My Boxing Day style tip is to do with repetition -- in literature, as in life, it is better not to say the same thing twice. If you use a word twice (yes) your writing can seem slack. It's better to think of a different way of saying something.
So, try not to use an eye-catching word or phrase more than once in the same book, never mind in the same chapter or, heaven forbid, on the same* page. It’s worth going to extra trouble to find a fresh way of conveying your thoughts. It will stretch you as a writer and keep your prose sharply focused. Repetition can come across as laziness - if you love words, find new ones every time.
* It's okay to repeat things for emphasis, or to set up a lyrical echo, but not otherwise if you can help it.
Back to the mince pies now...
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