Often, after reading a few chapters of a young adult fantasy, an adventure novel or a self-help book, for example, I will ask the writer this question, \u201cDo you read what you write?\u201d I\u2019m rather stunned when I hear them say, \u201cNo.\u201d <\/p>\n
Sometimes they say, “Yes,” but I can tell that, if they do, they aren’t learning much from the experience.<\/p>\n
Their writing shows that they don\u2019t have a handle on the nonfiction how-to book, memoir or children\u2019s book they are attempting to write. Along with a few editorial suggestions, I will often recommend that they go to their local library and bring home several books designed for their particular audience and start studying them. <\/p>\n
I ask them to study the way dialog is handled, to pay attention to vocabulary (especially for children\u2019s books), and to notice sentence structure, transitions, tone, flow and organization. <\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t think much about the importance of this activity at the time, but before I started my writing career, I read the magazines I wanted to write for\u2014many issues. I was rather fascinated by the article\u2014the various ways you could organize the material, the different types of articles you could write on the same topic, etc. I read a lot of articles and paid attention to what made an article work and what didn\u2019t, what type of articles different magazines used and how to change one article to fit within another magazine\u2019s requirements. <\/p>\n
It seemed to pay off for me. The first article I wrote, I sold. And, when I approached the local newspaper publisher about writing a weekly column, he hired me based on the sample columns I presented to him.<\/p>\n
Some people still think that writing is inspired. Sure, it can be. But if you are writing for publication, you also have to take your audience into consideration.<\/p>\n
You\u2019ve heard me say this before. You are probably tired of \u201creading\u201d me harp on this topic. You notice that it comes out in a variety of blog posts focusing on a variety of different aspects of writing for publication. I say it, maybe, too often\u2014identify and then write for your target audience.<\/p>\n
And one excellent way to know you are writing what your audience wants in an enjoyable and\/or organized, easy-to-follow way, is to study what they read.<\/p>\n
Now here\u2019s your assignment for the weekend: Go to your home library and pick out three books like the one you are writing. Spend at least an hour with each of the books. If you happen to pick up one of the many books that are being published today that is poorly written and full of errors, put it back. I want you to study well-written, well-received books in your genre or topic. Write down the similarities you notice between the books. Check out the differences between these books and the one you are writing. Does your manuscript have the qualities you notice in the books you are reviewing? Is there something lacking? <\/p>\n
Maybe there is a technique that you haven\u2019t mastered yet\u2014how to put more emotion and interest into your story through showing as opposed to telling, for example. Read books and articles on this topic. Sign up for an online class or a workshop at an upcoming conference in order to get up to speed in this area.<\/p>\n
After you\u2019ve done this task in earnest, report back to me via the comments link at this blogsite. I\u2019d enjoy hearing what you learned in this process. And I think you will be ecstatic when you return to your manuscript and see how masterfully you have improved it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Often, after reading a few chapters of a young adult fantasy, an adventure novel or a self-help book, for example, I will ask the writer this question, \u201cDo you read what you write?\u201d I\u2019m rather stunned when I hear them say, \u201cNo.\u201d Sometimes they say, “Yes,” but I can tell that, if they do, they […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[4],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t