I saw a post on Twitter and the question was asked, which writer's guide are the most helpful? Then I got to thinking, do writers even need one? Aside from critique partners, editors, and beta readers (another post for another time lol), what else is useful during the writing process? What if you're new and don't know how to structure an outline? What if you have a plot hole, or maybe your descriptions fall short and you need a fuller vocabulary of words to choose from?
For me, I definitely fit into this category. I'll be honest and say my weaknesses include naming emotions, using weak verbs, and... drum roll please... crutch words "just", "admit," and my personally favorite in dialogue, "you've got to be kidding me."
Now, while there are times these things can be used, the key word is sparingly. I've learned that readers want an experience when they read a book. You've got to touch their hearts with a story. As a romance author, like me, that's a must not excluding all other genres. I don't want to tell my readers my hero and heroine fell in love, I have to show them falling in love. That way the readers fall in love too along the way.
How do I do this? Recently, I have invested in some writers guides. The one that has been the most helpful is the Thesaurus series: Emotion, Rural, Urban, and the Emotional Wound. (All separate books by the way😉) There's also the Positive and Negative thesaurus' and the Emotions Amplifiers, just to name a few. Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi are the authors. My favorite so far is the Emotion Thesaurus (link below and it'll lead you to the others too.)😃
This has opened a new world for me in emotions for my characters. Instead of saying, "Marsha was angry," I look up anger and see the physical and mental responses for this emotion. "Marsha's nostrils flared. Her chest tightened as she clenched her fists." Do you think she's angry now? I feel some tension here myself lol. So, should writers use guides? Well don't know about you, but I do!✋
I hope this was helpful and stayed tuned for another tip next time!
Emotion Thesaurus
https://www.amazon.com/Emotion-Thesaurus-Writers-Character-Expression-ebook-dp-B00822WM2M/dp/B00822WM2M/ref=mt_kindle?_encoding=UTF8&me=&qid=1548179562
For me, I definitely fit into this category. I'll be honest and say my weaknesses include naming emotions, using weak verbs, and... drum roll please... crutch words "just", "admit," and my personally favorite in dialogue, "you've got to be kidding me."
Now, while there are times these things can be used, the key word is sparingly. I've learned that readers want an experience when they read a book. You've got to touch their hearts with a story. As a romance author, like me, that's a must not excluding all other genres. I don't want to tell my readers my hero and heroine fell in love, I have to show them falling in love. That way the readers fall in love too along the way.
How do I do this? Recently, I have invested in some writers guides. The one that has been the most helpful is the Thesaurus series: Emotion, Rural, Urban, and the Emotional Wound. (All separate books by the way😉) There's also the Positive and Negative thesaurus' and the Emotions Amplifiers, just to name a few. Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi are the authors. My favorite so far is the Emotion Thesaurus (link below and it'll lead you to the others too.)😃
This has opened a new world for me in emotions for my characters. Instead of saying, "Marsha was angry," I look up anger and see the physical and mental responses for this emotion. "Marsha's nostrils flared. Her chest tightened as she clenched her fists." Do you think she's angry now? I feel some tension here myself lol. So, should writers use guides? Well don't know about you, but I do!✋
I hope this was helpful and stayed tuned for another tip next time!
Emotion Thesaurus
https://www.amazon.com/Emotion-Thesaurus-Writers-Character-Expression-ebook-dp-B00822WM2M/dp/B00822WM2M/ref=mt_kindle?_encoding=UTF8&me=&qid=1548179562
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