Writers Tricks of the Trade Volume 5, Issue 4 | Page 20

PRESS “CONTROL” THEN CLICK “BUY” TO PURCHASE THE BOOK TEN WAYS TO UPGRADE YOUR MANUSCRIPT MARALYS WILLS Aside from the huge issues of Plot, Characterization, and Theme, dozens of small devices lie in wait, ready to make a manuscript better. Simply by applying the following techniques, authors have moved their manuscripts from Good to Publishable. MARALYS WILLS AUTHOR The following methods are applicable to both fiction and non-fiction. Most are so simple you could call them “tricks.” 1. ALWAYS END YOUR SENTENCES WITH THE STRONG WORD—The single most important tip  By saving the strongest word for last, you infuse your manuscript with power.  Do this in sentence after sentence, and your whole manuscript will resonate with power. With drama. (Most well-known authors do this instinctively). Example: (weak) “An outpouring of blood escaped from his wounds.” (better) “From every wound came an outpouring of blood.” 2. CHANGE THE ORDER OF SENTENCES—Second most important tip  For maximum drama, put the set-up part of the sentence first---and “what happens” last. (“Set up” means times, settings, distances, moods) Example: (weak) “She walked to school on Mondays.” (better) “On Mondays she walked to school.” BUY Example: (weak) “He fell out of the tree after his fingers slipped.” (better) “His fingers slipped and he fell out of the tree.” 3. USE SIMPLE PARAGRAPHING AND PUNCTUATION “TRICKS” TO ADD DRAMA.  By isolating key words, or key ideas in their own sentences, or their own paragraphs, you highlight them—and make the reader notice. Drama follows automatically. Example: “Jake swallowed the whole chunk of meat without thinking. And choked.”  BUY Likewise, much-admired authors like Harper Lee use punctuation to add drama. Example of semi-colon: (From “To Kill a Mockingbird”) “Mr. Tate handed the rifle to Atticus; Jem and I nearly fainted.” Example of colon: (From “To Kill a Mockingbird”) “Everybody’s appetite was delicate this morning, except Jem’s: he ate his way through three eggs. JULY-AUGUST 2015 PAGE 10 WRITERS’ TRICKS OF THE TRADE