Page 34 - Voices-2022.05

JUST WRITE
Serial Killer 103: Secrets
Ken Coomes, DTM
We’ve talked about outlining, keeping your
story progressing, avoiding the information
dump, and being ready to improvise. I’m sure
you recognize the value of following these same
tips when you’re writing your speech or at least
preparing one.
Secret #1: Prepare to improvise
We could probably go down a rabbit hole here
but let me just mention two ways to be ready
for interruptions or distractions when you are
speaking.
The first one you’ve probably heard before Secret #2: Keep your characters compelling
and maybe one you practice, relates to timing.
Figure out how to wrap your speech up quickly
if you see the red light (or flag). Maybe you drop
one or two of the points you haven’t made yet;
or perhaps you share them as bullets, without
details or embellishment.
The second comes from Rory Vaden’s
book, No Laughs to Know Laughs, and Melvin
Helitzer’s book Comedy Writing Secrets. I’ve made
it my own and delivered it in a couple of speeches
as a tip, and I’ve practiced it when called for. The
secret is to have a stock line or two prepared in
advance for those interruptions or distractions
that are most likely to occur.
I believe you see how this applies to your
writing as well, but in case you have “morning
34 ONE COMMUNITY
brain,” (I often do) I’ll make
the connection here. When
you’re writing any piece that
has a word limit, such as an
article for Voices!, or serial
fiction, figure out how to
shorten that award-winning,
novella-length close you had
in mind when you started.
Or how to move it to the
next installment.
When you are speaking, don’t allow yourself
to digress from your main story by tossing in
a comment about the tardy student wearing a
Led Zeppelin T-shirt just because you thought
of it. If that student is relevant to your story, add
more that makes them compelling.
In writing, there should always be
“background” characters, or “extras.” But your
readers should want to get to know more about
your main characters. Make them real, make
them relatable, and don’t make them boring.
Remember that “info dump” we’re
avoiding? Don’t spend the next sixteen pages of
your novel giving the entire backstory of your
protagonist (even though you should probably