguing than murder and mayhem in most other books, in comparison. I study her, only hoping that I can somehow, someway pull off a fraction of her craft.
In your book “Pretty is as Pretty Dies” you practice what you preach. I just started last night and you’ve already got me laughing at Myrtle’s antics. She doesn’t just sit and watch the women at the book club. She methodically devours all the muffins while watching and listening to the suspects. Much more entertaining that way! Great stuff, Elizabeth.
Elizabeth–I really like her, too. She makes every word pop, doesn’t she?
Jemi–Because why read a book that’s boring and wooden when you could re-read a book you KNOW is exciting and has great imagery? That’s the way I feel, too. Life’s too short!
All good advice! Why can I never seem to follow it when my characters are lying like driftwood on a flat old table stone cold dead?
Not too long at all. I’ll plan to be back tomorrow.