I can’t recall the first time I heard that you should learn something new every day. Even if it’s something minor. I assume it keeps the brain active and makes day-to-day life much more interesting. I enjoy learning, and also enjoy teaching. There is a time for both.

Writing has become more of a learning process than I ever thought it would be. In school, I excelled at grammar, and was one of those strange students who actually enjoyed dissecting sentences. I also remember most of the words and melodies to those Saturday morning cartoon fillers: “Conjunction, Junction, what’s your function?”  and of course, “Interjections, show excitement and emotion.”  Hallelujah!

Recently, while further exploring deep point of view, I’ve learned that some verbs are not good words when writing single person point of view.  I believe that I mentioned previously that when I first started writing, I was writing in omniscient point of view, which is not as popular as it used to be. I’ve been learning how to change my style to single person point of view, third person. Yes, my head is spinning too!  So, why are those verbs “bad?”

Basically, there is no reason to say, “Joe saw the dog run across the road,” if the chapter I’m writing is in Joe’s point of view. If I have already established that the story is being revealed through Joe’s eyes, then the “Joe saw” could be eliminated. It would be stated simply: “The dog ran across the road.”

I’m amazed at the difference in the flow of my manuscript, once I apply everything I’ve learned. Just when I think I got it exactly the way it should be, I find that it can be even better. This also relates back to my “show don’t tell” previous post. It all ties together.  Instead of writing that your characters; saw, heard, felt, wondered, etc… Show it.

I know that more tricks of the trade will be revealed to me, and I’ll be happy to write what I learn. I’d love for you to share some of your writing revelations to me too! In the end, a story will be told, and hopefully you will be enriched reading it.

The dog ran across the road….