Quick Tip: How to Instantly Improve Your Prose

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[joshuasinclair]

Misheard that so bad at first:

"Johanne *crapped* to the counter... Now that tells us something very different."

Oh yes it does!

[AntoineBandele]

I can never get enough about prose advice.

[scampercom]

As far as cadence and breaking up the rhythm, one thing that really helped me in the beginning was learning about “free indirect speech.” I’d already been doing it to some extent, but learning that it was “a thing” helped me to really embrace it. A quick example: “Jane made her way to the counter. Should she order another one? No, she already looked ridiculous, and that wasn’t going to help anything. And now the cashier was giving her a look.” You’re not just describing a series of events, you’re dipping in and out of your character’s actual experience, seeing through her eyes. (Granted, I write in “third person close” where this is a commonly used tool.) Just a thought I had while watching the vid!

[citizensguard]

Just keep in mind: you don't want a fancier word, when a simple word will do. There is a line. It requires a discerning eye. You should develope a sense for these things naturally, with practice. You don't want a bigger, or fancier word. You want the RIGHT word.

[gainesdominique]

Today is this 108th day of the year and I am STILL writing! Thank you Chris Fox.

[akcaggiano]

I love that you mention using more specific verbs will then highlight the common, simple ones. Often the absence of something makes it that much more impactful when it comes around.

[Deankut]

It always helps to play/read aloud the paragraph or sentence, and listen to it.

[avollant]

IDK if you ever got that problem: Mine is not the challenge of the "blank Page" but rather I know what I want to say... but I'm just stuck when it's time to write it down ...simply because I can't find the 'words" or the style to write it... How do you fight that?

[dianawilson]

I rather like the verb: 'lollygag ' and wish it was used more. ;P

[teejs]

Tip part 2 is an absolute GAME CHANGER, for me. Thank you, Chris.

[kimjinjuantonio]

Hi! I like writing whenever I like to and just wanna say this is helpful :). Thank you

[quartkneek]

I can see how this improves your craft. If you apply this with focus during the revise and edit phase, you'll tune your mind to think in these terms when writing your next first draft. Then your subsequent first drafts will each be better and require less revision.

[cuchocorrea]

Another thing is to understand something that "Vicente Huidobro" (quite famous and important writer from my country) wrote, and it's that "The adjective, when it does not give life, kills"...
The poem it's called "Poetic Art" if you'd like to look for it.

[techtubbs]

I'm glad you mentioned the void wraith series. I'm halfway through, finishing the third book, but I absolutely adored it! I'm hoping you are okay, since I haven't been keeping up with your stories as of yet, and still have this series to chew through, but I'm glad you're still making videos.

[originalgenious]

The best two tips I completely forgot about!!

[mattclayne]

I recommend to use Antidote (or maybe other software) to detect common verb.
Antidote check also repetition, passive voice, impersonnal construction, verbless sentence etc.
And ofc typography, grammar and spelling error etc.

[zj]

Hi Chris. I had some questions for you that are unrelated to the video: If you do a 20 minute writing sprint, how much time do you take before starting the next one or is it not a fixed time? What do you do during that 'down' time? Relax, stand up, think about the next sprint? Thanks! By the way, I started with a goal of 1000 words per day but am planning to up it to 2000 now, and I woke up at 5:30 today! Your videos and books have been a godsend.

[celindalabrousse]

Great tips. I'm about to do a rewrite on my latest book, so I'll look through it with this in mind! See how good that first draft was ;-) BTW when are we going to get more tips on writing to market? I'd really love some videos about how to find a hot market now (as apposed to when you originally wrote the book) maybe see if things changed or if the info still hold true as is. 🙂

[comradedragoGaming]

Something else I have noticed is that reading from tech mage up too your new hatchling or the (necrotech book?) is that you've done much better only describing what you need too in a scene. The difference in flow from Voria coming out her ship and going to tenders palace vs Jerrek stepping onto the trade moon its crazy how much better Jerreks flows and doesn't get bogged down in scene description. Love the trade moon chapters by the way super cool and a great cliff hanger can't wait for more chapters.

[pherigoable]

Great stuff as always, Chris. Solid advice. Thanks!