You’ve heard of writing prompts, now we have revision prompts! Each prompt will give you a specific writing issue to check for in your WIP, along with tips on how to fix each. Going through this process one issue at a time will not only help polish your current novel but will also teach you specific ways to improve your writing for your next story.
FIND: Search your WIP for the word “looked.”
FIX: Replace most uses of “Looked” with a stronger, more descriptive verb.
WHY? – “Looked” is a very generic verb. Since you want to paint a picture for your readers, you need to choose words that reflect as precisely as possible the way a person moves.
EXAMPLES:
Herald looked at the new girl.
Herald eyed the new girl.
Herald glared at the new girl.
The detective looked at the footprints.
The detective studied the footprints.
The detective stared at the footprints.
One of the keys to publication is a willingness to learn. We hope our Revising Prompts will help you learn more about the craft of writing and speed you on your way to publication.