IMPROVE YOUR WRITING – ONE METHOD TO TRY

Read your work aloud or, better still, have a friend/writing partner read your piece aloud as you listen with your eyes closed.

1. Choose a (longish) paragraph or “sub-story” to work on

2. Reformat so: 
* double spaced and in a fairly large font, 
* every sentence begins on a new line, 
* you have at least 3 or 4 line spaces between each sentence.

3. Print off and cut up so each sentence is isolated.

4. Rearrange sentences so they make the best sense then: 
* subtract any that don’t belong 
* set aside any that need to be part of another 
paragraph, 
* add extra words/sentences if needed.

5. Review and consider whether any sentences can either be: 
* amalgamated so 2 become one, 
* split to make 2 or 3 shorter ones.

6. Check for: 
* repetition of words/phrases, and hackneyed expressions. 
 
7. Can you find a more vivid or expressive word to replace any mundane, 
ordinary ones?
 
BUT, make very sure you keep your writing in balance – too many “fancy” words is too much (all icing and no cake!!)
 
8. Then read aloud again; or have someone else read your piece aloud to you 
and check how it all sounds now.

© Mary McDee 2022
Feature Photo: Window of Learning © L.M. Kling 1985