![]() ![]() “I know this may sound obvious, but too much ‘telling’ vs. How do you use your writing voice, here are a few techniques people use that just kills the mood of the story! – Rachelle Gardner, Books & Such Literary You find out their personality and details of their life over time.” ![]() Getting to know characters in a story is like getting to know people in real life. “One of the biggest problems is the ‘information dump’ in the first few pages, where the author is trying to tell us everything we supposedly need to know to understand the story. – Stephany Evans, FinePrint Literary Management “I’m turned off when a writer feels the need to fill in all the backstory before starting the story a story that opens on the protagonist’s mental reflection of their situation is a red flag.” The character’s backstory stays with them - it’s in their DNA.” Good writers will go back and cut that stuff out and get right to the plot. “Many writers express the character’s backstory before they get to the plot. – Laura Bradford, Bradford Literary Agency No ‘flowing, wind-swept golden locks’ no ‘eyes as blue as the sky’ no ‘willowy, perfect figures.’ ” Heroines (and heroes) who are described physically as being virtually unflawed come across as unrelatable and boring. “I don’t like descriptions of the characters where writers make them too perfect. Ivory lace peeked out of the hem in front, blah, blah.’ Who cares! Work it into the story.”Īre your characters gorgeous beyond belief? Or do you like to give an information dump? Well check out these reviews from literary agents that might have read stories just like yours! Her azure dress - with the empire waist and long, tight sleeves - sported tiny pearl buttons down the bodice. Her petite nose was the perfect size for her heart-shaped face. For example: ‘She had eyes the color of a summer sky and long blonde hair that fell in ringlets past her shoulders. “I dislike endless ‘laundry list’ character descriptions. “The sun rose in the sky, shedding its light across the land.” – Peter Miller, PMA Literary and Film Management Too much accounting always ruins the mystery of a novel, and the unknown is what propels us to read further.” I enjoy when writers can find a good balance between exposition and mystery. ![]() Of course, an equally jarring beginning can be nearly as off-putting, and I hesitate to read on if I’m feeling disoriented by the fifth page. “Perhaps my biggest pet peeve with an opening chapter is when an author features too much exposition – when they go beyond what is necessary for simply ‘setting the scene.’ I want to feel as if I’m in the hands of a master storyteller, and starting a story with long, flowery, overly-descriptive sentences (kind of like this one) makes the writer seem amateurish and the story contrived. I catch myself doing this often since I am a descriptive writer, but often this can only make the reader even more uninterested! Descriptions are great and all, but do you like to describe every little thing about the character and everything around them for 5 paragraphs long in the beginning few paragraphs. ![]()
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