Faygo indeedio!

I'm working on manuscripts for the critique sessions at Murder Goes South.

One of the things I'm noticing (and I also see this in queries a lot) is the tendency to over write. Not all things need to be explained. In a moment of high dudgeon we know the hero is hitting the steering wheel with frustration. We know he's frustrated because of what's happening. You don't need to tell us.

The problem with writing everything is that it ruins the pace and rhythm of your paragraphs. It's as though the little bouncing ball in the Faygo ad hits every letter, not every word. We can't tell what's important, what to focus on.

Your readers will fill in the expected: he hugged his mom lovingly. Only if it's killingly would we need an adverb.

Let your writing bounce, not plod.