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Which details in writing? Editor's Notes #310 April 01, 2020

Hello, Writing has laws of perspective, of light and shade, just as painting does, or music. —Truman Capote In this issue: 1. Which details in writing? 2. Tickled my funny bone 3. Interesting Web site 4. Writing prompt 5. Letters to the editor 6. Writer’s Helper response to Covid-19 1. Which details in writing The seed for this issue about details in writing was a query from a subscriber asking a specific question about her writing. I encourage everyone with a question to ask. If you wonder about something, the chances are others wonder about it, too. Many books on writing tell writers to use details. Good advice as far as it goes. Let me expand that general advice with some details about using details. Everything, every tiny little detail you include, must be important. Does the detail clarify or move the plot forward? Does the detail sharpen the way the reader perceives the character? Does the detail shine light on your topic? If you answer no to all three questions, you probably don’t need that particular detail. Even if you answer yes to one or more questions, there are other considerations. The right details mark you as an authority. That goes a long way to keeping the reader on your side, turning those pages, looking for more. You don’t have to tell everything you know, but telling something the reader may not know, something that gives an ahhh of satisfaction, increases reader pleasure. Overall, are you offering details of all the senses? One technique I use is to go through the text looking only for sensory details with pencil crayons. I choose a different color for each sense and mark each instance of a sensory detail with the corresponding color. Then just flipping through the pages lets me know if I’ve ignored any particular sense. If possible, add details that might surprise the reader. What do you notice that others may overlook? Sometimes details show interesting contrasts. You don’t necessarily have to say, "Hey, reader, notice this contrast I’ve just made?" Just show the contrast, and let the reader enjoy the discovery. Choose the revelation of the detail carefully. When is the best time for the reader to learn each detail? If you give all the details at the beginning, you wear out the reader who wants to get on with it, and your writing sounds boring. Sprinkling details throughout the piece keeps the reader engaged. =========== 2.Tickled my funny bone He had a photographic memory that was never developed. =========== 3. Interesting Web site In the last issue, I shared a link on how to wash your hands effectively. The CDC goes deeper into hand hygiene. Click the link to learn more https://www.cdc.gov/handhygiene/providers/index.html/ =========== 4. Writing prompt Chose an everyday object. Observe it closely. How can you describe it? You can put it in a context, or not. Just choose carefully the details you record. I would love to see what you do with this prompt, so send yours along. =========== 5. Letters to the editor Mike Quick, a long-time subscriber and plumber replied to my link about hand washing with his own views. I am including his link here with this additional comment. There are people who cannot use soap and water because of existing skin issues. According to the experts, for the majority of people, soap and water is the best way to remove the virus from our hands. Here’s Mike’s link for an option. https://onlineplumbingadvice.com/coronavirus-covid-19-a-blue- collar-view/ =========== 6. Writer’s Helper response to Covid-19 So much has changed over the time between issues of Editor’s Notes. The good news from our house is that both my mom and I are fine. Friends and neighbours help out. My mom’s dementia means that she has no idea that she’s isolated. As long as I am in her line of vision, she’s happy. Happy mom, happy daughter. What follows is a copy and paste from issue number 309. It’s still in force for you. Along with the health threat hanging over the world, we are facing a huge financial hit. I’ve decided one thing I can do is to make quality editing less expensive during this trying time. For subscribers to Editor’s Notes and their friends, I am suspending the fee for the sample edit to anyone using the code EN19 until I cancel this offer. I intend to keep this offer open as long as the world is in crisis with Covid-19 and its aftermath, so watch this space. I will give a warning here before I pull this offer. You can submit your writing sample at https://www.writershelper.com/sample-edit.html Be sure to click the link below the heading "Promotion Code" to get to the special form for a free sample edit. If you find yourself at a form before clicking the special link, scroll slowly back up the page, and you should see the link for the code (EN19). But it gets better… When I return an edited writing sample, I include quotes for the full range of my editing services. Until further notice, I will give a true quote, but I will not charge writers the full amount. I am discounting my services 50% for subscribers to Editor’s Notes and their friends. I will give a warning here before I pull this offer. Feel free to pass this offer along to any writing friends you think may be interested. As long as anyone uses the code, I’ll honour the offer. This is what I can offer you in this time of crisis. I hope it encourages you as you face possible illness and financial uncertainty. All the best to you as you continue to write. =========== Join Writer's Helper Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/WritersHelperEditor Follow me on Twitter @AudreytheEditor Link on LinkedIn https://ca.linkedin.com/in/audreyowen (Email me first so I know how you know me.) =========== If you know a writer who would appreciate receiving Editor's Notes, forward this issue. If someone has passed this on to you, you can get your own free subscription by signing up at https://www.writershelper.com/newsletter.html

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