2. Welcome to Writers’ Village!
Every author, regardless of their
experience, asks themselves this
question:
“I’ve written my first draft. Now how
can I improve it?”
Here’s a simple three-step process…
3. A simple three-step process…
1. Deepen with sensory detail
2. Add body language
3. Drop in reflection
Let’s take a sample story
4. “It was a wet and windy morning. Jane
parked her car in her privileged place beside
the company entrance. She felt frightened.
Everything depended on her meeting in the
next few minutes and she had a premonition
it would not go well.”
5. How can we improve that first draft?
First, we deepen it with sensory detail.
“Freezing rain whipped the windscreen of the green
Lexus convertible. Jane’s hands were damp upon the
wheel as she parked the car in her privileged place in
front of the cold blue armoured glass of the company
entrance. Behind it, she knew, loomed a pink-carpeted
lobby, as silent as a morgue, and perfumed with the
stench of money. The Board meeting had not even
started, yet on her tongue was the bitter taste of failure.”
6. Second, we add body language.
Freezing rain whipped the windscreen of the green Lexus
convertible. Jane’s hands were damp upon the wheel as
she parked the car in her privileged place in front of the
cold blue armoured glass of the company entrance.
Behind it, she knew, loomed a pink-carpeted lobby, as
silent as a morgue, and perfumed with the stench of
money. She felt her jaw tighten. She drew a deep
breath and curled her lips into a practised smile. The
Board meeting had not even started, yet on her tongue
was the bitter taste of failure.
7. Third, we drop in reflection.
Freezing rain whipped the windscreen of the green Lexus
convertible. Jane’s hands were damp upon the wheel as
she parked the car in her privileged place in front of the
cold blue armoured glass of the company entrance.
Behind it, she knew, loomed a pink-carpeted lobby, as
silent as a morgue, perfumed with the stench of money.
And as fake as a six dollar bill. She felt her jaw tighten.
She drew a deep breath and curled her lips into a
practised smile. The Board meeting had not even
started, yet on her tongue was the bitter taste of failure.
Would today mean the end of her career?
8. What have we achieved?
We have…
1. Deepened the passage with sensory detail.
2. Added body language.
3. Dropped in reflection.
What else can we still do?
9. We could…
Dramatize it with dialogue
Or animate it with micro-conflict
Or switch in a flashback
Or do a hundred other things!
10. The basic three-step process in summary:
1. Drop in sensory detail
2. Add body language
3. Show the characters’ thoughts
Do just that and you will bring
your writing alive.
But what more can we do?
11. That’s where the Writers’ Village
Academy can help
Here’s what you will enjoy every week…
Big downloadable modules of ‘how to do it’ strategies.
Free templates for successful stories that you can apply at once.
Free bonuses galore - novels, videos, useful links, manuals.
An exclusive Forum where you can exchange writing ideas with
fellow members.
Writer's Market - up-to-date lists of paying markets.
Personal expert advice - even ‘quick fixes’ for your own stories
and novels - as soon as you enroll.
12. Like to know more?
Simply click on the button below:
Or go to:
www.writers-village.org/academy-adventure
I look forward to meeting
you there!
