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Fiction Writing Detail - Excise the devils from your writing
This piece about the details of fiction writing was written as part of a short story writing course. Because I am not much into short stories I have put the course on hold to mature. But what I wrote about detailing your story applies no matter what type of fiction you are writing.
Check your fiction writing detail. When two equally riveting short stories need to be judged the one that has finished of the detail will be the best.
Detail and the story devils
The devil is in the details. If you get stuck on details too early it will derail the structure of the story. If you never get round to it you will have a leaky boat. You have to check your facts. You have to make sure the words you use mean what you think they mean. You have to check your spelling, grammar and punctuation.
When you detail your story you take every element of a well constructed story and polish it to a brilliant sheen. Don't get caught in the details too early but make sure you get to them at the end.
Edit these fiction writing devils:
Punctuate properly
The wrong, punctuation; will make your story' look silly. Learn how to punctuate properly. Your punctuation must guide and clarify the meaning of your words. Edit for punctuation.
Fix spelling
Don't leave words wrongly spellt. By all means spell badly through every draft. But when you finish the story fix the spelling. Edit for spelling.
Check grammar
Grammar seperates the goats from the sheep. Make sure that you use proper grammar - unless it is in dialogue and that is the way the character talks. Edit for grammar.
Develop your language
Develop a love of language and words. Appreciate the music and the imagery. Read a dictionary. Play with language. It is the most basic tools of your trade. You must become familiar with it.
If you don't know what a word means look it up. Learn more about language every day. You do not have to be erudite but you must be facile and clear. The way you use language is the final polish on every piece you write. Be the best at it you can be and develop your language alongside your fiction writing.
P.S. Fiction writing are part of the language arts. Be an artist with language. Be the best writer you can be. Go write that riveting short story.