Debra Garfinkle's Journal

A boring but possibly helpful post about writing

I took notes after I critiqued manuscripts at the Florida SCBWI conference a few weeks ago, but I never got around to blogging about them. I was too busy blogging about important stuff, like my dinner and drinks experiences at the conference. Until now. Ta da!

I wish I could say something wise and unique, but the most common problems with the manuscripts-- and there were some terrific manuscripts, but I never met a manuscript I couldn't pick apart maniacally-- were problems you've probably generally read about before. Also, I'm not wise. So here goes:

1. Show, don't tell. Yeah, I know, basic. But people still write, "I felt sad" rather than "I blinked back tears," or "Katie had a great sense of humor," rather than showing Katie telling a joke. Hey, I do it too sometimes, especially when I just want to finish writing a scene or chapter and subconciously know that showing takes longer than telling. But showing really pays off by involving readers in the story.

2. Keep in mind the age group of the reader. For instance, picture book readers probably won't relate to a boy who has to take out the trash.

3. When writing description from a first person or third person close point of view, always keep in mind how the narrating character views the world. This helps establish "voice." For instance, you the author might write beautifully about a sunset, but would a teenage boy write that way about a sunset? Would he even notice the sunset?

4. If you're writing about kids or teens in the present, make sure their names are not "Debbie" or "Bobby" or other old-fashioned names.

5. Don't switch points of view more than once per scene. You the author might not be confused, but readers will be.

6. Don't tell your story meant for children from an adult POV. I know there are exceptions to this rule and every rule I mention here, but generally it doesn't work. Kids want to read about kids. Teens want to read about teens.

7. Start at the right place. Don't start with backstory. Don't start in Ashley's POV if most of the book is going to be told in Marissa's POV. Don't start with a huge event such as a championship baseball game if we don't know the characters involved in the game well enough to care which team wins.

8. A character should solve her own problem. For instance, if Danny really wants to keep a stray cat he found but his dad doesn't want to, the resolution to the story should not be that Dad decides on his own that Danny can keep it. Have Danny cleverly persuade Dad to change his mind.

9. Ground the dialogue and action in a particular setting. Where are the characters when they're speaking or wrestling or kissing? It's not enough that they're at school. Are they in the cafeteria, surrounded by their classmates? In a hallway? Outside in the snow?