SUMMARY NOTES

Hey everyone! Here are my summary notes for the video where I share my top three tips to make your writing pop with vivid, visual flair. If your prose feels flat, these basics will help you engage readers’ senses and emotions. Let’s dive in:

Engage the Five Senses: I talk about using touch, taste, sight, hearing, and smell to paint a picture with words. When describing settings or characters, aim to include at least two or three senses. For example, a character might have a warm vanilla scent or a harsh alcohol breath. I suggest creative ways to weave in taste (like fresh snow) and a fun exercise: close your eyes in different settings, like a coffee shop, to tune into sounds and boost your auditory descriptions. For dialogue, I recommend observing people’s tones and body language to make your characters’ voices and emotions feel real.Show, Don’t Tell: Instead of saying “he was mad,” I explain how to show emotions through actions and specific details. I love The Emotional Thesaurus for this—it breaks down physical signs, like pacing or clenched fists, for emotions like anger or anxiety. I also share an example from my novella His Girl, where a character bites his lip and fists his hand to show anxiety. Another gem is from War and Peace, where Tolstoy describes a feverish flush and a childlike neck to reveal a character’s vulnerability. Pick precise nouns and verbs during editing to keep your writing dynamic and avoid generic phrases.Use Similes and Metaphors: I highlight how similes (using “like” or “as”) and metaphors add depth. For instance, in my novella, I describe a character’s fisted hand “as if gripping a lifeline.” Metaphors are even more powerful when they blend concepts seamlessly, like Tolstoy’s War and Peace comparing Russia to David slaying the French Goliath. I suggest piggybacking on well-known myths or stories for impact. I also read a colorful passage from Edgar Allan Poe’s The Unparalleled Adventure of One Hans Pfaall to show how specific colors (sky blue satin, blood red silk) create vivid character visuals.

I wrap up with examples from my current read (Poe’s tales) and my own writing, encouraging you to try these tips and share in the comments which one you’ll focus on. These notes capture the heart of my video—hope they spark some ideas for your writing!