Writing techniques and stuff to pay attention to/improve etc

[relateablewriter]

Perspective/Point of view

• First person. ‘The gun nestled in my hands’
• involves reader/makes them feel like they’re experiencing the story first hand
  
• Third person. ‘The gun nestled in his hand’
• narrative, makes room for more description and scene setting, can be formal or informal writing structure
  

Sentence structures

• Short opening sentences build tension and create drama
• Three short sentences build tension through repetition
• Contrast between short sentences and long, complex sentences can be powerful when used correctly
• Start sentences with different words to add interest
• Start sentences with the same or similar sentences to build tension through repetition.
  

Personification, powerful descriptive technique

• ‘The concrete beneath me could’ve swallowed me whole’
• ‘But your feet defy the orders from your brain and stay rooted to the ground’

Pathetic Fallacy - weather reflects the mood

• ‘The leaden sky darkened’

Sensory description - sensations felt by the protagonist, gives a much more realistic feel to the content and the reader can relate to the sensations

• ‘I felt the sweat drip down my collar. I felt the trigger and the air in my lungs refused to leave my body’

Repetition, when used correctly can be very powerful for creating drama, suspense or tension

• ‘Again, I felt the pressure of my finger on the trigger; again, my lungs refused to exhale’

Cliches, used in suspenseful situations create a huge contrast point

• ‘Frozen in that moment if felt like a dream’

Similes, descriptive technique

• ‘It was like a movie’
  

Adrress the reader to involve them and give them interest, using ‘you’ makes the reader feel like the narrator is talking directly to them

• ‘One of those dreams when you want to move…every fiber of your beings long to feel’

Reflection on feelings/ physical and emotional response to events, descriptive and realistic technique. Often describing the reactions more than the actual event is more powerful and effective

• ‘It didn’t really feel like me. It was an out of body experience’

Metaphors, powerful descriptive technique

• ‘Trickling blood crept away from him, the trickle became a crimson flower that blossomed eerily over the grey concrete

Happy Writing