Ten Ways to Improve Your Writing

*This article sprung from a writing conference I attended years ago.

Sixty or so writers filed into the conference room for Drusilla Campbell’s “Night Owl Critique” session at the San Diego State University Writers’ Conference. These writers must be sleep lightweights, I thought. Eight p.m. is hardly late. As we put our offerings on the front table, Drusilla announced in a deep and scratchy voice that she would read until they were all gone.
This was my first on-the-spot critique session, and I looked forward to hearing what she had to say about the first pages of my novel. Drusilla read each submission aloud, pausing to elucidate writing lessons that we could all benefit from. These ten lessons will improve almost any kind of writing. Writers, take heed!
1. Each story has a horizontal and a vertical narrative. The horizontal represents the events of the story as it moves through the plot. The vertical is what characterizes and enriches the book, its deeper themes and nuances. This provides a way to understand your work in a simple, structural way.
2. We’ve all heard the “Show, don’t tell.” maxim. But even those of us who understand this may not be following it. One way to make sure you are showing is to give us one resonant detail for each character. Mary repeatedly dips her tea bag over and over into the cup. John passes his hand over his eyes in a downward swoop when the conversation gets tense.
3. Back story can present a problem – when, how much and what to share are real issues. Drusilla recommended that a writer give the history of a character in little clues, not in big passages. I think this is a corollary to the show don’t tell nugget. We tend to want to explain everything about our characters. Forget it!
Show us how John is unwilling to commit by letting us see that he makes his secretary do all of his scheduling, including his personal dates.
4. Vet every word. Ask yourself if every sentence is doing what you want it to do. You cannot afford to have wimpy or limp words or sentences.
At this point, my sitting bones were grinding into the conference chair and I was craning my neck to see if my entry was nearing the top of the pile. Drusilla’s sharp eye and feisty feedback was engaging, and I wanted to know what she thought about my writing.
I squirmed in my seat and was grateful that the note-taking helped to keep me focused. We continued on, and a gaggle of writers bolted for the exit when Drusilla paused to sip a cup of coffee.
5. A pet peeve of Drusilla’s is the use of the word ‘as’ to connote simultaneous action. She threw her coat off as she plowed through the door. He sighed as he rubbed his hand over his face. Writers are often trying to place action into the story in an attempt to bring us into the setting. Write each action on it’s own and make sure that the action takes us somewhere and moves the story forward. If you are using ‘as’ be sure that the action is happening at the same time, and that it makes sense.
6. The bare essence of a story (novel, story or essay) is that we have a character who has a goal and there is a problem that prevents her from reaching her goal. The events of the story show us how she overcomes the challenges. Simple, huh? What is your character’s goal and what prevents her from reaching it?
7. You may know about the inciting incident. This is the event that pushes the character out of the status quo and creates a problem for him. If nothing is happening, your writing is going to be pretty boring, for you and for the reader. Solving the problem is the purpose of the novel, and we get to sit back and watch.
Around 10:30, I finally understood the night owl reference. My tired butt forced me to get up and stretch. Leaning back and forth at the back of the room, I thought, “Mine is going to be last.” I coached myself through this potentially bleak moment.
If mine had been the first, I would have thought, how lucky I am. If mine is last, I can also think, what luck – I get to hear all of this woman’s wisdom. This is the secret weapon of coaching. The ability to shift perspectives easily is the key to success in all endeavors. I settled in for more.

8. In the very first sentence of a piece, we should be aware that something unusual is going to happen.We don’t know what, but we have a flavor of it. Go ahead and pull some books off your shelves. Read the first line, the first paragraph. Got an idea of where you are going? Amazing, isn’t it.
9. Writing, like life, is in the moments, and in the moments are the details. Your story should create a picture in the reader’s mind. Create a world for us and let us live there for awhile. Close your eyes and imagine your story as if it existed in another realm. What are the smells, sounds, tastes of this world? Give them all to us.
10. Everything has to connect to the rest of the novel, and where you want it to go. Publishers don’t care for extra stuff that is just thrown in for the sake of cleverness. Make sure that each scene pulls your story forward.
Drusilla came to the last few manuscripts and I resigned myself to being last. My patience was rewarded, though. When Drusilla got to the last submission, she paused.
“Whoever wrote this last one deserves credit for staying, if she is still here.” I yelled, ”I’m still here!”  I was slightly embarrassed to have ‘outed’ myself – all the other writers were silent as their works were read and critiqued.
But by this time, I didn’t care what anyone but Drusilla thought. It was midnight and I was ready to hear her verdict on my pages. Drusilla made some profound comments that gave me a lot to work with. The four-hour critique session was the highlight of my conference. I made my way to my room, my mind flooded with insights and recommitted to the work and play of creative writing.
I learned so much in this four-hour session and continue to apply it to my novel. What have you learned here and how will you apply it to your writing?