Writers Tricks of the Trade Vol. 5, Issue 4 | Page 21

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TEN WAYS TO UPGRADE YOUR MANUSCRIPT
MARALYS WILLS

Aside from the huge issues of Plot, Characterization, and Theme, dozens of
small devices lie in wait, ready to make a manuscript better. Simply by applying the
following techniques, authors have moved their manuscripts from Good to
Publishable.
MARALYS WILLS
AUTHOR

The following methods are applicable to both fiction and non-fiction. Most
are so simple you could call them “tricks.”
1. ALWAYS END YOUR SENTENCES WITH THE STRONG WORD—The single most
important tip
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By saving the strongest word for last, you infuse your manuscript with power.



Do this in sentence after sentence, and your whole manuscript will resonate
with power. With drama. (Most well-known authors do this instinctively).
Example: (weak) “An outpouring of blood escaped from his wounds.”
(better) “From every wound came an outpouring of blood.”

2. CHANGE THE ORDER OF SENTENCES—Second most important tip


For maximum drama, put the set-up part of the sentence first---and “what
happens” last. (“Set up” means times, settings, distances, moods)
Example: (weak) “She walked to school on Mondays.”
(better) “On Mondays she walked to school.”

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Example: (weak) “He fell out of the tree after his fingers slipped.”
(better) “His fingers slipped and he fell out of the tree.”
3. USE SIMPLE PARAGRAPHING AND PUNCTUATION “TRICKS” TO ADD DRAMA.


By isolating key words, or key ideas in their own sentences, or their own
paragraphs, you highlight them—and make the reader notice. Drama follows
automatically.
Example: “Jake swallowed the whole chunk of meat without thinking.
And choked.”

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Likewise, much-admired authors like Harper Lee use punctuation to add drama.
Example of semi-colon: (From “To Kill a Mockingbird”) “Mr. Tate
handed t