8 Simple Ways to Make Your Writing Better

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Күн бұрын

If you're looking for a few simple ways to make your writing better, we've got you covered! Mastering skills like characterization and structure are of course important for developing the quality of your work, but there are also a few simple technical tips you can implement almost immediately for instantly better prose.
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TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 - Intro
0:41 - Cut filters
1:32 - Use concrete language
2:47 - Use stronger verbs
3:54 - Cut weasel words
5:10 - Slide out of the past perfect
6:14 - Cut passive voice
7:20 - Use specific imagery
8:25 - Prioritize clarity
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Пікірлер: 133

@blabbitybla2780 3 жыл бұрын

I have a bad habit of overthinking my writing lol, so I appreciate the overview of the core things that matter - making sure the reader actually gets what you're writing

@LailuRosa_studios 3 жыл бұрын

Same i just panic and cry inside because the fear of failing

@AsadKhan-ql6tc 3 жыл бұрын

Same

@ashroskell 2 жыл бұрын

I had a revelation when I simply put down the ideas in my story as, “beats,” in the correct order of the narrative (beginning, middle and end) with about eight or nine beats. I said to myself, “Right, that’s the whole story.” Then I just took each beat and asked how one would lead to the next, explored why the characters would do what they did, and expanded on the world they inhabited. It just changed my whole approach. I didn’t even keep the original beats, because the story and characters took over.

@ginatober6752 3 жыл бұрын

I think you've talked about removing filter words before. I went through my manuscript and swept it for filter words. Doing this helped to shorten the story, tighten it up, cut out repetitiveness and over-explaining. Good advice.

@Reedsy 3 жыл бұрын

Cutting filters is so satisfying!

@ImaginaryMdA 3 жыл бұрын

'that' 'just' and 'only' are in like 90% of my sentences before editing. lol

@lechelechuza6852 3 жыл бұрын

Same 😂 And my characters are always saying "Oh" and "well"

@carlajenkins1990 3 жыл бұрын

@@lechelechuza6852 I have a character that says "Oh" quite a lot. (She's is listening to a bunch of people talking about Communism) Sometimes, "Oh, well" is exactly what you write because it is what the characters do. Rule #1: Be true to your characters.

@cynthiaking5308 2 жыл бұрын

My favorite, ‘really’

@sarahstrong7174 Жыл бұрын

And 'like' ???

@TheCasualTheorist 3 жыл бұрын

Awesome video and great advice! I was thinking about concrete language and I find that applying non-concrete language as modifiers for concrete adjectives achieves a better effect. Rather than the "flowers were the color of joy," "the flowers were a joyful magenta color."

@Reedsy 3 жыл бұрын

That's a great tip!

@rachelthompson9324 3 жыл бұрын

That was good. More writers need too use this advice.

@jimschuler8830 3 жыл бұрын

1) Filter words also put up a barrier between the author and the narrator. If you're writing "she saw," then you are not in the character's head, experiencing what she's seeing. You will miss more opportunities for characterization and development. 4) Pedantry: A weasel is something non-committal, called so because they allow you to weasel out of specific conclusions; "mostly" and "someone" qualify. "Just," "only," and "that," however, aren't weasel words. 99% of the time they are filler words, called so because they fill up space and do nothing else.

@Saki_Ramen 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you!! ✨🙏

@sethrakes1991 3 жыл бұрын

Improve > make better “8 Simple Ways to Improve Your Writing”

@Frogface91 3 жыл бұрын

Maybe she was testing us, and you passed 🤔

@ImaginaryMdA 3 жыл бұрын

Not for the algorithm it's not. ;)

@xtonibx5770 3 жыл бұрын

I'm not sure if Shaelin titles these videos. The videos and the contents of the videos are instructed by Reedsy (the blog Shaelin works for). But yes I agree that "Improve" is a better word. Maybe "Better" just worked more for the algorithm.

@VirtueAly 3 жыл бұрын

POWERFUL advice, because the tendencies are so common. I'm going to commit these to memory. The Clarity Read is a sparkling gem. Thank you, thank you.

@phoebechartowich6047 3 жыл бұрын

Dang. I think I just realized that you are a legit professional. And I was expecting ‘show, don’t tell’. These are all helpful, thanks!

@Joe-zk7ps 3 жыл бұрын

This is one of the most practical writing videos I've ever seen. Thank you!!

@Gcherry64 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for this video! It's what I didn't know I needed.

@stevstring 3 жыл бұрын

Good video. The tips on past tense and specificity were particularly helpful. I'm going to start my own list of details. You are so right about how they make writing more real. Thanks, Shaelin. You rock. Peace.

@natnickelton2663 3 жыл бұрын

Great writing tips! Love the new haircut too. Looks great!

@benformation8123 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for this! I didn't realise I used "had" so much. This video really opened my eyes on some of my grammatical mistakes I didn't even were there.

@jasonhurley9702 3 жыл бұрын

2:28 It allows inclusion of the reader to decide what color joy is for themselves.

@jasonhurley9702 2 жыл бұрын

😀 What's so alphan funny??..

@diegooland1261 3 жыл бұрын

This is very good, as usual. I'm in a writing group and I find some people (myself included) fill their writing with words to make it seem like they've written something wonderful. "While I contemplated the anguish of anther day of existence, I looked out of the dirty window framed by an embroidered white lace curtain yellowed with age, to see the sun filter through the early morning mist and gently settle on the dew covered milkweed. The noise of the coffee grinder sluggishly milling through a cup's worth of beans gave a noisy counter-point to the majestic silence of the unfolding beauty outside of my grimy abode." Or "I woke up and had a cup of coffee." Great detail in the first example that wow's the writing group but so what? You woke up and had some coffee.

@stevecooke2041 2 жыл бұрын

I've been watching these videos, for no other reason than I love her voice and girly bossiness! Tips good too.

@timobrien4122 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks. Thought I understood everything about why to and why not to use passive voice. Your example of the tree planted in the past so the subject (the farmer) isn't needed, known or relevant (could have even been an apple tree grown from the core the farmer's son chucked there) has given me a whole different understanding about passive voice and when may be appropriate to use. I already knew about focusing on the subject of the sentence and making the sentence sound cleaner without "was/were"

@jaysprenkle1026 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the little aside about breaking the "rules" for flashbacks. Knowing what the rules are for, and when to break them is important

@keithcarey6312 3 жыл бұрын

This is her best ever. She offers excellent examples this time.

@dallasbuilt8010 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for the tips :)

@milestrombley1466 3 жыл бұрын

Good editing advices. It is important to understand what you are trying to tell to your readers.

@Juan_ChoS 3 жыл бұрын

The examples were on point, they helped me a lot

@marjorieyoung-grays2089 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you! Interesting and helpful

@twowisehands1234 3 жыл бұрын

I always love your videos. I am getting a great education, thank you.

@thakiusmuckfeather1103 Жыл бұрын

Another great video, Shaelin. Keep up the good work!

@KnitJones 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you. I needed to hear this

@lindasmith3806 3 жыл бұрын

Helpful and communicated well. Thank you!

@stephenclosson6992 3 жыл бұрын

This is a very helpful video, thanks for the great tips!

@Animalsarebetterthanyou 3 жыл бұрын

I love all your amazing tips and videos, Shalin ❤

@Storyideas81 3 жыл бұрын

How do you find that fine line between being specific and overly specific in your descriptions?

@xtonibx5770 3 жыл бұрын

I just ask myself if it's really necessary to add that detail. Like if my characters' mother grabbed his hand I typically wouldn't specify which hand she grabbed because it really doesn't matter unless maybe one of his hands are broken or something. It doesn't add anything to say "left" or "right" hand and it's mundane. Describing every aspect of a bedroom is useless and tedious but specifying certain outstanding aspects of a bedroom (like books on the floor, certain posters on the wall, etc) can build a strong image in the readers' mind (without telling them where all the furniture is) and show them what kind of person the character living in the room is. I'm definitely not as educated or qualified as Shaelin but asking myself "who cares?" and "why would this matter or add to the story at all?" helps me a lot.

@sarahstrong7174 Жыл бұрын

Thankyou for sharing.

@michaelcartuccio4851 3 жыл бұрын

Gabrielle that's very sweet to say about the Reedsy young lady Miss Bishop! You're awesome and great to Gabrielle!

@emmarettie3610 3 жыл бұрын

Hi Shaelin, great video! Sorry to ask here but I'm looking for a resource that I think you shared/mentioned in another video ages ago. It was a list about drafting/editing a novel, I think from a professor and I remember it being very strict! If this rings any bells please let me know and if not no worries. Thanks for making great content and sharing what you know.

@manuelcantu8572 3 жыл бұрын

Great information Thanks so much!

@johnpavon799 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the great tips

@73altair 3 жыл бұрын

Helpful video. Thanks.

@jerrycampbell5937 3 жыл бұрын

Great small reminders!

@PhoenixCrown Жыл бұрын

Tip on perfect past tense super helpful. "I had previously thought this was very difficult to do. I worked and worked on it but hated when my writing got convoluted with "had." I found myself using "She'd" and "He'd" just so the contraction shortened the "had." Now I know better =)

@Cyrilmc222004 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much I really really enjoyed listening to your brilliant advice, so much so that I’ve subscribed and given you a thumbs up 👍 too. Please stay safe and well too xxx Mags

@ashirahelat4749 2 жыл бұрын

You do the most for helping my writing

@AsadKhan-ql6tc 3 жыл бұрын

These videos are really helpful for writers

@Juan_ChoS 3 жыл бұрын

This video was just what I was looking for

@ollie2111 3 жыл бұрын

You're so prettyyy 🥺💞

@zoethepro1958 3 жыл бұрын

SImp

@ollie2111 3 жыл бұрын

@@zoethepro1958 simpin' ain't a bad thing.

@heatherhaigh 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you.

@thedogs3467 2 жыл бұрын

Wow I love your way of teaching

@ShannonsChannel 3 жыл бұрын

Great advice.

@kalleendo7577 3 жыл бұрын

Fantastic!

@lakeshagadson357 Жыл бұрын

i always wanted to do something like this

@lakeshagadson357 Жыл бұрын

I could find a way to get use to these tips

@sosomweendo 3 жыл бұрын

Good stuff!

@sysavaneusman5435 3 жыл бұрын

Honestly Shaelin if it's ever another person speaking to us, then I won't watch. You are awesome, pretty too❤

@expertionis794 3 жыл бұрын

the polygon problem

@soterbizimana6855 3 жыл бұрын

Gold🥇

@tbrighton8531 3 жыл бұрын

The first point isn't the case for a third person omniscient narrator, if you're aiming for the narrator to be neutral. You don't want the narrator's voice to mix with the character you're focusing on

@charmleneboni 3 жыл бұрын

Pro Writing Aid really improved my writing

@rickscott5315 3 жыл бұрын

Well said. There may be hope for me😅

@PatIgoe Жыл бұрын

very good

@anthonyryan9954 3 жыл бұрын

If anyone deserves to make book sales through their book tube clout, it’s the very objective sincere and competent shaelin. Judging from her advice this is someone who won’t make it through the door just because of drooling beta reader subscribers but because of good writing.

@annexgroup6878 2 жыл бұрын

🤘🏿🤘🏿🤘🏿✌🏾✌🏿 Awesome

@abhinavhegde6624 3 жыл бұрын

I want to write with the style of old English (i.e. the style which authors like Agatha Christie, J.R.R. Tolkein have adopted). Any tips?

@lechelechuza6852 3 жыл бұрын

This sounds super dumb but, just read their books and only their books for a while and suddenly their vocabulary and tone will just "osmosis" into your writing 😂 it happens to me all the time, not on purpose though, sometimes I accidentally adopt the style of another author

@abhinavhegde6624 3 жыл бұрын

@@lechelechuza6852 Yeah, it might actually be very helpful... Thank you :))

@maliataeli9164 3 жыл бұрын

a video on how to be more specific would be so amazing 😂

@crioh_ 3 жыл бұрын

I have no idea how I want to write my small story, it has to be 4,000 to 6,000 words. I have somewhat of an idea and its due in 7 days. Is it okay if I just go with what I put down, then check through once I'm done and make changes then? I haven't watched really any other videos so I don't know if you have said so.

@leticiapenaloza 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for the ...Past perfect sentence...idea of how to structure my ..slipping into the past narrative. It has improved my own writing as I weave in and out of the past.

@brycesonflowers8758 3 жыл бұрын

What's the difference between your two channels Reedsy vs ShaelinWrites?

@lakeshagadson357 Жыл бұрын

these things would help people be better writers

@gobbledygook770 3 жыл бұрын

Ma'am how can writte short book for bigneres

@tinypoolmodelshipyard 3 жыл бұрын

I lost brain cells trying to read this gibberish. Either English isnt your first language or you had a few too many drinks in you to try and proof read before posting. Holy Cow

@gobbledygook770 3 жыл бұрын

What do you say I am not understand my first language is Hindi so

@lakeshagadson357 Жыл бұрын

are there's other ways I can do this project

@sherimillman53 Жыл бұрын

Love the photo of Mark and Nanny Di

@user60223 3 жыл бұрын

Can you make a video on sci fi tropes and tips to write one?

@Reedsy 3 жыл бұрын

We've got these coming up soon!

@user60223 3 жыл бұрын

@@Reedsy Wow! Really? Thank you🤗.

@kingjoe4893 3 жыл бұрын

Love your voice lol

@gabrielocean 3 жыл бұрын

8:33, does she say "Pros" or "Povs"? What does she mean?

@saikrishnanep2591 3 жыл бұрын

Did you write any stories or books, i need some reference, im sure that would be good.

@dash6977 3 жыл бұрын

she does write short stories and some of them are free on the internet. go to shaelinwrites and the links are usually on her videos description

@meenabhatti6264 2 жыл бұрын

Can you edit my story and what are your charges?

@noahdrutis5952 3 жыл бұрын

Fun fact: I use this for songwriting and writing lyrics :p

@ValiceTrance 3 жыл бұрын

Same here! It is a great tip video for such

@soledadgalindo7247 2 жыл бұрын

Yupi

@peregrinemccauley5010 6 ай бұрын

The fractured light beamed through the window, bounced against the concrete door, as she limped to the bus stop, hidden under wizened trees.

@tashbandit4230 3 жыл бұрын

In my head the joyful flowers were eggshell blue! Anyone else?

@BearerOfLightSonOfGod 2 жыл бұрын

He narrates the existence of all life through one book. It does not matter because all that exists must end in this universe. Ultimately they all have the same ending. Fin

@tuduloo7799 Жыл бұрын

Why put clarity last on this video

@lakeshagadson357 Жыл бұрын

it hard for me to focus on writing my book 📙 or 📖

@christywalker4955 2 жыл бұрын

8 techniques, to improve your writing. Master the written word with just 8 simple tricks.

@lakeshagadson357 Жыл бұрын

I don't know if you been on politics and pros before but you be a better fit for it

@christopherbrookfield4785 2 жыл бұрын

Is it just me, or does she contradict herself, on the final point about clarity, when she says, at first, that clarity is the key thing, as opposed to complexity and using obscure words. Then she says this style of pros will be strong. Make up your mind! Anyway, I love her lilting, musical voice. I think she is very charming. 💕

@cicogore 3 жыл бұрын

Hi, I have a gigantic intellectual crush on you, keep the good work

@ChumpstickCharlie 3 жыл бұрын

Doctors need to write this down bruh and clearly

@peakwho 3 жыл бұрын

Bruh, I didn't know my girl was on here. Let's go!

@parmesanplanet7434 3 жыл бұрын

Wym?

@parmesanplanet7434 3 жыл бұрын

@Jake Stockton idk what does he mean?

@JOHN.CARIKER 7 ай бұрын

I really need 10 ways. I am really really bad

@farhat5120 3 жыл бұрын

1 month exactly, am late 1 month exactly =)

@Hxarh 3 жыл бұрын

8:58 Poetry? 😅 JK, JK. I write poetry all the time.

@slottyken 3 жыл бұрын

I really struggle with metaphors. Describing something in a new and unique way or making a comparison is really problematical for me.

@asterixs259 3 жыл бұрын

I loved your long hair rip. Sadge u.u

@michaelcartuccio4851 3 жыл бұрын

Clarity kills me as well!

@lioudmilasosioura4021 2 жыл бұрын

I told you just go away from Internet.

@peterrossiter3725 Жыл бұрын

When you speak about clarity, I find that sometimes you speak so fast that I don’t understand what you have said!

@malalikhan5461 2 жыл бұрын

gcy hi a

@timwhistine8863 3 жыл бұрын

Talk s-l-o-w-e-r for clarity. I do not speed read or listen!

@jeanetteorgan9075 3 жыл бұрын

Stop showing up on my recommended page like Bruh

@jeremyjames7009 3 жыл бұрын

Show, don't tell.

@kenle5500 3 жыл бұрын

****yawnz****

@lindsieambrose1395 2 жыл бұрын

Daily Reminder: JESUS LOVES YALL ❤ 😍 💖 ❣ 💕 💘 ❤ 😍 💖 ❣ 💕