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it's all about writing!
I didn't write as much as I wanted to this week, but I can always read articles about writing, right?
Here, I'll share some of them with you too, since I have so many friends who dream about being a writer someday *happy hopeful sigh*
1. I Can't Put It Down - How to Write Compelling Fiction
They all share one 'secret' in common.
Questions.
Reading is not a passive exercise. Not to the brain, anyway.
As you read and take in the information on the page, the brain is trying to work out where the story is going, what significancecertain actions might have. It's also trying to work out puzzles and generally try to second-guess the plot.
Read it all
2. Characters - Give 'Em Some Attitude
The next time you're inventing (major and minor) characters, don't just imagine their physical attributes, try to give them depth by wondering what they would be passionate about or, conversely, have little interest in. What would annoy them - or thrill them?
Give them short term and lifelong agendas, things they are committed to achieving or seeing come to pass. These are the things that will help with your plotting. Once you know what one of your characters would definitely NOT do, your stories will begin to take on a life of their own.
Read it all
3. Description - How is it Done These Days?
Modern fiction is all about action - people doing things, thinking, making links, engaged in puzzle solving and obstacle tackling. Gone are what we take for granted. What things, places and people look like are only included if they are unusual or pertinent to the plot.
[...]
I guess it's because of the communications boom of the past 50 years.
Because of TV, movies, the Net etc, most of us know what things and places and people look like. We only need shorthand notes to work out for ourselves what a 'blonde attorney' or a 'old warehouse' might look like.
Read it all
4. Developing Your Characters
How well do you know your characters? Can your antagonist swim? Can he ski? Does he gargle and brush his teeth every day? If you don't know that, you don't know your character.
Read it all
5. Point of View in Fiction - What's Right and What's Wrong
This is something I really struggle with most of the times. There are very good suggestions in the article.
But in the actual writing, where should we place the point of view? We should already understand that in any given scene we should identify with one character at a time - but which one? The best advice I ever received was that scenes are most effective when told from the POV of the person with most to lose.
Read it all
6. Becoming a Better Writer - A 10 Step Guide
My favourite is this one, and I do it all the time:
A simple technique. Your mother is making tea and you are chatting to her. Take a mental step back and describe the scene.
Similarly, when you're outside, describe your environment as though you were writing it down.
Read it all
7. How to Write Dialogue: Six Ways to Use it Effectively
Dialogue is a tool used by writers to advance the plot, to develop character, to show conflict, to impart information to the reader succinctly, to set the mood for the scene, and to make the reader a part of the action.
Read it all
8. The Fantasy Fiction Formula
I'm not a big Fantasy writer, but I know it's so popular! Especially in the mind of my lovely![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
glenien :)
Many professional fantasy writers will jokeabout 'the formula' for good fantasy because it does exist and good fantasy authors still use it - not because they're lazy but because the fans want it - in fact insist on it!
It has been condensed thus: 'Hero, artifact, quest'. That's it. All you need to start a fantasy novel! Think Froddo, the ring and the journey to Mordor and you'll see what I mean.
Read it all
9. How to Write a Book: How to Develop a Story
Well, the technique that is told in this article is not necessarily created by the author, because that's what we all do :)
Develop the anti-climax first (the middle of the story). I'll make up a story right now, as I type, to show you the process. Once I know what the action scene will be, it will be easy to identify needed characters, and the plot will develop as a normal reaction to the anti-climax. I need something with high drama and tension.
Read it all
I call these anti-climax scenes "visions". I get them from time to time. They can either be for my existing work, or a completely new one (which is the most exciting thing!) For instance, I had my latest book idea while I was going up the stairs while trying not to spill a cup of tea and I saw a pretty lady who was in charge of a matchmaking agency, then came the idea of cupid which lead to the more general and plausible idea of angels, then a whole new universe where angels live among us, humans...
Now you know what I'm writing about :))
10. Writing Tight, Snappy Books
Mark Twain observed, "The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and the lightning bug." Are your words colorful? Specific? Descriptive? Don't have a man "walk." Rather let him amble, stride, stagger, or shuffle along.
Read it all
Here, I'll share some of them with you too, since I have so many friends who dream about being a writer someday *happy hopeful sigh*
1. I Can't Put It Down - How to Write Compelling Fiction
They all share one 'secret' in common.
Questions.
Reading is not a passive exercise. Not to the brain, anyway.
As you read and take in the information on the page, the brain is trying to work out where the story is going, what significancecertain actions might have. It's also trying to work out puzzles and generally try to second-guess the plot.
Read it all
2. Characters - Give 'Em Some Attitude
The next time you're inventing (major and minor) characters, don't just imagine their physical attributes, try to give them depth by wondering what they would be passionate about or, conversely, have little interest in. What would annoy them - or thrill them?
Give them short term and lifelong agendas, things they are committed to achieving or seeing come to pass. These are the things that will help with your plotting. Once you know what one of your characters would definitely NOT do, your stories will begin to take on a life of their own.
Read it all
3. Description - How is it Done These Days?
Modern fiction is all about action - people doing things, thinking, making links, engaged in puzzle solving and obstacle tackling. Gone are what we take for granted. What things, places and people look like are only included if they are unusual or pertinent to the plot.
[...]
I guess it's because of the communications boom of the past 50 years.
Because of TV, movies, the Net etc, most of us know what things and places and people look like. We only need shorthand notes to work out for ourselves what a 'blonde attorney' or a 'old warehouse' might look like.
Read it all
4. Developing Your Characters
How well do you know your characters? Can your antagonist swim? Can he ski? Does he gargle and brush his teeth every day? If you don't know that, you don't know your character.
Read it all
5. Point of View in Fiction - What's Right and What's Wrong
This is something I really struggle with most of the times. There are very good suggestions in the article.
But in the actual writing, where should we place the point of view? We should already understand that in any given scene we should identify with one character at a time - but which one? The best advice I ever received was that scenes are most effective when told from the POV of the person with most to lose.
Read it all
6. Becoming a Better Writer - A 10 Step Guide
My favourite is this one, and I do it all the time:
A simple technique. Your mother is making tea and you are chatting to her. Take a mental step back and describe the scene.
Similarly, when you're outside, describe your environment as though you were writing it down.
Read it all
7. How to Write Dialogue: Six Ways to Use it Effectively
Dialogue is a tool used by writers to advance the plot, to develop character, to show conflict, to impart information to the reader succinctly, to set the mood for the scene, and to make the reader a part of the action.
Read it all
8. The Fantasy Fiction Formula
I'm not a big Fantasy writer, but I know it's so popular! Especially in the mind of my lovely
glenien :)Many professional fantasy writers will jokeabout 'the formula' for good fantasy because it does exist and good fantasy authors still use it - not because they're lazy but because the fans want it - in fact insist on it!
It has been condensed thus: 'Hero, artifact, quest'. That's it. All you need to start a fantasy novel! Think Froddo, the ring and the journey to Mordor and you'll see what I mean.
Read it all
9. How to Write a Book: How to Develop a Story
Well, the technique that is told in this article is not necessarily created by the author, because that's what we all do :)
Develop the anti-climax first (the middle of the story). I'll make up a story right now, as I type, to show you the process. Once I know what the action scene will be, it will be easy to identify needed characters, and the plot will develop as a normal reaction to the anti-climax. I need something with high drama and tension.
Read it all
I call these anti-climax scenes "visions". I get them from time to time. They can either be for my existing work, or a completely new one (which is the most exciting thing!) For instance, I had my latest book idea while I was going up the stairs while trying not to spill a cup of tea and I saw a pretty lady who was in charge of a matchmaking agency, then came the idea of cupid which lead to the more general and plausible idea of angels, then a whole new universe where angels live among us, humans...
Now you know what I'm writing about :))
10. Writing Tight, Snappy Books
Mark Twain observed, "The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and the lightning bug." Are your words colorful? Specific? Descriptive? Don't have a man "walk." Rather let him amble, stride, stagger, or shuffle along.
Read it all
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