Rules for good writing + Notice this when reading:

• THREES please the reader's ear, so use them often.

• THREE verbs, three adverbs, three phrases, or even actions.

• THREE strong sentences that start the same—always a good move.

• THREE lines of dialogue. 

• Anything done in a THREE, please.

• THREE, one-word repeats (for a good reason).

Rules for good writing + Notice this when reading:

• Explore what something is NOT. 

• DO NOT TELL, show or visually describe for your reader.

• Let your reader puzzle something out. Write around and NOT reveal what you want to reader to know.

• Combine a THREE with NOT: He does NOT. He does NOT. And he definitely does NOT—not ever—do something more detailed.

• Create mystery: Tell only what someone will NOT do.

Rules for good writing + Notice this when reading:

• Use ACTIVE, ACTION verbs as much as possible. 

• Avoid inactive, to be verbs: is, was, were, been, have, has, had, do, does, did, will, would, shall and should, etc. Circle and eliminate most.

• Oust adverbs (—LY, especially). Select that "Just Right" verb.

• Add VERB and VISUAL IMAGERY to gamify your writing.

Rules for good writing + Notice this when reading:

• Use a COMMA before a FANBOYS when SUBJECT and VERB follows it.

• Cast COMMAS around a direct address: A PERSON you are speaking to

• Use COMMAS in a SERIES--and don't for get the OXFORD before AND

• Place COMMA inside QUOTE MARKS for REG Dialogue Tags

• Use a COMMA after INTRODUCTORY WORDS: First,

• Cast COMMAS around a dropped in CLAUSE.

Rules for good writing + Notice this when reading:

• Complete EXPOSITION: Main Character (MC), Setting, and PROBLEM

• RISING ACTION: Three Conflicts or more (Internal AND/OR External)

• CONFLICT: The Ah-ha Moment or when things cannot get any worse for your MC

• FALLING ACTION: 

• CONCLUSION: