You may have heard most, or all of these, before. But I have seen the importance of them, how easy they are to implement, and how much they have improved the quality of my writing.

1. Replace many, if not most, dialogue tags with action beats.
2. Take note of words or phrases you overuse and use “search” in your word processing program to root them out.
3. Short, clippy sentences work best in action scenes.
4. Beware of “that.”

Those are easy fixes. Now to some deeper, hard truths for aspiring writers out there.

You do NOT need an English degree or an MFA to be a writer. But you need to educate yourself on grammar and style. You can do this without a degree and without paying for official courses, easily.

Read blogs about grammar. Buy a cheap, second-hand style and grammar guide. Read good, well-written books in addition to the above and soak it up by osmosis.

1. You need an editor. Everyone needs an editor. Editors who write fiction need an editor.
2. You need to know basic grammar. If you are going to be a writer, and market yourself a writer, you need to know how to wield the tools of the trade. That means GRAMMAR. You need to know how language works.
3. Do you know what a direct address is? How to mark it in written English?
4. Do you know the difference between first and third person, omniscient and limited point of view?
5. Do you know the difference between a dependent and independent clause? A clause and a phrase? A gerund and an infinitive?
6. Do you know how to pluralize? How to use apostrophes? Are you FULLY aware that apostrophes do not pluralize, but indicate possession?
7. Do you know the difference between its and it’s?

Too many independent authors have taken no time to educate themselves about these things. And if you aren’t going to market yourself as an author and writer, it’s almost certainly ok if you haven’t. But if you’re going to write, educate yourself. It’s a responsibility you have. You owe it to yourself and to your readers.