I’m dissecting the article Hunting Down the Pleonasm, by Allen Guthrie, using it as a cattle prod to search for little nasties in my manuscript. Yep, you can join in the fun, too. Let’s take a looksee at topic #15
15: While it’s good to assume your reader is intelligent, never assume they’re psychic.
Ha! You all KNOW exactly what I’m thinking all the time DON’T YOU??????
I am sooooo guilty of this that it’s not funny. The thing is, that I can’t pick up on it myself. This is where my beta readers are indispensable to me.
I know what I’m thinking, so a scene “looks” the way I want it in my head. The problem is, I don’t always show or describe the scene to my readers. Since I have not mastered this myself, I cannot give great advice on it… but I can say that if your beta readers “don’t get it” your readers will not have that psychic link either. Trust your betas. They’ll tell you when they have no idea where your characters are.
Have you ever had a scene just start up, and never told the reader where it is? Then you’re guilty too!
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While it’s good to assume your reader is intelligent, never assume they’re psychic.
Why beta readers are indispensable to even the greatest writers.
Click here to tweet: Your readers aren’t psychic. Rule #15 of 32 Simple Rules to the Writing the Best Novel Ever from @jennifermeaton http://wp.me/p1HIMV-1Fq
Jennifer M Eaton 
Guilty. 😉
Ouch. You hit something important to remember here.
Ha! Ford that mean you’re guilty?
Oh so guilty I am! I’ll think a scene or clues are too obvious, and betas tell me they’re totally lost. Thank heaven for them!
Totally.
Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
WRITING…A NOVEL…TAKES STRATEGY!!!!!
This poet agrees with you. Give ’em a taste and a framework then make them hungry fr more! 🙂
🙂
Yep, Beta readers have saved me little things like my mc wearing sunglasses when it’s night, lol.
What? You mean he’s not Corey Hart? 😉
Awe- you beat me to it 😦
Ha! Isn’t that an old song by Cory Heart?
When I write “it” I have to make sure readers know what “it” is.
That’s a tough one. I always try not to use “it”
Guilty. I’m so sure I’m waayyyy too obvious and then someone says, “I don’t understand.”
great point. It is a fun little dance to give the reader just enough info to fill in the scene and yet not over do it.