{"id":17432,"date":"2020-11-06T16:51:27","date_gmt":"2020-11-06T20:51:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=17432"},"modified":"2020-11-11T10:35:22","modified_gmt":"2020-11-11T14:35:22","slug":"mechanics-of-writing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/mechanics-of-writing\/","title":{"rendered":"The Mechanics of Writing: Simple Rules to Follow"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Do you want to learn about the mechanics of writing? What are the mechanics of writing, and how do they work?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The mechanics of writing are as important as any other element of your story. Without solid mechanics, you won’t produce a successful piece of writing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep reading to learn about the mechanics of writing and how to improve your skills<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

What Are The Mechanics of Writing<\/strong>?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A writer is an artisan who has a number of tools in her toolbox available for use\u2014diction, grammar, phrasing. You likely already have these tools, so don\u2019t worry that you don\u2019t understand them well enough to be a writer. For dependable guidelines, look to The Elements of Style<\/em> by Strunk and White. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

King does single out two of his pet peeves\u2014passive tense and adverbs as the top mechanics of writitng. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Avoid Passive Tense<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Passive tense arranges words so that things are done to subjects. \u201cThe car was started by the driver.\u201d \u201cThe discovery was announced with great fanfare.\u201d \u201cThe meeting is scheduled for seven.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All of these sentences sound weak. In active tense, the subject does the action. \u201cThe driver started the car.\u201d \u201cThe grandmaster announced the discovery with great fanfare.\u201d \u201cThe meeting\u2019s at seven.\u201d Don\u2019t these sentences feel better?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is common enough advice, but why do writers still use passive voice? Because it\u2019s safe. Passive voice avoids the need to assert a subject doing a deliberate action. Passive voice is the refuge of timid, uncertain writers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Avoid Adverbs<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. They usually end in -ly, as in \u201cTom started the car dejectedly.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like passive voice, adverbs are a sign of weak, timid writing. Writers often use adverbs to make sure the reader knows exactly what is happening, but this blunts the power of the verb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead of using adverbs, make the context clear so that the adverb becomes unnecessary.<\/strong> If Tom is starting the car, the prose preceding it should be so clear it makes \u201cdejectedly\u201d redundant: \u201cTom sat for ten minutes, imagining the look on his boss\u2019s face as he pounded out the email at 3AM that morning. He sighed and started the car.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are a few simple rules Stephen King follows about the mechanics of writing. As you craft your own toolbox, keep these mechanics in mind. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Do you want to learn about the mechanics of writing? What are the mechanics of writing, and how do they work? The mechanics of writing are as important as any other element of your story. Without solid mechanics, you won’t produce a successful piece of writing. 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