Smiley Face Smiley Face TricksTricks

Tricks of the writing trade to Tricks of the writing trade to help you meet and exceed help you meet and exceed

writing expectations.writing expectations.

Ideas developed by Mary Ellen LedbetterIdeas developed by Mary Ellen LedbetterPowerpoint created by Gwen S. ThibadeauPowerpoint created by Gwen S. Thibadeau

Why use Smiley Face Why use Smiley Face Tricks???Tricks???

These writing techniques These writing techniques are common tools that are common tools that

ALL authors use.ALL authors use.

They are proven to add They are proven to add personality, voice, style, personality, voice, style,

and reader interest.and reader interest.

Magic 3Magic 3

A technique A technique writers use to list writers use to list items-the items items-the items

must follow must follow the same pattern.  the same pattern. 

Technically Technically referred to as referred to as

Parallel Structure.Parallel Structure.

M3--ExampleM3--Example

After school each day After school each day I typically drive home I typically drive home with my children, with my children, complete homework, complete homework, and talk about the and talk about the day.day.

Hyphenated ModifierHyphenated Modifier A technique writers A technique writers use to creatively use to creatively describe or rename describe or rename someone or someone or something rather than something rather than using plain one word using plain one word adjectives. A boring, adjectives. A boring, one-word adjective is one-word adjective is replaced by a phrase replaced by a phrase or clause that might or clause that might come to mind when come to mind when the person is in that the person is in that particular situation.particular situation.

HM--ExampleHM--Example

Some of her Some of her students sat in their students sat in their why-do-I-have-to-be-why-do-I-have-to-be-here postures while here postures while

others exuded others exuded eagerness.eagerness.

Repetition for EffectRepetition for Effect While repetition While repetition without careful without careful

consideration can consideration can be tedious and be tedious and ineffective, a ineffective, a

carefully selected carefully selected word or phrase word or phrase

repeated can add repeated can add incredible incredible emphasis!emphasis!

RE--ExampleRE--ExampleThat week, the teachers attended That week, the teachers attended three faculty meetings.  They three faculty meetings.  They went to two department went to two department meetings.  They sat in on one meetings.  They sat in on one collaborative teaching meeting, collaborative teaching meeting, and they held training meetings.  and they held training meetings.  They were ready to go back to They were ready to go back to class just to get away from all of class just to get away from all of the meetings.the meetings.

Specific DetailsSpecific Details

Also known as Also known as imagery, this imagery, this

technique technique appeals to the appeals to the

senses and senses and includes enough includes enough detail to allow detail to allow the reader to the reader to

identify with the identify with the description.description.

SD--ExampleSD--Example

Her car reeked of stale Her car reeked of stale cigarette smoke.  The back cigarette smoke.  The back seat was speckled with seat was speckled with charred black holes where charred black holes where the cigarette ashes had the cigarette ashes had burned what used to be burned what used to be the pale gray plush fabric.the pale gray plush fabric.

Figurative LanguageFigurative LanguageThis technique finds new and This technique finds new and

creative ways to describe people, creative ways to describe people, places, things, and ideas.places, things, and ideas.

Similes—metaphors—hyperbole—Similes—metaphors—hyperbole—personification personification

It incorporates fresh and creative It incorporates fresh and creative similes and metaphors, not cliches.similes and metaphors, not cliches.

FL- FL- ExampleExample

She had graduated. It She had graduated. It wasn’t until then that she wasn’t until then that she had realized what freedom had realized what freedom really was. Finally, she really was. Finally, she was soaring through the was soaring through the air, wings spread wide.air, wings spread wide.

Expanded MomentExpanded MomentThis technique This technique

involves the writer involves the writer leaving the main leaving the main story line to go story line to go

into the into the character’s mind character’s mind

and explain a and explain a related experience related experience

or idea.or idea.

EM ExampleEM Example

After the car accident, I held my After the car accident, I held my father’s head cradled in my lap.  I father’s head cradled in my lap.  I talked to him and tried to keep him talked to him and tried to keep him conscious for as long as possible.  I conscious for as long as possible.  I reminded him of the time we went reminded him of the time we went fishing, and as we tried to load the fishing, and as we tried to load the boat onto the trailer, he slipped and boat onto the trailer, he slipped and fell, scattering fish all in the mud on fell, scattering fish all in the mud on the edge of the lake.  I stood by the the edge of the lake.  I stood by the truck and laughed as he struggled to truck and laughed as he struggled to stand up.  Suddenly, I heard the police stand up.  Suddenly, I heard the police sirens, and I told my father as he sirens, and I told my father as he struggled to keep his eyes open that struggled to keep his eyes open that help was almost here.  He died before help was almost here.  He died before the police arrived.the police arrived.

HumorHumorWriters use Writers use humor for many humor for many reasons... not reasons... not only to create a only to create a connection with connection with the reader and the reader and cause him/her to cause him/her to laugh, but also to laugh, but also to lighten the mood lighten the mood in a tense or in a tense or serious situation.serious situation.

H—Example H—Example

Sitting at the funeral home Sitting at the funeral home waiting for the services to begin, waiting for the services to begin, the old man knew what he would the old man knew what he would miss most about his wife of sixty miss most about his wife of sixty years: her lying in bed waving years: her lying in bed waving the covers up and down, giggling the covers up and down, giggling as she vented her toot.as she vented her toot.

Full Circle EndingFull Circle Ending Writers will Writers will often begin a often begin a piece of writing piece of writing with a key word with a key word or phrase, or phrase, develop the develop the piece, and will piece, and will bring the reader bring the reader back to the key back to the key word or phrase word or phrase at the ending.at the ending.

FCE--ExampleFCE--ExampleShe was fat and happy.  The day she She was fat and happy.  The day she gave birth to her first child was gave birth to her first child was amazing.  Everything was perfect.  amazing.  Everything was perfect.  The child had a beautiful head of hair, The child had a beautiful head of hair, all ten fingers and toes, and slept all ten fingers and toes, and slept rather than crying like most babies rather than crying like most babies do.  Now, as an old woman sitting in do.  Now, as an old woman sitting in her favorite chair visiting with three of her favorite chair visiting with three of her great grandchildren, again she her great grandchildren, again she was fat and happy.was fat and happy.

Practice Makes Perfect!!!Practice Makes Perfect!!!

For the remainder of For the remainder of class and for class and for homework, write one homework, write one descriptive paragraph descriptive paragraph about your day, and in about your day, and in that paragraph, use at that paragraph, use at least least fourfour smiley face smiley face tricks. Come to class tricks. Come to class prepared to share your prepared to share your examplesexamples..