| 'You're too early.' | | | | If someone actually answered the question with a |
| This is probably not a phrase we use much with | | | | list of their ills, you would think them very strange. |
| our kids. Wouldn't we love it if they started | | | | In fact, I've even gone to a doctor and when she |
| studying for exams, packing for trips and planning | | | | asked 'How are you?' I said I was 'fine.' |
| Christmas presents early? | | | | TOP TIP: In writing, we 'cheat' when we record |
| However, when it comes to writing, kids often | | | | conversations. We leave out all the |
| start early - and it is NOT a good idea. It probably | | | | getting-to-know-you clichés and cut to the |
| means their writing moves too slowly and is full of | | | | core. |
| padding. Here are three examples: | | | | Before: 'Hi Jackie, how are you?' said Mike |
| 1) Story Starts | | | | 'I'm really good. How are you?' said Jackie. |
| For some reason, people seem to want to start | | | | 'Fine. What are you doing?' |
| stories at the beginning of the day, or the start | | | | 'Nothing really, but I was thinking of going to the |
| of holidays or even (for autobiographies) at the | | | | movies,' said Jackie. |
| moment they were born. Yet, often this is a | | | | 'Good idea,' said Mike. 'I'd like to see a movie. Can |
| boring time. | | | | I come too?' |
| TOP TIP: Start much LATER when things get | | | | After: 'Hey Mike, I was thinking of going to the |
| interesting - not at the start of the day. Then | | | | movies,' said Jackie. |
| 'backfill' who and why you are there as the action | | | | 'Great idea,' said Mike. 'Can I come too?' |
| unfolds. | | | | 3) Skip the Travel |
| Before: I was really excited when I woke up | | | | Ever noticed in the movies we never see the |
| because today was the first day of the school | | | | hero travel, the movie just cuts to the scene |
| holidays and we were going to Sea World. I raced | | | | outside the hotel or the house when he/she |
| into the kitchen and gobbled down breakfast and | | | | arrives? We should try and do the same in our |
| then headed back to my room to pack. I put in | | | | writing. Travelling is boring, you don't have to |
| three pairs of bikinis and two bottles of sun lotion. | | | | document it all. |
| At last we all piled into the car and headed for the | | | | TOP TIP: Don't travel - just arrive! |
| airport. I couldn't wait to see the dolphins and go | | | | Before: We all piled into the bus and Michael told |
| on the Super Splash ride. | | | | funny jokes all the way and Chris and Jeremy |
| After: 'Buckle yourself in tight,' said the attendant. | | | | and I ate all the sweets we'd packed until we felt |
| 'This ride goes at 120 kilometres an hour.' | | | | sick. Then we stopped at a roadside café |
| I gulped and nodded. All my life I'd wanted to go | | | | and we all ordered hamburgers but the chips |
| to Sea World and ride the Super Splash roller | | | | were cold and everyone complained. We drove |
| coaster. Now we were here. [Note: Backfill] | | | | for nearly three hours and we were all really tired |
| My sister locked down the safety bar, raised both | | | | when at last we arrived at the ski fields. |
| arms into the air and grinned at me. | | | | After: The snow lay thick and soft on the slopes. |
| 'Dare you,' she said. 'We ride this thing no hands.' | | | | Three hours of travelling and I thought I was |
| 2) Dialogue | | | | tired. Yet the minute I felt the crunch of snow |
| Writing dialogue is another place when writers can | | | | under my boots, I could hardly wait to get |
| start 'too early'. Normal conversations often begin | | | | moving. |
| with clichés and standard questions. This is | | | | If we detailed every single thing in our lives, from |
| a getting-to-know-you time, when people are | | | | the time we opened our eyelids, yawned, turned |
| looking at you, reading your body language and | | | | over in bed, mumbled, yawned again... it would |
| reacting to your tone of voice. Words and what | | | | probably take a whole book just to cover a few |
| you are actually saying take second place. How | | | | days. Good writing focuses only on the highlights |
| many times have you heard and said this: | | | | (and low times), of lives, not the boring and |
| 'Hi, how are you?' | | | | ordinary. Show your children this and see their |
| 'Fine thanks.' | | | | writing skills - and their confidence - forge ahead. |