Keep it Tight

          I have an interesting activity about quality writing called the Four Unities: Time, Place, Character, and Action.
          Ask yourself these questions about a recent piece of your work:

• Does it happen in as short a time as possible?
• Does it happen in one place or as few places as possible?
• Do I use only as many characters as are strictly necessary?
• Do I only include an action or detail if it's vital to the plot?* If I have subplots, do they all significantly contribute to the main plot?

You should be able to answer all these questions "Yes!" They lend cohesion and coherence to your work. (The Four Unites are an Ancient Greek concept, by the way.)

*Chekhov's Gun: Don't put a loaded gun on the stage if nobody is going to fire it.