BACKLOADING TECHNIQUE
Here is a nifty technique to give your writing style more impact: Structure your sentences so the most powerful word comes at the end. The last word touches the reader’s psyche more than any other, so make it count.
Short, evocative nouns, adjectives and verbs are best. Here’s a list for your inspiration: 
death, dead, kiss, lust, treachery, blood, fear, die, kill, deep, cold, heat, dark, boil, pull, grave, grip, grasp, hope, sear, scream, thrill, scar, bone, flesh, skull, wound, pray, pain, soul, child, flee, trap, teeth, curse, escape, safe, love.
These words, on the other hand, have no particular effect: it, then, them, across, through, there, somehow, around, under, of, off, for, that, be, others, his, her.
Often, restructuring the sentence is all it takes, or perhaps adding, deleting or replacing one word.
Before
She knew she had to kill it.
After
She knew she had to kill.
Before
She had a painful headache.
After
Pain pounded in her skull.
Before
He felt the pain then.
After
Then he felt the pain.
Before
A child was in there.
After
In there was a child.
I recommend backloading the last sentence of most paragraphs – but only if it suits the contents. If possible, backload the last sentence of every scene, because that’s where the impact is greatest.
Try it with some sentences in your manuscript, and post the “before” and “after” versions as a comment.
To read about Rayne Hall, and view her publications, click here.
If you would enjoy more writing tips from Rayne Hall, visit her author’s page with book listings and prices.
Reblogged this on Margie's Creations.
Reblogged this on Tara B. Dobbs and commented:
Keeping this as back up for myself as a little reminder for my works.
Great idea! 🙂
What a simple technique but what a huge difference it can make. Thanks for this post 🙂
I am not a professional writer, but these tips have given me inspiration to write more effectively. Thank you for the tips. They will be available.
I hope we will hear from you again, Charleschuckberry. Feel free to write us anytime, if you have any questions or would like to share an experience with us. 🙂
Thank you for your kind words
Sorry it has taken me awhile to respond. I have been reading not writing post to study sentence structure to be a better writer. Thank you for your input
If you have any questions about that, let us know. 🙂
Great tip! I checked through my manuscript and realized this is something I often do without realizing.
Eg. I had changed
It clattered as it hit the shelves behind it.
To
It hit the shelves behind it with a fierce clatter.
I agree, so much better. I shall now look to do that consciously as I edit my work.
Thank you.
It does make a huge difference, Christine. The importance of keeping the reader on their toes (or even their attention) is to use our words carefully.
Simplicity does it each and every time. Thank you so much for these informative and light posts.
Our pleasure Su Halfwerk. 🙂 Rayne does a great job with her reminders. It’s the simple things that we tend to over think or forget. 🙂 She has some books out for purchase if you’re interested in them. They are at the link at the bottom of the page.
Oh, I have her books from Smashwords (Writing Scary Scenes, 13 British Horror Stories, and the first volume of Six Scary Tales.) Whenever you share these links, her name reminds me of the joys of reading her work.