Rob Bignell's Blog, page 287

Appeal to sense of sound in your fiction tale

When writing descriptions, one of the five senses that you can appeal to is sound.

We���re surrounded all day by sounds, though most of it is tuned out. When we do hear something out of the ordinary ��� an alarm, the crunch of metal when cars collide, the annoying repetition of a water drip ��� it stands out.

Likewise, most authors use sound in the same way in their stories: the sensation is often implied but only used at a moment when it can most contribute to raising dramatic tension or add to a description of an important object in the story.

Matthew Johnson does this in his short story ���Lagos��� (which appears in the August 2008 Asimov���s Science Fiction). The story, about a Third World worker named Safrat who vacuums other people���s houses by telepresence, never describes the sound of the vacuuming in the opening paragraphs, but as we learn about a day in Safrat���s life, the reader almost can hear the changing whirs as the type of vacuuming performed changes. It isn���t until the 13th paragraph arrives that the sense of sound is directly appealed to, when Safrat laughs when her brother tells her in her sleep ��� in the language of the wealthy people whose houses she vacuums ��� about taking a vacation. The sound points toward the poignant irony of such a dream. As the story nears its climax, the number of times the sense of sound is used increases.

One way to insert sound into your story is through the use of onomatopoeia. Onomatopoeia occurs when words are spelled like the sound they make, such as buzz, whoosh, beep. Again, such sounds shouldn���t be inserted into a description for the sake of having sound in your story but instead to generate dramatic tension or to show some important characteristic of an object.

Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. Whether you come from an urban area like California's Inland Empire or a rural area like Loving County, Texas, I can provide that second eye.

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Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. Whether you come from a big city like Honolulu, Hawaii, or a small town like Beaver, Oklahoma, I can provide that second eye.

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A friendly argument: Amity vs enmity

Some writers have a real love/hate relationship with this pair of antonyms.

Amity is the feeling of friendliness that one has: Having known each other since kindergarten, Brook and Kieran enjoyed great amity toward one another.

Enmity is the hostility and animosity you feel toward your enemy: Greece and Turkey have long experienced great enmity toward one another.

Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. Whether you come from a big city like Fort Myers, Florida, or a small town like Knock 'em Stiff, Ohio, I can provide that second eye.

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Suffering from writer���s block or need to add some spunk to your writing? The problem may be that you need to change up your routine.

To that end, try this tip: Laughter, arguably, is the best medicine. If feeling blue or overwhelmed, counteract those feelings by writing a comedic passage, perhaps for your book.

Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. Whether you come from a big city like Tucson, Arizona, or a small town like Zap, North Dakota, I can provide that second eye.

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Do you dream of becoming a writer but find yourself questioning your own ability to write? You night just need a little encouragement. Collect quotations that inspire you to write. Each time your inner critic speaks up, read five of those quotations.

Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. Whether you come from a big city like Rochester, New York, or a small town like Beech Bottom, West Virginia, I can provide that second eye.

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���Easy writing makes hard reading.��� - Ernest Hemingway

���I think of rounds of editing as hammer time. Then, when they interrupt my writing, I can say... *shakes head* Nah, I just can't do it. Although when I come across a brilliant line, I do think, Can't touch this. And when I'm worried I'm overwriting a scene, I think, Hammer, don't hurt 'em.��� - Brent Weeks

���Be grateful for every word you can cut.��� - William Zinsser

���Writing is really rewriting - making the story better, clearer, truer.��� - Robert Lipsyte

���What I had to face, the very bitter lesson that everyone who wants to write has got to learn, was that a thing may in itself be the finest piece of writing one has ever done, and yet have absolutely no place in the manuscript one hopes to publish.��� - Thomas Wolfe

Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. Whether you come from a big city like Augusta, Georgia, or a small town like Funk, Ohio, I can provide that second eye.

 

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Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. Whether you come from an urban area like Akron-Canton, Ohio, or a rural community like Toadlena, New Mexico, I can provide that second eye.

 

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Editor���s 22nd book hits shelves this week

My 22nd book ��� Day Hiking Trails of Douglas County ��� went on sale Monday.

The guidebook describes more than a hundred in and around Wisconsin���s northwestern most county. Among the great trails featured:
��� Miles of shoreline along the world���s largest freshwater lake
��� A 16-story waterfall that is fourth highest this side of the Rockies
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Most of the trails are clustered around Superior, Poplar/Brule and Solon Springs/Gordon. The book is available in paperback and on Kindle ebook.

Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. Whether you come from an urban area like California's Orange County or a rural area like Loving County, Texas, I can provide that second eye.

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Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. Whether you come from a big city like Hartford, Connecticut, or a small town like Hebron, New Hampshire, I can provide that second eye.

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Similar pronunciations often lead to confused spellings. Such is the case with these three words.

A council is an administrative body, such as a city council. Hence, The Los Angeles City Council approved additional funding for its police force.

A counsel is an attorney. The word also can serve as a verb meaning to give advice. Both a council and a counsel can counsel you.

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Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. Whether you come from a big city like Jackson, Mississippi, or a small town like Fleatown, Ohio, I can provide that second eye.

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