This series is about mistakes I made as a new writer years ago and what I've seen as a developmental editor.
LOOKING IN THE MIRROR:
Where a character sees themselves in the mirror so the writer has a chance to describe what they look like (for the reader's sake).
Example: With her book bag slung over one arm, Trina rushed out of her bedroom. She wished she had packed her lunch the night before, but she didn't foresee sleeping through her alarm. As she hurried to the front door, she paused at the mirror hung over the foyer table. One last look. She ran her fingers through her long, straight dark hair, frowning at the lack of body. She patted at the slight smudge of lip gloss over her full lips. She always managed to get one cattail longer than the other, but she couldn't fix the eyeliner now. Good enough. Trina yelled goodbye to her roommate and left without locking the door.
EASY FIX:
From this POV, incorporate action that would naturally show this character to the reader. Show she's in a rush by having her mess up a cattail. Maybe her hair gets awkwardly caught in part of her book bag's zipper as she flings the bag over her arm.
ANALYZE YOUR WRITING:
1. Do you like using mirrors to "show" descriptions?
2. How do you show your character to the reader?
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