Today's tip is a simple one, but it's one that applies to all kinds of writing. If you employ it effectively, you'll see substantially better results every time you sit down to write.
Always ask yourself one simple question -- Why?
If you do this, no matter what you're writing, you'll improve the quality of your work. For essay writing or non-fiction, ask yourself "why?" after each bit of knowledge you share with your readers. Why is this relevant to my topic? Why did I put it there? etc. If you can't answer that simple question, chances are pretty good that you're going to confuse your reader.
Apply this to writing fiction, and it's a whole new ballgame. The "why?" is the single most important aspect of your fictional works. Consider this:
You've just written a scene where your protagonist is sitting in a bar. There's the stereotypical shady guy sitting in the corner. The bar is fairly empty, so your character spends some time bantering with the bartender, then heads off to his room for the night. Now ask yourself, "why?" Why is that scene important? Why did the character do that? Why was the shady guy in the corner? Why is the character staying at this bar/motel anyway? If you can't definitively answer all of those questions with answers that add significance to the story, chances are, you could cut that scene and your readers wouldn't miss out on anything.
Point is, if you don't know why, neither does the reader! Use this simple question to help fill in all those gaps and plot-holes. If you CAN answer all of those whys, then your work is going to be stronger in the end, because your readers will spend less time asking themselves "why?" and more time immersing themselves in your world.
Pro Writing Tip #3: Always ask yourself one simple question -- Why?
Check back soon for more tips and writing prompts.
Adios!
Curtis Galluzzo
"Nerdy is the new sexy!"
http://secondworldfantasy.blogspot.com
Pro Writing Tips: Learn To Write Better Today
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