Writers Abroad Magazine Issue 7 November 2017 | Page 23

WRITERS ABROAD MAGAZINE: THE THIRD SPACE
content. Be consistent with the terms that you use to avoid having different tags
for the same subject. Utilise the search box to follow others who share your
interests.
To keep up to date with news or information, make use of current awareness
tools such as BBC Alerts or Google Alerts, which are easily tailored to send only
the information that is of interest to you.
Discipline
Writing is a skill and like any skill, rewards practice. Discipline yourself to write
regularly, which can be difficult with a busy lifestyle.
Everything you pen must be the best you can produce. Even if those juices are
not flowing, get some words down. They’ll act as a stimulus to be revisited,
revised, reshaped, until you’re happy with them. ‘That will do’ is not on the
agenda.
Leaving things to the last minute is an uncertain route, it may well lead to a piece
not entirely to your satisfaction.
Use short sentences. Long, convoluted ones are far trickier to read and follow.
Avoid the same words in adjacent sentences or phrases, make use of a thesaurus
for alternatives. Grammar, spelling and punctuation, all must be impeccable. Is
your spell checker set to the correct language?
Don’t keep your writing on one level, change the pace by choosing words and
phrases to suit the situation. Build up to a thrilling moment or climax so that
the reader becomes stimulated and expectant.
Once a story or a chapter is complete, leave it for several hours or until the next
day. When you read it again, you’ll be amazed by the improvements you can spot.
That mot juste that eluded you, better phrasing, more impact, mistakes that now
glare at you. The essence of keeping the reader’s attention is writing that flows,
drawing the eye onwards, anticipating what is to come. Smooth and polish it to
a gleaming finish.
22 | NOVEMBER 2017