Photo by Michael Dziedzic on Unsplash
Remember, readers have an easier time of visualizing what is there rather than what is removed.
In a recent edit:
As the youth spell turned back time, his hair changed to tar black and most wrinkles were removed from his face.
Recommended change:
…and a few wrinkles remained on his face.
Give your readers clear visualizations.
Don’t write: an object was missing from the desk.
Write: a cleared space in the dust indicated something was missing.
Your readers can’t see the missing object, but they can see the results of it missing.
Don’t write: John realized there was an invisible person in the room with him.
Write: John eyes said nothing was there, but his ears heard a shuffle.
(Okay, both the Write and Don’t Write suggested above have filtering problems…let’s try the invisibility unfiltered.)
Don’t write: The invisible lad tiptoed through the room.
Write: Little creaks crackled the wood flooring from the bedroom to where the cookies were cooling in the kitchen. John tracked the mischievous child with his ears.
If the readers (and the point of view character) can’t see it, tell us what they either can see or provide details through other senses. Stop giving descriptions like someone handing out rural driving directions. Have you ever gotten directions like “Turn at the barn that burned down last year.”? This is useless. It’s useless in writing too. Direct your readers better. Write what the Readers CAN experience.
Do you see how this works?
Yes, it makes sense.