Tip of the Day: Listen to Your Writing

Listen to your writing.

Rhythm and flow are so important in writing, and in keeping the reader moving easily through your story. Failure to have these things is almost certain death for the writer, meaning the reader will ultimately lose interest and put the story down before finishing. So, either aloud or quietly in your head, say your words over and over again, simply, strictly, to listen to how it sounds to the ear. I do this kind of thing dozens of times, if not more, with every story I write, until it hurts, until I can’t stand to hear it anymore. My rule of thumb: If it sounds good, it stays. If it doesn’t, I rewrite it until it does. If I can’t make it sound right, it goes.