A Writing Game

In spite of the fact that my first novel “CASEY’S SLIP” was recognized nationally by INDIE EXCELLENCE BOOK AWARDS, it also came in for its fair share of criticism.
When I started writing at age 82, I had no formal training in writing or editing or publishing, just a desire to write. If you’ve read my booklet KISS, (A Practical Guide to Writing & Publishing a Novel) then you know my advice is to JUST WRITE THE DAMN THING. That’s what I did.
Since then I’ve finished 2 more novels and learned a lot, much of which I’ve shared in the above mentioned “How To” booklet. Here’s an idea not in my booklet.


A WRITING GAME YOU CAN PLAY WITH YOURSELF THAT WILL IMPROVE YOUR NOVEL


On your book planning page list your characters and everything important about them that’s necessary for your reader to know. Hair color, facial characteristics, size of nose, height, weight, eye color, dress style, disfigurations, speech characteristics or impediments, unique habits, schooling, job, anything and everything that’s needed to paint a picture of your character.
Now the fun part. Play a game with yourself. How can you slip those descriptions into your book, one by one, so subtly that your reader doesn’t recognize that he’s being fed them almost subconsciously. Want him to be tall? “He had to spend time dropping the car seat as low as it could go to accommodate him. ”Short?“His feet barely reached the pedals.”
Certainly not a new idea with me but one that’s important and also makes writing more fun.