A Small Guide for Aspiring Authors and Seasoned Writers Alike!
If You’re Writing a Book, I Guarantee That You’re Anxious About the Quality of Your Work.
Asan author, no matter how skilled you are, it’s natural to have anxious thoughts about how others will perceive your work.
I mean, you’re reading this article right now.
And guess what? That’s normal! Making sure your work is well done and good quality just solidifies the fact you care about it. Your readers will pick up on that and appreciate any work you put out.
But there’s always room for improvement and learning, so let’s begin!
10 Ways to Improve Your Book’s Quality.
Revise and Edit: Continuously review and edit your manuscript to refine your writing, fix errors, and enhance the overall flow.
This is a tedious chore, but one worth doing. Your work will become more polished, have better clarity, solid consistency, and readability. Not to mention, your readers with much more satisfied with the final product you put out!
Editing and revising your manuscript will always allow more personal growth during your writing journey. You’ll understand more about your writing style and what your strengths and weaknesses are. This is important!
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2. Get Yourself Some Beta-Readers: Seek feedback from beta readers to gain valuable insights and identify areas for improvement.
Beta readers are your best friends! They provide fresh eyes to your book and can give some valuable feedback. They aren’t close to the project like you are, so this feedback isn’t biased and they can point out some drawbacks you might’ve missed.
They can test for emotional impact! Beta readers’ reactions are important! If they laugh, cry, or feel deeply moved by certain scenes, it indicates that your writing is connecting with readers on a deeper level.
They can be anybody, which is a huge perk!
In case you need a beta reader for your story, I have a form that you can fill out. I will be happy to read your story and give it a try! For further details, please visit my website.
https://free-3748735.webador.com/writing-services
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3. Strong Opening: Craft a captivating and compelling opening that hooks readers from the very first sentence.
I cannot stress this enough, a strong opening is SO important! This hooks the reader immediately. A strong opening captivates their interest, making them eager to read further and discover what lies ahead.
If you’re interested in reading the prologue of my book, A Witch’s War, here’s the link for you! Let me know if the opening has caught your attention and hooked you!
https://medium.com/ink-and-scroll/a-witchs-war-the-prologue-3846c48125ef
It encourages the reader to keep reading. When readers are hooked from the beginning, they are more likely to read on.
First impressions matter! A powerful opening can leave a lasting impact on readers.
The average attention span is only a few seconds, most people will only look for a minute or two before deciding if they want to continue. Make your possible reader want to continue.
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4. Develop Characters: Create well-rounded and relatable characters with depth, motivations, and growth arcs that resonate with readers. Like everyone, your character should also go through trial and error.
To put it simply, this makes your characters have more realism and relatability. Make your reader relate to them, that’s how you keep them reading!
Stories become truly captivating when the characters within them undergo growth and development over time.
Developed characters can help readers empathize with different perspectives and experiences.
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5. Show, Don’t Tell: Ah… the classic writer’s advice. Use descriptive language and immersive storytelling to show emotions, settings, and actions, rather than telling them outright.
Showing allows readers to experience the story firsthand, immersing them in the world you’ve created.
When you show, you paint a picture in the readers’ minds, helping them visualize the scenes and characters more vividly. This enhances their connection to the story and fosters a deeper understanding of the narrative.
Avoid info-dumping! Please! When you tell too much, it can lead to information overload and lessen the impact of your writing. Showing provides the necessary details more organically and engagingly.
Showing will make your character feel more real and their dialogue so much better. So by doing this, it will make the dialogue more dynamic and realistic.
Here is my own example:
Telling:
They looked at each other and leaned in for a kiss. They kissed and held each other lovingly.
Showing:
They stood there; the air filled with anticipation as they gazed into each other’s eyes. He looked down at her full lips, then back to her eyes.
She nodded, feeling a gentle blush crossing her cheeks.
He leaned in closely, placing his lips on hers.
Her eyes closed as she surrendered to the warmth of his kiss, her ears and face flushed with heat. In the embrace of his arms, she felt a moment of protection and safety.
She wrapped her arms around him, pulling him closer, deepening the kiss. Both convey the feelings they felt without saying a word.
SEE THE DIFFERENCE?
Also, do you see the subtle descriptions without making them overwhelming? When writing descriptions about a character, instead of telling, show!
FYI, this is part of my book, A Witch’s War, OUT NOW!
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6. Consistent Tone: Maintain a consistent tone and style throughout the book to provide a seamless reading experience.
A consistent tone ensures that your writing flows smoothly throughout the entire piece.
The tone will create and determine how your reader will feel and how deeply. It allows you to build and keep a particular emotional atmosphere.
Honestly, consistency in tone makes a professional writer. It demonstrates your mastery of language and storytelling, enhancing your reputation as a skilled writer. So keep practicing and find your style!
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7. Plot Pacing: Ensure a balanced and engaging plot pacing will keep readers invested and turning pages.
This will keep your reader’s interest. Keep a balance of action, tension, and even moments of rest. This will keep the reader from getting bored and wanting to put the book down.
Effective pacing allows you to build suspense and tension, keeping readers on the edge of their seats and eager to find out what happens next.
This will also keep your reader satisfied. Good pacing affects how readers feel about the story overall. This can go two ways. Satisfied and fulfilled or unsatisfied and confused. Don’t rush it!
This will control the flow of information in the story. Revealing details at the right time can enhance intrigue and keep readers curious.
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8. Dialogue Authenticity: Write authentic and natural-sounding dialogue that distinguishes characters and advances the story.
Realistic dialogue lets your reader dive into the world you’ve created. When characters speak naturally, readers feel like they are eavesdropping on genuine conversations.
Readers are more likely to suspend disbelief and become emotionally invested in the story. It helps them accept the fictional world and engage with the plot and characters.
Memorable lines of dialogue can become iconic and quoted by readers.
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9. World Building: Craft a vivid and immersive world that transports readers to the heart of the story.
This makes the reader develop the culture, history, geography, and rules of your fictional world.
A compelling setting can become an integral part of the story itself. It can influence characters’ decisions, shape the plot, and create opportunities for conflict and resolution.
An imaginative setting can inspire other writers, artists, or even readers to explore their creativity.
An imaginative setting offers readers a sense of escapism. It transports them to distant realms, providing an adventurous journey far beyond their everyday lives. You have the power to make your reader travel dimensions, take advantage of that!
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10. Emotional Impact: Infuse your writing with emotional depth, allowing readers to connect with the characters and experience a powerful impact.
Through emotional impact, readers can gain empathy for people with different experiences and perspectives. This can also help increase empathy and understanding in real life.
This allows authors to convey deeper messages and themes through the characters’ emotional journeys.
Emotional impact contributes to overall reader satisfaction. Make them cry! Make them laugh! Make them feel.
Apply These Tips to Help Make Your Book a Best-Seller!
As authors, we have to power to make people travel worlds and pull on their heartstrings. But it must be done correctly, otherwise, the reader will put it back on the bookshelf.
Apply these tips now and keep them in mind when you get back to writing.
So get back to your writing.
No seriously, pull out your document and get back to writing.
No more procrastinating!