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editing, editing tips, Self-editing, Strong Verbs, Strong vs Weak Words, Strong Words, Weak Words, writers, writing, Writing Advice
Why tell your readers about something that “didn’t” happen? They want to know DID happen. It is a subtle difference, but it makes a difference,
Here are three examples:
My attempt at learning how to cook didn’t pan out.
Remind me to turn down your invitation to dinner.
My attempt at learning how to cook was disastrous.
~~~~~
They didn’t accept my invitations to dinner after that ill-fated night.
No small wonder.
They turned down every invitation to dinner after that ill-fated night.
~~~~~
I didn’t try my hand at cooking again.
Phew.
From then on, I ate take-out Chinese or delivery pizza for dinner.
Of course “didn’t” has its place. You need to use didn’t at times. If you “don’t know” something, you just don’t know it. Saying anything else would sound convoluted.
BUT, while editing my manuscript, when I read the word “didn’t,” I asked myself “Well, what “did” happen?”
Four examples of asking yourself, “What DID happen?”
I didn’t land the job.
Who did?
They gave the job to a bloke named Paul McCartney.
~~~~~
I didn’t hear the on-coming train.
What did you hear?
“Hey Jude” turned up full-blast on my car radio drowned out the roar of the on-coming train.
~~~~~
I didn’t get Paul McCartney’s autograph.
Why not?
Paul refused to come out of his dressing room even though I politely pummeled the door with my fists.
~~~~~
Paul didn’t say anything while I scolded him.
Did he call his bodyguard?
Paul scanned the room for an escape route while I scolded him.
See what I mean?
Yum! Er . . . I mean, ugh!
Pingback: Strong vs Weak Words ~ Part 23 ~ Wasn’t and Isn’t « Robin Coyle
Obviously Paul was having a bad day.
But it’s getting better. A little better all the time.
I can’t believe they gave the job to some bloke named Paul McCartney. I really, really wanted to be in ‘Wings.’
Nervy of them, right? The guy doesn’t have talent.
Another one to print and include in my packet of weak words to watch out for! Thanks!
There will be more of these bad boys!
I’d like to say I didn’t add this to Robin’s tips, but it would be a lie 🙂
Your mother told you it isn’t nice to lie. It would hurt Robin’s feelings.
Great stuff as always, Robin. I didn’t regret reading this blog. Oops 😉
Ha ha. Very funny.
I just found you, Robin. I’m sure I’m going to really enjoy your posts. 😉
And I am so glad you found me! Any idea how you did? Ah . . . the mysteries of blogging.
I think it was through nia.
Hmm…who is nia?
I am addicted to your Strong vs Weak Words. I DO agree that you should do a compilation in the format of your choice. I had no idea about ‘didn’t’ although it hasn’t been a STRONG favourite of mine but still….Ah…
I “didn’t” know about “didn’t” until the other day. I like that you are “addicted” to these posts Tess!
more wonderful advice robin 🙂
Thank you so much! Wanna look at Arriani again before I read it?
definately
What a great post! When my manuscript was in its infancy, I had an editor who worked with me. He said, “The reader doesn’t want to know what the character didn’t do.” It has stayed in my head ever since.
Thank you so much!
The advice seems so simple but unless you are told it, you don’t know it. At least, I “didn’t” know it. Ah me. Not using “didn’t” is not intuitive. For me.
I haven’t mentioned how much I am learning from this series.
No, wait…
Reading this series has made me look more carefully at what I’m doing with my writing.
Atta boy!
I haven’t mentioned how much you crack me up. Oh wait. I believe I have mentioned it, about a thousand times.
Starting a new thread here—I can barely read your last comment in the previous one! It’s tough. Some days I really rush through the posts and leave likes but few comments. And a lot of the comments I leave are getting shorter. For bloggers who post more than once a day, I don’t always get to every post. I’ve reached the point where I’ve got to be much more selective about following new blogs. There are no easy answers.
Thanks for starting the new conversation.
I learned to scan blog posts and know when it it something I am compelled to read and comment on, or even “like.’ Some days, it isn’t possible to keep up and I am forced to hit delete. It kills me because I know how much time was put into the post, and how important it is to the blogger.
With you my sweet, I read every word.
Your posts are also must-read for me. 🙂
Brilliant post, again. Every time I visit, a new light-bulb gets turned on. I’ll definitely be revisiting your whole series when I go through my next revision! Thanks, Robin!
Thank you so much. Every time a light bulb turns on over my head, I add a word to the Strong vs Weak word series. The bad part is I get so excited about telling you the new word, I don’t finished fixing the problem in my WIP. I have 276 more “didn’ts” to examine. 276!!!
I also had too many “started to” and “began to” constructions. Didn’t my characters ever follow through on them?!
And I would totally buy a book version of these tips, too!
How “did” you do on the “didn’t” front?
I may take a break from blogging to focus on putting a book together. There isn’t enough time in the day to blog, edit novel, write editing tip book, mom, wife, laundress, procurer of groceries and . . .
Broke my three items or less rule, didn’t I?
I didn’t do so good. 🙂 I’ll have to see which ones can be replaced and which ones should stay.
Will you focus on the novel or the tips book?
Oh gosh. Both I think. Strong vs Weak first because it is half written. Well, it needs refinement, but a big jump start. I have (so far – I keep adding to the list) a dozen or more words to write about.
I hate to pause blogging because I am gaining momentum in a very nice way. So, I will continue to poorly juggle everything.
There’s always the option of going to fewer posts for a while. I dropped from 3 to 2 per week, and I still get a slow but steady increase in followers. Views are down right now, but I think that’s a function of it being summer.
Writing the posts isn’t the problem. Those come together pretty quickly once I have the idea. It is the reading and commenting on other blogs that sucks the time out of the day.
How do you manage that aspect of blogging?
How awesome! This is great and made me laugh. love your words, dear…
The word “didn’t” is no laughing matter. I “didn’t” want you to laugh. Oh wait a minute. That is exactly what I wanted you to do!
Thank goodness, because I needed one!
Bad day honey?
ug. I take too many things personally. And, there are a lot of idiots out there. Trying to sell my dads stuff and expecting people to be civil is apparently too much. I need a tougher shell. That, and menopause is going to kill me…:-)
I’m sorry. I know it is tough with your dad and your brother. Hang in there! Just re-focus your energy on nuking “didn’t”s. That will cheer you up.
Kidding. Pour a glass of wine, kick off your shoes, and find someone to give you a back rub.
Way ahead of ya sista! Last night I went to dinner with a friend and had two martinis (although I’m not sure that was a good thing–should have stopped with one), then this afternoon hubs and I found our house unoccupied while the boys were at cross country practice. I’m starting to feel better, but maybe a glass of wine is in order as well…:-) And, I just finished my trifecta writing challenge, and I’m rather excited about it!
I remember loving it when the house was unexpectedly sans children. Hope hubby is making dinner reservations for you. Or making dinner for you.
Well, tomorrow night, but pizza tonight! Gosh I can’t wait to meet you someday. Do you ever go to writing conferences? I’ve never been to one, but would love to go.
I would love to meet you too. I am considering attending the Writer’s Digest conference in LA in October. Might you? If you are, I will go for sure!
Depends on when. Hubs and I are going to Paris the end of the month for our anniversary. I’ll look it up.
I’d also like to know what ‘did’ happen with the cooking. “The high pitch of the smoke alarm shrilled when I burned the roast. We ate Chinese that night.” 🙂
Great re-write example!
Thanks for the tip!
You are so welcome!
Hi,
Again great examples. 🙂
Oh I just love that sign, to me it reads: “Oh yes we did put these two items together”. 😀
Thanks Mags!
Are you tempted to try bacon ice cream?
I just can’t imagine combining those two together. 🙂
I guess bacon ice cream is a “sweet/salty” thing.
It would be a totally different taste that is for sure.
I want some bacon ice cream. Only if it’s smoky bacon though 🙂
Didn’t is another good one. What DID happen?
This has been a fantastic series, Robin. Very helpful. It has made me interrogate my drafting and improve my editing and subsequently my writing.
Weak words in moderation. Everything in moderation, except bacon anything. (I can’t eat bacon any more. My gallbladder refuses to let me, but I can dream!)
Thanks Pete! That means a ton to me coming from you.
I am a big fan of bacon. But I think I’ll steer clear of bacon ice cream. I can’t imagine what THAT is like. Too bad Mr. Gallbladder is mean to you.
Yes, but I have a feeling bacon & ice cream is probably not a match made in heaven. I am curious though 🙂
I’d take a taste for the novelty. But only one taste.
I was just thinking about you when this post popped up in my inbox. While I wait to hear from my editor, I started going through my manuscript on my own. Again. But I’m honing in on your weak word series, and I’m amazed at how many “just”s I’ve removed. I have a lot of “started to”s as well. “Her hands started to shake”; he started to wonder;” that kind of thing. So I’m eliminating many of those (making it “Her hands shook.”, etc.)
Your series has been very helpful. Thank you again so much. 🙂
I LOVE it! I’m so glad you are starting to find, I mean are finding the series helpful! Remember, an evil cousin of “starting to” is “beginning to.” I should do a post on those two. I’ll give you credit for the idea!
But again, I am tickled these tips are helpful to you. Tickled.
You could put your weak-word posts into a collection and publish it as a short e-book (or print). I bet you’d get a lot of downloads. People who want it all in one place, rather than going through various posts on your blog. You could throw in some extra tidbits so there’s incentive to buy the book, of course. 🙂
I am considering putting together a book with this series. I have many more such words waiting in the wings to write about. Many.
As a writer, I would love to stumble upon a book with these tips all in one place. Short, sweet, and to the point, like a checklist for editing once you “finish” writing.
I would feature such a book from you on my blog in a heartbeat. 🙂
Consider it done!
Oh how funny. I started to use ‘started to’ much too often, but then didn’t. 🙂 Ha! Thanks for this, clearly I needed it. So glad I found your blog and this series.
‘Started to’ is a serious weakness for me as well. Now that I’m editing I see it too often and want to smack myself.
I never thought to look for didn’t.
Thanks again!
That was funny. “Started to, and then didn’t”
I found 294 “didn’t”s in my novel and eliminated most of the buggers!