Stop Trying so Hard!

Break out the red pen and cut back on the flowery language. Image credit: cellar_door_films WANA Commons

We’ve all heard of overacting. Actors trying too hard to perform well, but it just ends up with them looking like a fool. This can happen to writers as well. We try to nail the opening scene of a book or short story, and we include beautiful details and descriptions and flowing poetic language because we’re so enveloped in a new story. We’re enchanted by the fact that we have something new,...