I'm finally finished judging the writing contest. I've judged seven contests now and I always forget how time-consuming it is, especially the entries that need a lot of work. And then there's the delicate balance between being helpful and being discouraging. I finally decided to highlight things in different colors that need attention (with a key to explain what the colors mean), then put a list of positives and negatives at the end. Then there the tons of judge's ratings and comments. It takes a long time. Have I said that? But I enjoy it because it keeps my writing muscles active while I don't have the time to devote to writing that I'd like.

Here's a few tips I pass along to new writers sometimes. They are all things I've learned from other writers and tons of critiques of my own work.

1. YOU DON’T NEED DIALOG TAGS UNLESS IT IS NECESSARY TO IMPART SOME INFORMATION OR THE SPEAKER IS UNCLEAR WITHOUT A TAG.
2. KEEP THE DIALOG REAL. DON'T HAVE PEOPLE WHO KNOW EACH OTHER WELL SAY THINGS TO EACH OTHER THEY WOULD ALREADY KNOW JUST BECAUSE YOU WANT THE READER TO LEARN SOMETHING. THAT IS CALLED INFO-DUMP AND IT MAKES THE DIALOG STIFF AND UNREALISTIC. LISTEN TO HOW PEOPLE REALLY TALK AND TRY TO EMULATE THAT.
3. DID YOU KNOW THAT THE WORD "THAT" IS ALMOST ALWAYS UNNECESSARY? BE CAREFUL USING IT AND ONLY RARELY USE -LY (ADVERBS) AND –ING (GERUNDS).
4. CAREFULLY CONSIDER THE STRUCTURE OF EACH SENTENCE. AVOID UNNECESSARY PHRASES AND WORDINESS (WHERE POSSIBLE, USE THREE WORDS INSTEAD OF SIX). AVOID PASSIVE SENTENCE STRUCTURE, WHICH IS DISTANCING. PASSIVE STRUCTURE MEANS THE SUBJECT IS BEING ACTED UPON. IE, THE BALL WAS THROWN BY THE BOY. ACTIVE STRUCTURE MEANS THE SUBJECT IS DOING THE ACTION. IE, THE BOY THREW THE BALL. WAS, WERE, HAD, ETC CAN BE INDICATORS OF THE PASSIVE VOICE, BUT NOT ALWAYS.
5. THE PACE OF THE STORY NEEDS TO KEEP MOVING WITH A GOOD BALANCE BETWEEN DIALOG, NARRATION AND ACTION. TOO MUCH OF ANY OF THOSE ELEMENTS CAN MESS UP THE PACE.
6. THERE’S DIFFERENT THOUGHTS ABOUT POV (POINT OF VIEW OR WHOSE HEAD WE ARE IN), BUT GENERALLY YOU SHOULD STAY IN ONE POV FOR AT LEAST HALF THE SCENE, AND USUALLY YOU SHOULD ONLY USE THE POV OF THE MAIN CHARACTERS. ASK YOURSELF WHO HAS MORE TO LOSE WHEN TRYING TO DECIDE WHAT POV TO USE. SOME AUTHORS “HEAD HOP” MORE OFTEN, AND THAT CAN BE ACCEPTABLE IF DONE SKILLFULLY, BUT FOR A NEW AUTHOR, IT CAN BE A RED FLAG TO AGENTS/EDITORS. REGARDLESS, JUMPING FROM ONE POV INTO ANOTHER FROM SENTENCE TO SENTENCE OR EVEN WITHIN THE SAME SENTENCE IS POOR WRITING AND SHOULD BE CAREFULLY AVOIDED.
7. USE EXCLAMATION POINTS RARELY, IF AT ALL, ESPECIALLY IF YOU USE THE PHRASE HE/SHE EXCLAIMED, WHICH MEANS THE SAME THING.

So there's my little opinions, written with confidence as if I am an expert. Sigh. Writing is like a puzzle, only it's a different design for everyone. Why can't there be black and white rules? I guess because then it would be math and not art! :-)