CREATIVE EDITING              #3

                                                               by Chris FabiszevskiReference: In English writing, main characters have names, while minor      characters may not. Instead they may be referred to by role, such as the mailman or the neighbor across the street.

Names bring a character into focus (prominence) However, don’t keep repeating the name. Use a pronoun unless the reference would be unclear.

In conversation, we use names to get the person’s attention, but we don’t keep using their names! We just talk. Watch for overuse of names in dialogue!

NUANCES:

Word Choice: Words have connotations (neutral, positive, or negative) and cultural associations (also neutral, positive, or negative).

Note the different images you get with cry, weep, sob, blubber, and let a tear fall.

What cultural associations come with Magnolia, hardware/software, and football?

Sentence Structure:

Description: long sentences, lots of adjective and adverbs, often passive, slow-paced

Climax of the story: short, fast-paced sentences

Education: The more educated the writer (or character), the more complex the sentences.

Fragments: (incomplete sentences) have a place in certain styles of writing.

Verb Tenses: This is a simplified, condensed list!

Simple Tenses are the backbone of the verb system. When in doubt, use these! Think of snapshots of action---frozen images. Key storyline events use simple tenses.

  Present: habits, routines                         She eats breakfast every morning.

  Past: past facts, mainline of story                  She ate breakfast yesterday.

  Future: predictions                              She will eat breakfast tomorrow.