“25 Tips to Punch Up Your Writing”

@BrooklynWeaver tweeted this yesterday, an article with 25 writing tips. Considering it is from Entrepreneur, I was surprised at how many of them actually apply to screenwriting. I’ve highlighted a few of the most relevant tips:

3. Read aloud. There’s no substitute for reading your words with your ears as well as your eyes. Read aloud to catch mistakes and get a sense of flow.

4. Use active verbs. Active verbs add power to your writing and carry paragraphs forward. It’s not that you can never use passive voice, but use it strategically.

5. Choose your words carefully. Seek opportunities to use precise, descriptive language that helps readers visualize and experience what you’re saying.

6. Eliminate empty modifiers. Many adjectives and adverbs don’t provide information and are mere filler (words like really, very, etc.). Avoid them.

8. Don’t be afraid of simple sentences. Though you should vary sentence structure, don’t be afraid to add a simple sentence structure to the mix. Short and simple is often the best way to communicate your main idea.

14. Break up paragraphs. In most media, shorter paragraphs will work to your advantage. This is true on the Web, in marketing materials, and on social media.

Every single one of these tips is directly relevant to current screenplay style. And then there’s this meta one:

12. Read good writing. Whatever kind of writing you’re doing, read good examples of it regularly. This will influence your work.

Read scripts! Yes, my typical harangue. And you can expect more of it tomorrow. Reading scripts is that important to learning the craft of screenwriting.

For more of the 25 writing tips, go here.