Ranulph Fiennes, who has a long list of bestselling books to his name (which is in its full self a long list...), told me the other day that when he started writing his agent gave him two pieces of advice on style:
- get rid of every adjective and adverb
- look back at each page when you review the day's work and make sure that somewhere you have engaged all five senses. Check that there's some reference to smell, taste, touch, as well as sight and sound.
So here's your task for the day:
- look at the three pictures above.
- pick one, and think yourself into that picture. Feel the temperature, sniff the air, put your hands out and touch, discover what you can taste, listen to what's around you, look at details, shadows, shapes.
- write 200 words describing the scene using all 5 senses. Keep it subtle. Avoid adjectives. Keep verbs active.
- get rid of every adjective and adverb
- look back at each page when you review the day's work and make sure that somewhere you have engaged all five senses. Check that there's some reference to smell, taste, touch, as well as sight and sound.
So here's your task for the day:
- look at the three pictures above.
- pick one, and think yourself into that picture. Feel the temperature, sniff the air, put your hands out and touch, discover what you can taste, listen to what's around you, look at details, shadows, shapes.
- write 200 words describing the scene using all 5 senses. Keep it subtle. Avoid adjectives. Keep verbs active.
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