This is the handout I’ve prepared for the writing workshop today. Have I missed anything?
RULES FOR WRITING
Omit needless words
Write transparently
Show don’t tell
Therefore avoid these words in narrative:
Adverbs (usually end in -ly)
BE verbs (thus continuous tenses and passive voice)
Sense-words (see, hear, etc)
Bookisms (sob, shout, request, etc.)
Parasites (really, certainly, pretty, um, etc)
!
Then
Begin/start
Which was, who was, that was.
RULES FOR STORYTELLING
Every scene should:
Make internal sense (the characters really would do that)
Furthers the plot (setting the scene for something important later)
Reinforce the theme (the robot is a symbol for democracy)
Be entertaining or interesting (or in some way make the reader keep reading)
