Writing Tips — Dynamic Stories

Last week’s Story Club focused on dynamic writing. We took a look at the verbs we’re using in stories.

For example, does a character ‘go to the park’?

Can they skip, hop, run, or dance to the park instead? How about lope, amble, drag themselves …

Just changing one verb can make the sentence express so much more. We learn how the character is feeling (happy or energetic in the case of skipping, tired or not wanting to go if they drag themselves.)

I find this exercise most useful after I’ve written a scene. I go back and look at the verbs I’m using, and see which ones I can ‘spice up’ so the writing conveys more about the character.

Another approach is to keep a list of verbs I find interesting, exciting, spicy, and try to use them in my writing.

The other aspect we looked at is Body Language.

Sometimes my character is in a room. They are just there. Interesting, huh? Well it could be if my character …

slouches on the sofa.

curls on the sofa like a cat.

sits rigidly in a chair.

does headstand in the corner.

Body language expresses a lot about the character, and it brings the scene alive in a more visible way.

Again we can keep a ‘writer’s journal’ as a resource where we record body language to use in a story. Mine … star jumps. I’m just waiting for the moment!