These are notes from a writer’s conference. Any misinformation is the fault of the note taker. This is a conclusion of notes on this subject.
In Figurative & Descriptive Language, reveal characters with sensory details. Narrator needs to be invisible interpret all details through the eyes of the main character.
- Precise sensory details can enhance the visual nature of the book while adding layers to the protagonist. ‘Grandpa was an old, wrinkled, cranky man’ is a description that could come from any character that happened to spend a few minutes with Grandpa.
- Ex: ‘Hannah thought grandpa looked like the lemon she had left in the sun for her science experiment; brown, shriveled, and probably just as sour’ is a viewpoint that can only belong to Hannah.
Sensory details:
- Reveal characters with sensory details. Narrator needs to be invisible: interpret all details through the eyes of the main character.
- What does your character sounds like? (Voice when talking)
- What words do you use to describe them?
- Does he or she have a distinctive quirk?
Rhythm & Flow:
- The way words are woven together affects the rhythm and speed of your story.
- Repetition of words, actions, sounds.
- Varied sentence lengths: compound sentences slow down the flow. Short, choppy sentences speed up the flow.
- Punctuation directs the reader to stop or to continue.
- Example: From dusk to down, the lighthouse beams.
- Hello!
- …Hello!
- Hello, Lighthouse!
Or
- They swam up…
- And up.
- And up.
To Rhyme or not to Rhyme:
- “As you’re putting your book together, remember that it all comes back to the story.
- If you feel like rhyming your worlds elevates your tale and it gives a powerful flow and tone, go for it; if you find yourself Turing to the thesaurus, or rhyming dictionary with frustration for every other word, changes are the story will be better off without it.” Jill Santopolo.
Dialogue:
- Great dialog does triple-duty:
- Supplies the reader with information about the plot and moves it forward.
- Gives insight into the speaker
- Shows the relationship between all the characters in the conversation.
- Example of strong verbs: CJ pushed through the church doors, skipped down the steps.
- The outside air smelled lie freedom, but it also smelled like rain, which freckled CJ’s shirt and dripped down his nose.
- Dialogue: Make it natural.
- Use contractions unless the character is intentionally formal.
- Cut filler words unless necessary.
- Make stuttering rare and meaningful. It should really stand out and show that something different is going on.
- Cut “yes” or “no” answers if they are followed with a sentence that shows what the answer
- Example: [Did you walk the dog? it was raining. ] You can cut the “no” because “it was -raining.” Shows the answer.
- In picture books, every words matters. Have them be powerful and purposeful.
- Chose them with care and purpose to refine your castle.
