The first page, part 6 - Use key words deliberately
This is continuing my series on things to look for in your first page. Click here for part five. Use key words deliberately In the first page, especially, you want to be extremely deliberate with every single word you use. If you have bland or neutral words, try substituting stronger key words that will indicate genre or develop your story’s atmosphere. You can always change it back if it doesn’t sound right or do what you want it to. (Forgive me for using my own writing as an example, but it was easier than typing up a few paragraphs from a book. The following is from Single Sashimi :) Venus Chau opened the door to her aunt’s house and smelled something terrible. “What’s that smell?” She tried to hold her breath. Her cousin Jennifer Lim entered the foyer with an angry look. “She’s making my kitchen smell.” “Who?” Venus hesitated on the threshold, breathing clean air. “My mother, who else?” versus Venus Chau opened the door to her aunt’s house and almost fainted. “What died?” She exhal