39. Sound Check
It’s very tempting to send YOUR Novel out into the world without a last rewrite for word use and phrasing, but please, after all your hard work, don’t succumb to the temptation to let that baby face the query gauntlet without a “sound check.”
I recommend that you read this redux out loud. You will hear any breaks in the rhythm, any unplanned change in voice, and you’ll find it easier to catch that word that you inadvertently used sixty times in the novel. An azure sky might be gorgeous on one page, but after 60 mentions even an azure sky it loses its charm!
Beware of cliches. Long blond hair is a cliche. So is tall, dark and dangerous. Big brown eyes, a good time was had by all, grumpy old man, each and every . . . you get the picture. (Oops!)
Watch out for –ly adverbs (You know that, right?) and those “like” comparisons. Her stomach lurched like she was on a roller coaster for the first time. Her stomach lurched will do just fine without the roller coaster comparison.
More writers are eliminating dialog tags wherever possible – the he said/he says stuff. That’s a tough one for me. This new trend seems to be a response to the text message/Twitter/FB social networking scene. Youger readers are used to immediate dialog without the interference of tags. I understand that, but tags also add rhythm and allow pauses that mimic actual speech, so cut back but don’t destroy your rhythm patterns.
You may be interested in a great blog post by Keli Gwyn on “weasel words” – those little words that work their way into our writing and slow down the flow or dilute the power. http://keligwyn.wordpress.com/2011/03/30/weasel-words-in-writing/
Nick Harrison (no relation as far as I know) is a book editor . He writes about words used to describe a character’s mannerisms. It wasn’t until I read his blog post that I realized that so many of my characters were afflicted with perpetually raised eyebrows. It’s easy to overuse these simple descriptions. Check out his ideas at http://www.nickharrisonbooks.com/blog/?p=470
One last caution, eliminate passive verb use whenever possible. The ball was hit by Dave should be written, Dave hit the ball.
The Sound Check rewrite is my favorite rewrite. It’s not a lot of work and yet it makes a big difference. Think music, establish your rhythm and free your words to sing!
Your Assignment: Do a Sound Check!
Blessings!
Sue