writing – LZ Edits | Editing Services

Setting is a matter of point of view

One of the top reasons for why someone reads, according to most reader surveys is, to escape. Escapism is not only found in the fantastical, the things that wouldn’t happen in the reader’s every day life. Escapism is also found in the places stories take their readers. I’ve talked before about “talking heads” dialogue, notContinueContinue reading “Setting is a matter of point of view”

When showing becomes too much

Yes, you really can go too far with “show, don’t tell.” When the narrative is too dense, readers will stop reading. Mostly because too much show causes reader overwhelm and they often lose the plot or point of what you are trying to show. Too much showing Hyperdetailing: Excessive descriptions that don’t advance the plotContinueContinue reading “When showing becomes too much”

Writing through noise

It’s noisy out there. I don’t mean noise in the literal sense. Though there is a lot of that, too. The noise I’m referring to is our own brains spiraling thoughts of concern about our world, natural and man-made disasters, injustice and so much else. As a creative, you’re probably very sensitive to the thingsContinueContinue reading “Writing through noise”

Adding Layers

“Ogres have layers.” ~ Shrek Story characters should have layers. Some details are revealed only in gut-wrenching moments with another character as they let their walls down, and others are never revealed to other characters, but drive motivation throughout the story. You will probably not get all layers into your first/zero draft. Here’s how toContinueContinue reading “Adding Layers”

tone and ‘tude

(sorry so late; this will also be the only newsletter this month. ~LZ) Flaubert is absolutely correct about the writer. Now, consider this axiom: What your characters do and say will show readers what they believe. Carefully choosing your descriptive words will create the tone and ‘tude (attitude) of your story. We’ve all read aContinueContinue reading “tone and ‘tude”

Writing through conflict

The meat of any story is the scenes showing the conflicts and obstacles that the main character(s) face as they try to reach some sort of end point that they can be happy with, or satisfied by. Sometimes they have fully envisioned it, mapped every step it will take to get where or what theyContinueContinue reading “Writing through conflict”

The first turn

Note, while I discuss this as the inciting incident and not the beginning page of your story, several genres do begin their storytelling here, in medias res (in the midst of things). Trouble has found the main character. The normalcy of the character that you established in the beginning page is disrupted. The cop whoContinueContinue reading “The first turn”

More setting

Previously, I discussed the sensory details part of building your setting. Time (and season) Of course, that is not all that setting is. Setting is also the time (of day for scenes; season or year for stories) things are happening, too. Inasmuch as the weather or anniversaries or daily patterns impacts the character you shouldContinueContinue reading “More setting”

Setting up

To continue my previous topic of starting at the beginning with your stories, I’m going to talk today about setting up your setting. probably my favorite cartoon of all time, Snoopy spent decades trying to write his story. Setting is the place where your story takes place: New York, Paris, a loft in Soho, aContinueContinue reading “Setting up”