English Grammar Software » English Writing

Character Development Tips

julie — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 16:15:16 +0000

A very important aspect of any sort of creative writing is developing believable characters to populate your stories. While this can seem daunting if you don’t have the proper tools, by adhering to the following character development tips, you will soon be well on your way to crafting believable characters.

The first step to developing your character is to ask these questions: What does he/she want? How does this person’s desires affect the story’s plot and the people around him/her? By deciphering this person’s desires, you’ll be able to get the story rolling.

The second step is to figure out who your character really is. This could begin with such obvious things as their appearance. What do they look like? What is their full name? These details will lead to more pertinent points about the character’s innermost self. What are their vices? The things they love? Their personal history prior to the story? What relationships have affected who they are today?

If you’re having a problem developing a character, take the time to people-watch. Observe the individuals around you. Look into your own family and friends for inspiration. One little detail is often enough to get you going.

Once you have a basic profile of your character, think of them with your story in mind. How do they fit in this world you’ve created? How do they deal with obstacles, particularly the ones they will face once the story begins. By keeping these thoughts at the forefront, you’ll be able to start planning out what is called a character arc: the way a character changes and grows throughout the events of the story. By working out this character arc, you will be able to see the details of your story even more clearly than when you first began.

As you plan, make sure your character is dynamic, not static. A dynamic character grows and changes throughout the story, while a static character remains the same. Think of the characters in some of your favorite books or short stories. Do they grow with the story, or do they remain the same? More often than not, the most interesting characters evolve as a story progresses.

You may develop these characters with excruciating detail and plan their actions from start to finish, but one essential aspect of character development is letting your characters loose in the world of your story. As you write, you may find that your character is moving in an entirely different direction than you had planned. Stop a minute and question if the move is realistic, both to the character and to the world he/she’s in. If it makes sense, go with it. Part of being a good literary “parent” is letting your characters go and develop on their own.

If you’re still having problems developing your characters, do some research to find ready-made character profiles. These lists of pertinent questions can serve as a guide and will help you develop your characters till they reach their full potential.

Improve Your Writing by Simplifying Your Sentences

julie — Fri, 20 May 2011 07:40:52 +0000

“Simplicity is the glory of expression,” Walt Whitman once said. Good writers know that simple, clear writing is the best way to make their point and keep readers glued to their copy. However, simplicity in writing is difficult to learn. How can you achieve it?

First, simplify your thinking. Messy writing often comes from an unorganized mind. Before putting pen to paper, clarify your message. Knowing exactly what you want to say will make the writing process easier.

Second, simplify your sentences. The sentence is the smallest unit of composition that carry a complete message. When your sentences are too wordy or complex, your writing is confusing. Here are a few tips on how to keep them simple.

1. Use short sentences.

Tame your wild sentences by watching their length. Avoid endless ones, that make your reader gasp for a comma or a period.

2. Cut unnecessary words.

Many words are mere clutter: they take space, but achieve nothing. Stay away from expressions such as “it is a fact that,“ or “there is no doubt but that.” You can either cut them or replace them with shorter versions such as “no doubt.”

3. Think twice before using adjectives and adverbs.

Adjectives and adverbs are often unnecessary. You can do without “very,” “also” or “really.” “Actually,” “basically” or “completely” add little to your message. The line of adjectives in “our reliable, trustworthy team” makes the writing crowded and waters down the message.

4. Avoid repetitive phrases.

Once you said what you had to say, move on. The sentence “He worked hard in order to gain the trust of their clients and make them more confident” does not need the last five words.

5. Avoid run-on sentences.

A run-on sentence has at least two parts crowded together, either of which can stand by itself. “The study material is very difficult, I will need a tutor” needs a period instead of a comma.

6. Avoid introductory phrases and clauses.

Do not waste time in making your point. Emphasize your message by starting your sentence with the subject.

7. Do not overuse prepositions.

A high dose of these little words can turn your sentence into a nightmare. “The cold touch of the wind from the south” can be reduced to “the cold touch of the southern wind.”

8. Use the active voice.

Passive voice is weak and confusing. “ I will always remember my summer vacation” is simpler and clearer than “My summer vacation will always be remembered.”

9. Write in the positive form.

The negative form complicates the sentence, by weighing it down with unnecessary words, and making the message weaker. Write “he refused” instead of “he did not want to,” or “narrow” instead of “not very wide.”

10. Use concrete language.

Ernest Hemingway called it “vigorous English.” Let each word draw a clear picture. When a person is “stumbling,” it is more vivid than “walking unsteadily.” When another is “grumbling,“ it is simpler than “muttering in discontent.”

As a word of caution, remember not to go too far in your search for simplicity. Albert Einstein said, “Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.” Do not regress to the writing level of a child. Simple writing is not idiotic. It is writing where every word has a purpose. Keep that in mind.

Tips to Help Keep Readers Interested in Your Writing

julie — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 00:58:04 +0000

If you want to persuade, keep it neutral. If you read your work out loud and it sounds stilted or angry, rework it to create a tone that is both reasonable and natural.
Expressing complicated matters with clarity is an art. Do not be surprised if you are not able to sit down and create a perfect story in one sitting. Ernest Hemingway once wrote that he was lucky if he could produce two good pages of work per day.
Tell your story sincerely. No one likes to read work from authors who do not take themselves or their readers seriously.
Exposition is key. In our fast-moving world, people are more likely to read a story that gets their attention and does not wander from its main story premise.
Avoid sarcasm. Unless you know exactly who is reading your story, your attempts at irony may be misunderstood.
Cultural comparisons can be helpful. If you are from another country and use a phrase or expression that everyone in your country would understand, explain why. This is one of the best ways to introduce yourself and your perspective.
Spellcheck programs only take you so far. Read and re-read your work to ensure that you are using the correct word. If you type “horse party” instead of “house party” the spellcheck program will not catch it.
Ask your friends to read your work. Even if they are not book editors, your friends are a good resource. They can look at your work and tell you if your story makes sense. If they are critical of what you have written, remember that you asked them for their feedback and that they are only trying to help.
Be brief. After you have written down everything you think is important to your story, save your work. Make a copy and start editing. You can always re-add parts of your first draft if necessary.
Back to basics. Your introductory paragraph sets the stage for your story. It is your first and perhaps only opportunity to engage your readers’ attention.
Write for yourself. For many people, writing is much more than an intellectual exercise. It can help you work through your thoughts and feelings about a subject that you care about.
Most importantly, good writers are good readers. Successful writers love to read. By studying other writers’ styles and approaches to their subjects, you will be better able to express your personal perspective. If you are lucky enough to be fluent in a second language besides English, keep up with your reading and writing in that language as well.

Mastering the Art of Sentence Transitions

julie — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 03:36:57 +0000

Imagine you are on the bank of a running river. Notice how the rocks in the river affect the water’s flow. The water hits the rock, splashes, swirls, and is redirected. Remove the rock, and the river runs freely. In writing, sentence transitions help your content flow smoothly – transitions remove the “rocks.”

Transitions are words or phrases that help to connect and clarify sentences. Transitions help ideas flow from one sentence to another. Without them, writing can appear choppy or confused. Transitions not only establish a relationship between sentences, but between you and your reader.

Which transitional word or phrase you use depends upon the type of relationship you want to build between sentences. For example, this sentence began with a transition know as “illustration.” The use of “for example” illustrates the point of the sentence before it. Other illustration transitional words and phrases include: for instance, namely, to illustrate, in other words, in particular, and specifically.

Let’s take a look at other types of relationships between sentences, along with a few examples of some of the transitional words and phrases associated with them:

Contrast: But, or, nor, yet, rather, in spite of, however, nevertheless.
Addition: And, further, finally, moreover, besides, than, too, also, again.
Time: Before, after, then, once, next, last, usually, soon, meanwhile, ordinarily.
Space: Below, beneath, under, around, above, over, surrounding, beside, nearby.
Concession: Although, granted that, in spite of, of course, at least, even though.
Emphasis: Furthermore, indeed, truly, certainly, surely, in fact, really, above all.
Details: Specifically, especially, namely, including, in particular, in detail.
Consequence: Consequently, thus, hence, accordingly, in other words.
Summary: Therefore, finally, in short, in conclusion, therefore, so, because.
Suggestion: To this end, with this in mind, for this purpose.

In using transitional words or phrases, it’s important to pay attention to the use of punctuation. Typically, transitions that occur at the beginning of a sentence are followed by a comma. However, sentences with a particularly close relationship, whether in content or format, often use a semi-colon to stress that relationship.

Example:

He planned to become a professional baseball player and diligently practiced the sport every day. However, his parents had other plans for him.
He planned to become a professional baseball player; however, his parents had other plans.

Don’t be afraid to keep transitions simple. Some writers try to appear sophisticated by using overly-complex transitional words and phrases. Experienced writers know that simple words and phrases are often the most effective. A good rule of thumb is to use language that you would normally use in your everyday life. Words such as “nevertheless” or “heretofore” may work in academic or technical writing, but may be viewed as overblown rhetoric in less complex work.

Finally, remember transitional words and phrases are not just used to connect sentences, but to connect paragraphs as well. Beginning a paragraph with a transitional word or phrase will help you on your way to mastering the art of sentences transitions.

The Essentials of Readable Writing

julie — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 00:12:56 +0000

The ability to produce readable writing used to be an advantage. Now it is a requirement. Yes, even those who sought refuge in the medical or engineering fields are all facing this sweeping requirement. For anyone who wants to be successful, and you do, the importance of writing well can’t be emphasized enough. Whether you are first learning English or just looking to improve the readability of your writing, studying the basic components of the English language and the rules of grammar is a crucial first step. Those components are comprised of the fundamental rules of grammar, spelling, appropriate word choice, sentence structure, and concise style.

Even if you feel that you have a firm grip on the fundamentals of grammar, it is always the best practice to begin learning anything with the fundamentals. That being said, grammar is one of the most important fundamentals in writing. With poor grammar, your writing will look sloppy and unfounded. An example of proper grammar in action is the usage of proper punctuation. Every question ends with a question mark, every command or statement ends in a period, and every exclamation ends in an exclamation point. Also crucial in grammar is avoiding colloquial or “slang” words like “sup,” “lol,” and things of that nature. You should consult a grammar manual for a more complete education on correct grammar usage.

Still concerning the physical appearance of your writing, spelling tells just as much a story as grammar. To avoid being discredited, practice using references and have them nearby when you are writing, especially when composing something formal like an academic essay.

When it comes to topic and word choice, you must find the perfect balance for what is appropriate to your audience. This is done by analyzing the setting and the members of the audience themselves. It is difficult to explain epistemology to a seven year old, but using the phrase “the study of knowledge” is at least better than “epistemology.” Conversely, using vocabulary or topics that are too simple for your audience will offend them. Finding the perfect medium takes a little practice, but can be done through this analysis.

Vary your sentence length. This paragraph is an example of good sentence structure in that sense. Notice how some sentences in this paragraph are short, some are of medium length, and some contain multiple clauses, which makes them longer. This captures the attention of your audience. Be careful, however, to avoid run-ons when writing longer sentences. This can be done by ending sentences before “turning the corner,” or introducing any new idea or action. With shorter sentences, check for a subject and a verb to avoid fragments.

Taking advantage of these tips will undoubtedly improve the readibility of your writing, as long as you consult the more complete lessons for each tip as this is a brief summary.

How to Persuade Your Readers

julie — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 00:31:04 +0000

1. Make it clear to your readers what your feelings are. If you do not like something, it should be stated in a way that leaves no room for doubt, no matter how they looked at it. How can you hope for anybody to take you – and, along with this, what you write – seriously if they do not think you truly are convinced about what you are saying? This can be accomplished by the words you use; obviously, happy language when you are actually trying to portray something negatively will not do the job. Look everything over carefully before making your paper official and letting others read it.

2. Keeping the above habit in mind, it is also important to acknowledge criticism against your belief. While it is all well and good to feel strongly about something, you need to show the readers that you are a not blind. You need to show them that you are aware of what other people think, and that you are not simply holding on to your thoughts with no regard for the other side. Come up with things that people might say to debate against your claims, and work to refute them as best you can.

3. Listings the possible arguments against your personal opinion are not enough. You also have to present facts. In other words, make the work appear more legitimate by stating official, proven knowledge. If you are trying to say that a certain car model is not safe, talk about how many accidents occur during the course of a year that involves the specific car. Anybody who wants to argue with you will have to realize that it is hard to deny the facts. Finding the information you need might not be an easy task, but with some work you are bound to get results.

4. Do not insult your reader; do not tell them they would be stupid if they did not see it your way. In fact, it would be better to tell the reader how taking your side on the matter benefits them. If you want the reader to stop watching too much television, tell them they will have more free time. Let them know that less television means they can take up hobbies such as painting or bird watching. When the reader can see how things can change for the better, they will be more likely to share your opinion in the end.

Using Questions to Draw in Your Readers

julie — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 06:26:03 +0000

Imagine you are writing, for example, a Letter to the Editor. When you finish, you are pretty satisfied that you have presented the facts you want to, but you can’t help but feel that something is a little off. You realize that your tone is a bit too stiff: although it puts the facts out there, the way they are presented doesn’t convey the kind of feeling you have about the topic you are writing on. The letter doesn’t draw the reader in the way it should. So, what should you do? As it turns out, one of the answers to this question is simply to ask questions. When you insert various kinds of questions into your writing, it creates a more intimate, almost conversational feeling to your writing than if you just make blunt statements.

But what kind of questions should you ask? Well, ones like that last sentence, “But what kind of questions should you ask?” are a good place to start. These are called leading questions, where you try to put yourself into your reader’s shoes and think of what questions they would be asking themselves while reading your writing. Say, for example, your letter was about why the potholes on a certain road, we’ll call it Washington St., need to be fixed right away. If your reader would think, “But doesn’t Washington St. barely get any traffic?”, you could add their probable question to your letter. Then, you would follow it with your answer, which in this case might be something like, “While it is true Washington St. doesn’t get a great deal of traffic, it is on the fastest route between the local nursing home and the county hospital.”

Another kind of question that can help you draw your readers in is the rhetorical question. This is a question where the answer is obvious to both the reader and the writer. Rhetorical questions are often effective in making statements more persuasive than they would be if stated normally. This is because they suggest that the writers opinion is the only reasonable one. Using the example of the Letter to the Editor about Washington St. we used above, an effective rhetorical question might be “How long can we the people of this city continue to put up with such an extremely unsafe situation?” The answer implied is, “We can’t wait any longer”. But by using a question instead of a statement, you are able to slightly nudge the reader toward your position.

There are numerous other kinds of questions and ways they can be used to help make your writing more engaging to your readers. The basic idea is simply to write as if your audience was right in front of you, instead of reading your writing from far away. We all use questions in our everyday lives without realizing it, and once you put yourself in the right frame of mind, questions will start to flow from your pencil or pen without you even needing to think about it.

Choosing the Best Words for Your Writing

julie — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 01:10:24 +0000

One of the keys to choosing the best words for your writing is to know your audience. If you are writing a piece for doctors, you would choose your words differently than you would for an audience of elementary school children. When writing, you must know your audience and how they will process the information.

Human communication, in all of its many languages and forms, offers many options. This can make things complicated when learning a language or trying to express a thought or idea. In different cultures and languages, some words have different meanings and some meanings have many different words. When we write something down for another person to read, we are trying to get them to understand our meaning with the same energy as if we were speaking it to them in person. This can be a difficult task, as reading is not the same as hearing and you can not always imply the same meaning in writing as you would when speaking to a person in front of you.

When writing something, try to find a way to convey your ideas in a way that is full of meaning, yet can be easily understood. Don’t overuse words and don’t be what is called “verbose.” Verbose is being too wordy, or trying to talk over the reader’s head, using large or confusing words. Instead, explain each idea in simple terms and never try to prove yourself to the reader. If your ideas are good and your writing is strong, there will be no need to be verbose. Keep things simple. Don’t waste space by filling the page with useless writing. Focus on what you want to say and make every word count, giving the reader the needed information without confusing them.

Also, when writing, try not to let emotion or personal opinion get in the way (unless you are writing a personal piece.) Too often, writers, journalists, and authors let their own personal opinions and experiences get in the way of their writing. This leads to writing that has become bloated and confusing. If you are writing about facts, stick to the information you have available and try to leave your personal opinions out of the piece.

If you are writing a personal piece, always remember to stay with the original subject. It is very easy to allow yourself to stray off the topic and begin to wander within your opinions on a subject, but remember that, although it is a personal piece of writing, you are writing for the sake of getting across an idea, personal or not. A writer needs to focus on a goal and write toward that goal.

When writing, try to remember that you are not the one reading. You are the one who is giving information, opinion, and expectation. The reader is the one who will determine what your writing means. Try not to lose yourself in your writing and simply focus on what you are trying to get across to the reader.

The Use of Hyphenation

julie — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 08:50:33 +0000

A hyphen mainly joins words, as well as separates the syllables within one word. This punctuation mark is frequently mistaken for dashes and the minus sign. The dash is longer than the hyphen, and is utilized for different purposes.

Hyphenation

The writing reference Chicago Manual of Style includes an extensive chart which lists numerous types of phrases that should be hyphenated, as well as phrases that should not have hyphens. Similar references should be studied for more information on this matter. However, this article will give you the basics of hyphenation.

First, the combination of an adverb and adjective should not be hyphenated. For example: “Her bouquet was an example of ridiculously constructed Ikebana.” On the other hand, other types of adverbs precede a hyphen when put together with an adjective. For example: “The long-forgotten son steeled his resolve and made up his mind to leave the nest.” The hyphen in this case serves to modify the word “forgotten”, and not the noun “wife.” If both the adverb and adjective describe the same word, no hyphen is involved. A “light-yellow fondant ” is a pale-hued dessert, while a “light yellow fondant” is frothy, subtle, and possibly dissolves on the tongue. In the second sentence, the words “yellow” and “light” equally refer to the fondant. Thus, no hyphenation should be done.

Adjectives with nouns that have the suffix “-ed” should be hyphenated. For example, “Joseph was a short-tempered pugilist.” Without the hyphen, Joseph would probably in the lightweight division, although he would probably be experienced and quite formidable.

Ages which contain a unit of measurement must be hyphenated. “This twelve-year-old Scotch is remarkable.” This liquor can simply be a “twelve-year-old”, with the beverage being implied without an actual noun. For adjectival phrases, there should be no hyphens, such as in the sentence “The Scotch is twelve years old.”

Hyphens should be avoided when writing phrases which succeed the nouns to be modified, with exceptions for phrases containing “self” or “all” (“self-serving” and “all-important,” for example). For the most part, fractions should be hyphenated when used as adjectives (as in “three-quarters Welsh and one-quarter Polish”). However, a hyphenated numerator should accompany a fraction that does not have hyphens. An example would be “a hundred-five and four fourths.” Fractions that are nouns should never have hyphens. It should be written as “one fourth” instead of “one-fourth” in the sentence “She had one fourth of the entire cake.”

These are just some of the basic scenarios wherein many writers are often confused as to hyphen use. Studying these tips and researching further on the matter will help you drastically reduce the amount of errors in your writing.

Writing an Effective Resume

julie — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 07:10:33 +0000

Coming up with a resume may seem like a daunting endeavor, but you only need to follow a few basic rules to be able to write a competent and competitive resume. The most important guideline is that you present accurate information which is presented in such a way as to attract the interest of potential employers, while staying away from irrelevant content.

Here are some more tips:

Look for ideas on structure and layout of your resume online. Then, research the companies that you wish to work with. Browse through the information on your prospective companies’ websites, as well as Internet publications that target the industry you wish to enter. Check their hiring requirements and incorporate them as keywords in your resume. Also, try and anticipate the needs of the employer in terms of details you should include in the resume. This can show the employer what you know about the company, their needs, and how you can solve concerns that may arise.

Include information on previous work experiences, and write them in accordance with the aforementioned tip. Ponder on your educational and career background, as well as any significant extracurricular activities. Focus on skills relevant to the job you wish to take, as well as related accomplishments. Note your college or university degrees, and any specialized training or certifications, plus any internships. Try to leave out hobbies from the resume unless they apply to the job directly.

Make the writing itself interesting and involving. Do not use the same words repeatedly; instead, spice up the resume by using power words or action words which can boost your reputation in the eyes of the interviewer. Some of these action words are ‘accomplished’, delivered’, demonstrated’, ‘performed’, ‘secured’, and so on. You can find lists of these words on the Internet.

Format is also important, so ensure that the resume has no grammatical errors, is typed correctly, and printed well. Integrate a bit of design to make it pleasant to the eye, without the resume being too flashy. Make sure it is still comprehensible and not difficult to read.

After you have finished writing and/or printing your resume, do a once-over and read it again to check for any errors you may have overlooked. Remember that a resume represents you, the employee, and it is what the prospective employer bases his judgment on when choosing who to hire. With a great resume and some luck, you should have a job in no time.