Boo!

Boo!

Did I scare you? No, of course not. That's because there's no context here for a fright. This October's blog is on the importance of writing in the reality of the moment.

On occasion, I've been asked to read other writers' works. The first thing I may notice from a new author is head hopping (changing from one character's point-of-view to another), but the other frequent mistake is that they often write situations that sound good but are not grounded in the moment. A trick to solving this problem is to write with mindfulness. Through mindful writing an author can create a dramatic impact.

To write with mindfulness, the author must think about what the character is experiencing with their senses, (hearing, seeing, feeling, tasting and/or smelling). If an ambulance goes by, a character would likely hear it and turn their head. If the character thinks someone is following them, they may feel their heart pounding and take quicker steps. Every action is grounded in the reality of the moment. It's never a beat ahead or written simply because it sounds dramatic.

When moving the plot along don't skip to where you want it to go. Take the reader there by giving them a view to what the character is experiencing in the moment. This awareness helps create a seamless narrative. The reader will not be distracted by inconsistencies, and this in turn sets the perfect platform for your character to jump if a monster yells—Boo!