Avoid These Common Bad Habits in Your Writing
When we write a novel, it's likely that some bad habits will kick in—all of us do it.
Writing tics such as too many sighs, eye rolls or characters' hearts beating out of their chests can quickly make our work seem generic and uninspired.
It's important to vary the gestures and reactions to dramatic scenes.
To avoid this, I suggest limiting the use of these common reactions to only two or three times throughout your novel:
· sighs
· eye rolls
· meaningful glances
· eyes clenching shut
· ceiling/sky staring
· dramatic pauses
· dramatic exhortations (“Crap!” “Yuck!” “Good God!”)
· stomachs lurching
· throats catching
· bodies going rigid
· hands clenching into fists
· faces going white
· blushes
· trembling
· clearing throats
Instead of relying on these typical physical reactions, show how your protagonist is processing what is happening by infusing their emotions into the story and giving them unique ways to react based on their personality.
This helps the reader keep track of them during longer dialogue exchanges and can even help you guide the narrative by narrowing their reaction options.
This will help keep your readers engaged and won't elicit “groans of exasperation” from them.
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