Tuesday's Writer's Tip Succinct and Simple Explored #MFRWAuthor #BWLAuthor #Writing

What does Simple and Succinct mean. Part of this is in avoidance. Think of stories you've read where the description of the hero, heroine, setting does on for paragraphs and you end up not really remembering what the writer really wanted you to see. A few strong and well chosen words can paint the word picture you want to express.

One of the ways to produce this picture is the use of specific nouns. Think of the word tree. But if you use palm tree, oak, maple what happens. The reader has a specific picture in their head. This goes for any general word like car, baby, child, woman. You get the picture.

Another way is through strong verbs. Instead of saying He heard footsteps, try something like the shuffling sound of boots on the concrete or a heavt thudding stomping foot boded trouble. Strong verbs make what you want to say succinct.

But beware of taking these strong verbs and specific nouns and expanding them until they are no longer simple. Adding adverbs and adjectives until the sentences become long and flowing or more like a river rushing and sweeping all before it's force and removing all sense from the segment.

So when you come to these sections, rewrite. I often do.