Alexa Donne | Overly Mechanical Writing (& How to Fix It) @AlexaDonne | Uploaded July 2024 | Updated October 2024, 4 minutes ago.
Today I'm waxing whatever on overly mechanical writing, or line level writing that leans heavy on telling, plodding prose--overwhelmingly and to it's detriment. Or, boring, ineffective, bad (or at least mid) writing.
Whether you've picked up a book and just couldn't connect to/engage with the writing, or you're a writer who worries their writing is falling flat, I'm going to share how to identify overly mechanical writing, common pitfalls/facets of it, and some tips for fixes.
This is an aspect of telling and cousin topic to "show don't tell." Also related to narrate vs. dramatize, a topic I've covered before.
To that end, here are related videos you can watch as well
Narrate vs. Dramatize: youtu.be/RiA6t7MOYVs?si=tXi73xk7Evbh3wG-
Filter Word and How to Fix This "Telling" Problem: youtu.be/iF_30btPEI8?si=GFN9-XLGKrfYavxT
"Just" An Adverbs Take Down: youtu.be/xupX7eii5uk?si=veF0MZm0ICLUF4bw
Bad Fanfic Writing Habits You Need to Break: youtu.be/SmbUAKi-ovY?si=4VP_SlUJVFpkREp_
The Worst Amateur Writing Mistakes: youtu.be/yOQqxHKO-0w?si=Ryav5fyeBm184ZxV
5 HUGE Amateur Writing Pitfalls & Their Fixes: youtu.be/ZA0pW97Z6MA?si=S12eE4eWxm5qX-tw
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Introduction/When Writing Falls Flat
03:00 Bad Bestsellers & Reader Benchmarks
05:10 What is Mechanical Writing?
08:45 Facets of Mechanical Writing
13:01 Disclaimer: Everything In Moderation
14:21 Mechanical Writing Example & Analysis
19:30 Approaching Revision of Weak Writing
20:57 Revising (Part) of the Example
24:55 Sentence Rhythm & Flow
28:17 The Dance of Detail
30:03 Vague/Leading Examples & Fixes
35:17 Final Thoughts
MERCH
alexa-donne.creator-spring.com
+BUY MY BOOKS+
Pre-order The Bitter End from your favorite book retailers: penguinrandomhouse.com/books/723189/the-bitter-end-by-alexa-donne
Buy Pretty Dead Queens from your favorite book retailers: penguinrandomhouse.com/books/690465/pretty-dead-queens-by-alexa-donne
Buy The Ivies from your favorite book retailer!: bit.ly/3mkxyYj
Buy The Stars We Steal from Book Depository (ships worldwide!): bookdepository.com/Stars-We-Steal-Alexa-Donne/9781328948946?ref=grid-view&qid=1603728315664&sr=1-3
Buy Brightly Burning from Book Depository (ships worldwide!): bookdepository.com/Brightly-Burning-Alexa-Donne/9781785659423
Buy BRIGHTLY BURNING on Amazon: amazon.com/Brightly-Burning-Alexa-Donne/dp/1328948935/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1500334638&sr=1-1
Get Brightly Burning on Audible.com! audible.com/pd/Brightly-Burning-Audiobook/B07H41CPVC?asin=B07H41CPVC&source_code=AUDOR2220912189OII
AFFILIATE LINKS:
Shop Clever Fox Planners: https://cleverfoxplanner.com?aff=54
Use my code "ALEXA10" to save 10% on your order!
+LINKS+
Goodreads:
goodreads.com/author/show/16817128.Alexa_Donne
Twitter:
twitter.com/alexadonne
Instagram:
instagram.com/alexadonne
Newsletter Sign-Up:
alexadonne.com/newsletter
Website:
alexadonne.com
Wattpad:
wattpad.com/user/alexadonne
+FILMING SPECS+
Camera: Canon 90D
Mic: Rode VideoMic Pro+
Lighting: Limo Studio Soft Kit
Editing Software: Magix Movie Edit Pro
Today I'm waxing whatever on overly mechanical writing, or line level writing that leans heavy on telling, plodding prose--overwhelmingly and to it's detriment. Or, boring, ineffective, bad (or at least mid) writing.
Whether you've picked up a book and just couldn't connect to/engage with the writing, or you're a writer who worries their writing is falling flat, I'm going to share how to identify overly mechanical writing, common pitfalls/facets of it, and some tips for fixes.
This is an aspect of telling and cousin topic to "show don't tell." Also related to narrate vs. dramatize, a topic I've covered before.
To that end, here are related videos you can watch as well
Narrate vs. Dramatize: youtu.be/RiA6t7MOYVs?si=tXi73xk7Evbh3wG-
Filter Word and How to Fix This "Telling" Problem: youtu.be/iF_30btPEI8?si=GFN9-XLGKrfYavxT
"Just" An Adverbs Take Down: youtu.be/xupX7eii5uk?si=veF0MZm0ICLUF4bw
Bad Fanfic Writing Habits You Need to Break: youtu.be/SmbUAKi-ovY?si=4VP_SlUJVFpkREp_
The Worst Amateur Writing Mistakes: youtu.be/yOQqxHKO-0w?si=Ryav5fyeBm184ZxV
5 HUGE Amateur Writing Pitfalls & Their Fixes: youtu.be/ZA0pW97Z6MA?si=S12eE4eWxm5qX-tw
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Introduction/When Writing Falls Flat
03:00 Bad Bestsellers & Reader Benchmarks
05:10 What is Mechanical Writing?
08:45 Facets of Mechanical Writing
13:01 Disclaimer: Everything In Moderation
14:21 Mechanical Writing Example & Analysis
19:30 Approaching Revision of Weak Writing
20:57 Revising (Part) of the Example
24:55 Sentence Rhythm & Flow
28:17 The Dance of Detail
30:03 Vague/Leading Examples & Fixes
35:17 Final Thoughts
MERCH
alexa-donne.creator-spring.com
+BUY MY BOOKS+
Pre-order The Bitter End from your favorite book retailers: penguinrandomhouse.com/books/723189/the-bitter-end-by-alexa-donne
Buy Pretty Dead Queens from your favorite book retailers: penguinrandomhouse.com/books/690465/pretty-dead-queens-by-alexa-donne
Buy The Ivies from your favorite book retailer!: bit.ly/3mkxyYj
Buy The Stars We Steal from Book Depository (ships worldwide!): bookdepository.com/Stars-We-Steal-Alexa-Donne/9781328948946?ref=grid-view&qid=1603728315664&sr=1-3
Buy Brightly Burning from Book Depository (ships worldwide!): bookdepository.com/Brightly-Burning-Alexa-Donne/9781785659423
Buy BRIGHTLY BURNING on Amazon: amazon.com/Brightly-Burning-Alexa-Donne/dp/1328948935/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1500334638&sr=1-1
Get Brightly Burning on Audible.com! audible.com/pd/Brightly-Burning-Audiobook/B07H41CPVC?asin=B07H41CPVC&source_code=AUDOR2220912189OII
AFFILIATE LINKS:
Shop Clever Fox Planners: https://cleverfoxplanner.com?aff=54
Use my code "ALEXA10" to save 10% on your order!
+LINKS+
Goodreads:
goodreads.com/author/show/16817128.Alexa_Donne
Twitter:
twitter.com/alexadonne
Instagram:
instagram.com/alexadonne
Newsletter Sign-Up:
alexadonne.com/newsletter
Website:
alexadonne.com
Wattpad:
wattpad.com/user/alexadonne
+FILMING SPECS+
Camera: Canon 90D
Mic: Rode VideoMic Pro+
Lighting: Limo Studio Soft Kit
Editing Software: Magix Movie Edit Pro
