One of the things I am struggling most with the draft of my first novel is putting the reader into my story.
Put it this way, there’s currently many adjectives and a lot of telling, not showing.
The thing I have heard many writers say when giving writing advice is to try and put your reader into the scene.
For example, don’t just say I walked up the hall and was scared, but try something like my heart thumped as I crept up the hall, the banging getting louder the closer I got.
I know, not my finest work but hopefully you get my point.
Sit in silence with either your notebook or computer. Set an alarm for five minutes. Try and make a note of all the things you hear, smell, see and how it makes you feel.
Once you’re done, try and apply it to a scene in a current work in progress.
by I’m Laura. I started Novel Kicks in 2009. I wanted a place to post my writing as well as give other writers like me the opportunity to do the same. There is also a monthly book club, a writing room which features writing prompts, book reviews, competitions, author interviews and guest posts.
I grew up by the sea (my favourite place in the world) and I currently live in Hampshire. I am married to Chris, have a cat named Buddy and I would love to be a writer. I’m trying to write the novel I’ve talked so much about writing if only I could stop pressing delete. I’ve loved writing since creative writing classes in primary school. I have always wanted to see my teacher Miss Sayers again and thank her for the encouragement. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything I can get my hands on, I love reading, dancing like a loon and singing to myself very badly. My current obsession is Once Upon a Time and I would be happy to live with magic in the enchanted forest surrounded by all those wonderful stories provided that world also included Harry Potter. I love reading chick lit. contemporary fiction and novels with mystery.
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