SMALL THINGS TO REMEMBER WHEN WRITING:
- Don’t use 10 words when you could the say the same thing in five. (Remember, each word is a gift—don’t waste a single one).
- Don’t use SAT vocabulary just to show off. (We know you’re smart!) If a five-syllable word throws off the rhythm of the writing or worse–causes the reader to stumble, you’ve gained nothing.
- Use an active voice, rather than a passive one (The student took the test vs. The test was taken by the student).
- No need to find a myriad of synonyms for the word, “said,” when incorporating dialogue.
- Don’t go crazy with adverbs—show your reader rather then tell them. (Also trust your reader’s ability to infer).
- Make sure your noun-verb agreement is correct. Obviously, spell and punctuate correctly too.
- Maintain one consistent verb tense when telling your story: simple present, simple past, present-perfect, past perfect continuous, etc.
- Know the difference between their, there, & they’re; your & you’re; its & it’s; to, too & two, etc.
- There is no such word as supposably (it’s supposedly).