Speaking of start, you’d better START your story – time is running out!

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I’m writing a book series called Tips For Better Fiction Writing, in which I tackle all the rookie mistakes new writers make.

And hey, I made them, too.

Which is why I’m helping you not make them.

Until the next book in the series comes out, you’ll see these gems here on the blog.

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“START”

What’s my beef with that word? It seems innocuous enough.

Okay, I’ll tell ya.

Don’t use it.

As in, don’t start. It’s more of the Show vs Tell thing.

We don’t start to do things, we do things.

As in:

We don’t start to do things,

we do the things

that are the beginning of a bigger task.

Whatever the steps are in the “start” phase, that’s the things your characters are doing. Say those things.

• You don’t start to wash a car (telling) you gather a sponge and a bucket (showing).

• You don’t start to run, you lace up your running shoes and eye the path with swelling excitement. Maybe stretch. Leap off the back porch, striding over the leaves covering the dirt path.

• It doesn’t start to rain, the opening salvo of the storm announced itself with tiny, cool droplets.

Okay, that last one’s a little over the top, but you get the idea.

Think about the steps involved in what’s about to happen, or what actually is happening – and write that.

You can do this stuff.

Wanna get personalized tips like this for your story and take it to the next level? Check out my Private Critique Group.

What’s YOUR revision process like?

There are lots of helpful things I have picked up along the way, and I’m happy to share them with you here on the blog or occasionally picking a topic that requires a deeper dive. We aren’t born with a pen in our hand. We learn this stuff. And If I can do it, you can do it.

Get A Is For Action today for 99 cents, part of Dan Alatorre’s Tips For Better Fiction Writing series.