A newsletter arrived this morning from a culinary/travel writer whose book I enjoyed reading several months ago. She has a new book about food and travel in Italy coming out later this month. More on that next month!
The author offered a gift of one chapter from the book in her newsletter. A teaser perhaps? The chapter involves a religious feast parade followed by a sumptuous meal of celebration. The way the author used words put me right beside her watching the parade, the people, the sunlight, and the place. That is good writing.
Her verbs were active. Her descriptions were vivid bringing the reader into the scene. Images and color were featured. The emotion of what she was witnessing was evident, bringing emotion to the reader, as well. Were her chapter a test for writers, I'd give her A+.
This is the kind of writing we should all strive for. Here's my list of what you should try to put into your writing:
- clarity
- vivid description but not overdone
- beauty of words
- emotion
- active verbs
- correct tenses throughout
- word-choice
- writing tight
- sensory detail
- anticipation of what is to come
- satisfying the reader
- get rid of the many 'it, there' kinds of words
- no redundancy
- excitement
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