One Quick Tip To Take Your Writing To The Next Level: Learn The Definition Of "Finished."

   I believe that this information is so important, that I am purposely making this article incredibly short—offering the bare minimum, so that people are more inclined to dedicate a mere sixty seconds to reading this.

    This should be every writer's definition of "finished:" When a writer is able to read through his or her entire work without changing a SINGLE THING—from something as complex as removing or adding an entire page, to something as simple as adding a comma or correcting the spelling of a word.

     It is ONLY then that the short story is ready for publication, or the author is ready to advance on to write his or her next chapter.

Learn to Write: Truly Capture A Setting By Physically Placing Yourself Into A Similar Environment When You Are Writing It

Last week, I talked about how listening to music affects your mood, which, then translates into your writing, in  Learn To Write: Use Music As A Tool By Listening To Music That Matches The Mood Of What You Are Writing.

Now, let’s move on to another simple, ‘outside-of-the-box’ tool to enhance your writing: Your physical location.

Every writer knows that the more vividly that a reader can imagine themselves within a scene, the more successful the work is at doing its job—placing the reader into the world that you have created— therefore, why wouldn’t you take every step possible to make the link between your work and the reader as strong as possible?

            The best way for you to weave the proper string of words to textually illustrate a scene, is to physically place yourself into an environment that gives you the same feeling as the atmosphere of what you are writing.

            For example, in one chapter of my novel, one of the characters was in a damp and cavernous setting. So, I actually went down into my damp and cavernous basement! You would have been amazed at how my words practically spilled off of the page. Why? Because I was no longer dedicating most of my mind to imagining the scene, because, well… I was living it!

In this circumstance, which scene that takes place in a forest would be written more vividly: One that is written by a man who is sitting at his desk, or one written by a woman who is sitting in her backyard, surrounded by trees, the fresh smell of recently fallen rain is filling her nostrils, and the fluttering wings of scattering birds echoes from the sky?

            I think you know the answer.

Again, you don’t have to thrust yourself into a tropical rainforest or a snow-white tundra. If your scene is outdoors, then simply sit outside, and it will increase the quality of your writing, tenfold.

          In summary, in order to be a successful author, you must strive to place your writing past all of the rest, and you can’t pass anyone without taking a few extra steps. So, get your butt up and away from that chair, and stand alongside your characters, wherever they may be!

Learn To Write: Use Music As A Tool By Listening To Music That Matches The Mood Of What You Are Writing.

Have you ever read a book and truly felt the crushing darkness of an ominous scene, or have you ever felt the warmth and pure joy of characters who had reached the end of their journey? I mean really felt it?

     If you want your writing to be the best that it can be, then you must make your readers truly ‘feel’ the scene, and, in order to do that, you must also ‘feel’ it while you are writing it.

     Here is one ‘outside-of-the-box’ way to do it: Listen to music that matches the mood of the scene that you are portraying. Your mood has a direct influence over your writing. Harness it. If you went to a funeral, and then you immediately went to a barbecue, you wouldn’t exactly be the life of the party, would you? Even if you uttered the words, “I am having the time of my life,” your tone, your mannerisms, and your expression would convince your listeners otherwise. That is the power of your mood.

     It is a fact that music is one of the most powerful influences in our lives. Listening to dark and heavy music sets you in a darker mood than light and upbeat music does. Remember when I mentioned the funeral/barbecue? Your words are slave to your mood, and your mood, or ‘vibe’, can be influenced by simply a song or two. In other words: what you are listening to translates into your writing.

     When I discovered this, I used it as a tool. When I am writing an ominous scene, I listen to Arch Enemy. If I am writing a fast-paced, action or chase scene, I listen to Metallica or Slayer. For a mellow scene, my go-to is Black Sabbath, and I pull out Taylor Swift or Tori Amos for light and hearty emotional scenes.

     I, personally, find it impossible to write about how a man was disemboweled by an axe when Taylor Swift is pouring her heart out about wearing sneakers while the other girl is wearing short skirts.

     I know that some of you think that you won’t be able to focus while listening to music, but give it a chance! Simply adjust the volume until you find something suitable for yourself, or, at the very least, listen to your music of choice before you write.

     In summary, music is one of the most powerful influences in our lives. Utilize it to truly put your mindset into the scene in which you are after, and your readers will not only read your scenes, but they will feel them, too. That is power, my friends.

     So, plug in your headphones, and start writing!