How to make your writing exciting - Writers Forum

OddGodHMK · 10-24-2007, 01:56 PM

How would y'all advise to make a scene exciting in your story? After posting the second draft of my first chapter in the Critique and Advice section of the forum and redrafting chunks of it, I still think the complaint that it is boring given the topic is a hard one to fix. It's not necessary for anyone to read it, but I'm just curious - how would you spice up a scene?

Sinilin · 10-24-2007, 02:13 PM

I have the same problem.

My story is too fast or too slow and boring.

Not good compination.

I have to read your stories so I know more about what to comment.

dwellerofthedeep · 10-24-2007, 02:18 PM

I'd say that perhaps the most basic way to add excitement would be to use direct or indirect conflict. Just add some tension by putting two opposing forces into the story.

As far as writing itself, try these:
-Vary sentence length and structure.
-Change words out for less common synonyms.
-Try a little imagry or poetic language in third person or whenver else apropriate. This is hard to get right, imo. I think it's too easy to overdo it.
-Drop characters into the scene that should be there but might not have to be (If you don't already have too many characters).

Thats just off the top of my head though.

OddGodHMK · 10-24-2007, 02:34 PM

I have two conflicting characters in mine (check it out here) already, and the scene is a chase scene, I just don't get how to make it seem more exciting to readers. I've redrafted chunks of it for a third draft, but apart from cuttings bit which don't work and altering various paragraphs and sentences, I don't know how to proceed.

DavidGil · 10-24-2007, 03:35 PM

Odd, I'm not sure this is what you want but are you reffering to the actual action scenes in your work not being spiced up enough? I had a very quick glance and what I can say regarding them is to keep the sentences short and kinda minimal to get the picture across during the action. So in other words, there's no words used that take away from the action. That and maybe throw in some quick emotions and thoughts in for effect.

As for actually spicing the story up itself, I can't comment on your piece as I haven't read it. But:

I'm bad with beginnings as well. It doesn't really matter if you start from the first word like I have with a hook and dive right in with my own work. It's not a guarantee to spice anything up alone. My faults apparently?

I didn't get the characters across well enough I guess and the scenes I'd set. So I guess a medium between scene setting, action and exposition is nessecary.

I'd really not included much exposition in my work. Even though some might think I did. I know it's not much help anyway, but getting the correct balance of intrigue, action, exposition, description can make a difference.

However one bit of advice to help you get around the forum, don't listen to Truth-Teller. He's rarely right and it hurts me to admit that. I say rarely because he might say something that he doesn't think is correct but it actually is. Hope that makes sense. However, seeing another user agreed, he might be right on that occasion. *shrugs*

Anyways, hope this helps. Not seeking a critique or comments but if you want, check out the last thread I made. It serves to show the point really what I'm trying to get across here. I cut a bit too much out so I'm rewriting it.

Good luck in any case.

Non Serviam · 10-24-2007, 03:44 PM

Various suggestions... because this is in "tips and advice" I've tried to make it generic rather than specific to your piece, but I hope it'll be helpful to you personally as well.

1. Go through your manuscript looking for the verb "to be" ("is", "am", "are", "was", "were".) Highlight each instance.

2. Go through your manuscript looking for adverbs. Highlight each instance.

3. Wherever you've highlighted, rewrite the sentence. You're trying to use stronger verbs and fewer modifiers.

So you'd get:

It was raining heavily --> Rain slashed down.
It was very dark --> Darkness cloaked the room.

4. Use short words. Use short sentences. Where there's a choice, use anglo-saxon words instead of latin ones.

A convivial reception --> A hearty welcome.

5. Within reason, use short paragraphs. (Ideally you want to average three or four sentences to a paragraph.)

6. Omit adjectives unless they're unexpected.

The steel knife --> The knife BUT The glass knife should stand.
Warm, red blood --> Blood BUT Cold, green blood should stand.

7. Try to give the same information in fewer words.

The ball was thrown by Jane --> Jane threw the ball.

8. Try to use specific words instead of generic ones.

The man walked over to the car --> The midget sauntered towards the Porsche

Damian_Rucci · 10-24-2007, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Non Serviam

Various suggestions... because this is in "tips and advice" I've tried to make it generic rather than specific to your piece, but I hope it'll be helpful to you personally as well.

1. Go through your manuscript looking for the verb "to be" ("is", "am", "are", "was", "were".) Highlight each instance.

2. Go through your manuscript looking for adverbs. Highlight each instance.

3. Wherever you've highlighted, rewrite the sentence. You're trying to use stronger verbs and fewer modifiers.

So you'd get:

It was raining heavily --> Rain slashed down.
It was very dark --> Darkness cloaked the room.

4. Use short words. Use short sentences. Where there's a choice, use anglo-saxon words instead of latin ones.

A convivial reception --> A hearty welcome.

5. Within reason, use short paragraphs. (Ideally you want to average three or four sentences to a paragraph.)

6. Omit adjectives unless they're unexpected.

The steel knife --> The knife BUT The glass knife should stand.
Warm, red blood --> Blood BUT Cold, green blood should stand.

7. Try to give the same information in fewer words.

The ball was thrown by Jane --> Jane threw the ball.

8. Try to use specific words instead of generic ones.

The man walked over to the car --> The midget sauntered towards the Porsche

Wow thank you extremely helpful!

dwellerofthedeep · 10-24-2007, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OddGodHMK

I have two conflicting characters in mine (check it out here) already, and the scene is a chase scene, I just don't get how to make it seem more exciting to readers. I've redrafted chunks of it for a third draft, but apart from cuttings bit which don't work and altering various paragraphs and sentences, I don't know how to proceed.

Oops, sorry about that. I was just putting up general advice.

Just go with what Non Serviam said, he's right on the money imo.

OddGodHMK · 10-24-2007, 06:15 PM

No worries dweller; I'm hoping for general advice really rather than stuff suited for my chapter, so more people struggling have got somewhere to look.

Fantastic suggestions from Non Serviam.

DavidGil, I shall make sure to check your work soon.

Thanks for the comments everyone. Keep 'em coming.

JohnN · 10-25-2007, 03:08 AM

Really Good Advice by Damian_Rucci

Damian_Rucci · 10-25-2007, 06:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnN

Really Good Advice by Damian_Rucci

Hey maybe I didn't post advice! Ok here i go, I think to make writing exciting is during an action scene to slow down on heavy description. I think that it becomes too involved to use too much description. I like to use short sentence with description, but mainly description of the action or the character.

And hey john wheres your advice?

sdavis2k · 10-25-2007, 10:47 AM

I don't feel as though I can write really exciting pieces, so instead I go for rather humorous pieces. To do exciting try fast paced short sentences, get the readers pulse pounding while they read it. I recall reading the Doom book series when I was in high school, while it was outrageous actions like Fly rocket jumping and swimming through pools of acid, it mixed humor and action very well. Reading how others did it might give you an idea. Try while your reading action to take notes on how they did it so that you can improve yours.

Emma LB · 10-29-2007, 06:27 PM

Make your character care passionately about something so that the reader is engaged in some kind of action.
E.g.: That bastard had actually killed her kitten! She wanted to scream at him and rip out his eyeballs and play ping-pong with them, instead she pixed up the axe ....
A character who passionately wants to seek revenge because of someone killing their kitten is more fun to read about than someone with no aim and who just generally has problems in life.

Malone · 11-02-2007, 12:32 PM

Cut, cut cut. Cut out everything up to the last possible moment. If you have trouble with beginnings (someone above said they did) cut the beginning and start with the action. It gives the piece immediacy and a little vagueness that sucks readers in. Someone once told me they wrote a mystery story, but the mystery wasn't revealed until three hundred words in. So basically, there were three hundred needless, boring words.
Hope this is applicable advice and helps you a little.

Taxiday · 11-02-2007, 07:41 PM

I loved the advice!
I've added it to my English Grammar folder to read when I'm not happy with my writing.
Just what forums like this are all about!!!!!