TV listeners are longing for more good news. Newspapers typically cover five headline stories. And there are a lot of disturbing things to talk about today.

When the world around you is filled with insurmountable crises, writing anything at all can be difficult. And writing something light—something with a little bit of sparkle—can seem impossibly daunting. A sparkle is a detail, and how can you notice details when reality is so dark? When the forest is burning, what possible good can come from focusing on an individual tree?

If you want to write light, it helps to be a observer of details – put the problem aside, take in the specifics. Details are an escape, a gateway to stories you might not otherwise pursue. 

But too few details will make your story even heavier. Details are magical. They are leavening. They bake little pockets of levity into a narrative that might otherwise be too dense.

Writing light is not about writing funny, but an old adage from humor writing is applicable here. Be specific. A platypus is more interesting than a small animal. A platypus with a bad attitude and a snaggletooth may be better yet. That is, unless you’re crossing paths with that platypus. If so, what might that mean for your character? A chase? A confrontation? An unexpected side-trip to an emergency veterinarian who dabbles in exotic animal care who might be conveniently single and primed for a meet-cute?

Create a diversion, a distraction, or an entire spinoff. If you take the time to notice it, it will very rarely be boring. If you pursue it, you may find a plot point or a character that has been sitting on the sidelines, just waiting for you to put them in your novel. 

Think of the last time you passed a random object on the ground or saw a couple in the middle of a strange conversation and thought,

There’s a story there. This is your chance to tell it.

Take Notice Around You – read the news!

  • What is the object?
  • Where is it?
  • Why did it grab your attention?
  • Who left it, and why?
  • Is the overheard conversation between two people who are holding hands, or are they staying as far from each other as possible?
  • What are they wearing?
  • What did they say?
  • Which one is doing most of the talking?

Unleash the novel inside you

with compelling characters,

intricate worlds,

and fine-tuned prose.

“Linda has published twenty books. She blogs about the publishing world, posts useful tips on the challenges a writer faces, including marketing and promoting your work, how to build your online platform, how to get reviews and how to self-publish. She has mentored many authors and edited their work.” 

#selfpublish #author #success #wordsmith #motivation #marketing #authorlife #creativity #motivation #career