Whoseywhatsit Thursday~Critiques Up 4 Grabs!!

Life can be funny sometimes. And confusing and hard and playful and sad and frustrating and, and, and.... So can the process of writing stories. Writers put so much of who they are into their work, it's inevitable that the gamut of possible emotions and motivations get involved.

CREDIT FOR PHOTO

So today, I'm offering a little peace of mind to our writer friends and loyal followers. Leave a comment, get your friends to leave a comment, and include either the first 100 words of your current WIP or logline no longer than two sentences. One or more of your Oasis staff will respond over the next few days in the comments with a critique!!

Sharing this offer would be so cool of you! *WINK*

Writer's Wednesday: The Dreaded Adverb

I'm sure you've heard it before ... I know I have.

Avoid the adverb! Slash them out of your manuscript. Replace your verbs with something stronger.

I realize some adverbs can't be replaced with another verb. But before you leave them in, shrugging your shoulders in defeat, ask yourself the following:

Am I Being Lazy? 
Sometimes an adverb is a lazy choice for a verb. So really take a look at your verb and adverb combo.

Example: Jennifer came up to me and said quietly, "He's staring at you."
Updated: Jennifer came up to me and whispered, "He's staring at you."

Am I Telling?
A lot of my adverbs are me telling, not showing. See if you can edit your adverb/verb with a different action altogether.

Example: Jennifer came up to me and said quietly, "He's staring at you."
Updated: Jennifer leaned over, her breath a sigh against my ear. "He's staring at you."

Am I Using My Character's Voice?
If you're using adverbs in dialogue or in first person POV, it may be a part of your character's voice. Or it may not be. See if you can infuse your character into your word choice.

Example: Jennifer came up to me and said quietly, "He's staring at you."
Updated: Jennifer's sigh lasted longer than Mama's pecan pie at Thanksgiving dinner. "He's staring at you."

Am I Not Trusting My Reader?
I've noticed I have a tendency to tell the reader every little detail - when sometimes I just need to trust them to figure it out. If you've done your job in setting up your world and your characters, your reader can often figure out how they are moving and speaking without you telling them.

Example: Jennifer came up to me and said quietly, "He's staring at you."
Updated: The classroom fell silent as Mr. Thomas stepped into the room. Jennifer leaned in. "He's staring at you."

TBR Tuesday: Let the Sky Fall

Happy Tuesday, everyone!

For my TBR Tuesday post, I thought I'd spotlight Shannon Messenger's Let the Sky Fall, since it releases today.

From Goodreads:

A broken past and a divided future can’t stop the electric connection of two teens in this “charged and romantic” (Becca Fitzpatrick), lush novel.

Seventeen-year-old Vane Weston has no idea how he survived the category five tornado that killed his parents. And he has no idea if the beautiful, dark-haired girl who’s swept through his dreams every night since the storm is real. But he hopes she is.

Seventeen-year-old Audra is a sylph, an air elemental. She walks on the wind, can translate its alluring songs, and can even coax it into a weapon with a simple string of commands. She’s also a guardian—Vane’s guardian—and has sworn an oath to protect Vane at all costs. Even if it means sacrificing her own life.

When a hasty mistake reveals their location to the enemy who murdered both of their families, Audra’s forced to help Vane remember who he is. He has a power to claim—the secret language of the West Wind, which only he can understand. But unlocking his heritage will also unlock the memory Audra needs him to forget. And their greatest danger is not the warriors coming to destroy them—but the forbidden romance that’s grown between them.

Have any of you read it yet? What did you think? What's on your TBR list today?