C.A. Verstraete
  • Home
  • About Me
    • Contact
  • Books
  • horror-zombie-fiction
    • Fiction
    • Fiction-samples >
      • A Zombie Short Story - CA Verstraete
  • Lizzie Borden Zombie Hunter
    • Lizzie-Borden-Zombie-Hunter-2
    • Lizzie-Borden-Zombie-book-reviews
    • Lizzie-Borden-Murders
    • Zombie-Book-Games
  • Dr. Bowen Mystery - Lizzie Borden's Doctor
  • Miniatures
    • dollhouse-miniatures-projects
    • Half Scale Dollhouse
  • cool-stuff
  • The Write News Blog

Writing Tip 1: Flat or Fluffy Writing?

4/1/2013

0 Comments

 
Thought I'd repost some of my older writing tips...

(* See another older tip on some things writers can do at The Teen Word Factory)

The question: Is your writing flat - or fluffy?

The little bear on that Snuggle fabric softener commercial has the right idea - fluffy is better.

How do you get fluffy writing, you ask? Simple.

1. Describe. Give the reader a mental image, but don't overdo it.

It's easy to just write and fill in the blanks, watching your word count pile up, only to end up with serviceable, good sentences that are kind of blah. They're flat on the page.

2. Fluff up your writing by reading authors you like, and even a few you don't like.

Watch other authors' word usage. Remember: a car isn't just a car in fiction - it's a gleaming red hot rod or a burgundy-striped clunker. Flat: car. Fluffy: color and type.

I started thinking about fluffy writing as I'm reading one of Elaine Viets' latest in the Dead End Jobs series, CLUBBED TO DEATH. No criticism meant; I love her books. (Elaine, I mean fluffy as a compliment. Her book was the one at hand at the moment. Any examples of hers are in quotes.)

I'm enjoying the story, but when I read I always take note of the writing, too, in this case, the descriptions. Example: hair isn't just hair: it's "long, chestnut hair."

3. Another example: give a mental image of the person - Flat: He strolled. Fluffy: "...had a bulldog walk..."

When you're writing, it's sometimes easy to forget this and rely on those tired old favorites. (Mine is walked, and sometimes nodded.)

4. Use a fine-tooth comb.

As a few other writers have mentioned, it's a good idea to go back and do a search in Word for your favorite over-used phrase or word. See how many times you used it, then think up a few fluffy new examples. Your writing will only be the better for it.


0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Blog by Chris Verstraete - author,  award-winning journalist, miniaturist. I love dogs, too. It's all good.

    Archives

    March 2022
    February 2022
    October 2021
    March 2020
    January 2020
    September 2019
    June 2019
    November 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    July 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    June 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011

    Categories

    All
    Anthology
    Author Blog Tour
    Blog Tour
    Book Events
    Books
    Christmas
    Collections
    Dogs
    Dollhouse
    Ebooks
    Fiction
    Halloween
    Horror
    Lizzie Borden
    Miniature
    Miniatures
    Mystery
    Stephen King
    Writing
    Zombies

    RSS Feed

 ​ Photos, text (c) 2023 C. Verstraete/CAP unless noted or used w/ permission. Do NOT copy/reuse/reprint, sell or share without permission.
Legal/privacy disclosures: Book links are Amazon affiliate links for which some compensation may be offered; no tracking or following software is used on site.  Emails are not shared or stored.
* PRIVACY POLICY:: Emails are used for newsletter contact only; can opt out via link in newsletter.. 
  • Home
  • About Me
    • Contact
  • Books
  • horror-zombie-fiction
    • Fiction
    • Fiction-samples >
      • A Zombie Short Story - CA Verstraete
  • Lizzie Borden Zombie Hunter
    • Lizzie-Borden-Zombie-Hunter-2
    • Lizzie-Borden-Zombie-book-reviews
    • Lizzie-Borden-Murders
    • Zombie-Book-Games
  • Dr. Bowen Mystery - Lizzie Borden's Doctor
  • Miniatures
    • dollhouse-miniatures-projects
    • Half Scale Dollhouse
  • cool-stuff
  • The Write News Blog