I have posted comments before on building characters. Have a quick look at my earlier posts if you are new to this blog, or need a quick reminder. Today, I will link this to writing style.
Good characterisation and description really adds spice to your story, but how does this link to your writing style? A good writer avoids clichés and finds another way of creating images. Here’s an example for you:
A teenage girl could be embarrassed by her aunt who, despite being over sixty, insists on wearing teenage fashions. The obvious cliché is 'mutton dressed as lamb', but not only is that a cliché, it doesn't reveal the full embarrassment potential. How about this instead:
“Auntie Margaret wore mini-skirts above varicose veined legs and trendy long earrings that only served to draw attention to her wrinkled neck.”
I hope that you agree that this makes for far better reading and instills an image in the mind! Try this in your writing. One word of warning though…..don't go overboard with these images or you will slow the narrative - and don't use too many of them, for the same reason. However good your style, you are primarily meant to be a story-teller, not an essayist!
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