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Archive for writing tips
January 29, 2009 at 7:26 am · Filed under fiction, writing and tagged: author, book, books, fiction, novel, novels, short stories, short story, stories, tips for writers, write, writers, writing, writing advice, writing tips
How does one start a novel? This is the question asked by most newbies, and myself especially. It’s easy to decide what you want to write about, and how the plot will progress. It’s even easy to write the ending – you know that character x will die, with lots of tears spread by all and a great big funeral to wrap it up with. The question is, how did we get to that point? Where did it start, and how do we grab the reader so that they are interested enough to stay with the story. And it doesn’t have to end with Character X dying. It could end with her getting married. Its up to you – but the point is, how do we get to that spot, and how do we start the story off in such a way that readers are grabbed and want to finish the story.
Its the opening lines – they are the most important part. People have to choose where to start. Some authors use the ending as the begining. Example a) Character X was shot at noon today. The shooting is the start, and then the author goes back to explain how and why the shooting took place. Sounds like a CSI story right? Gotta have something to start with in order to catch attention and keep it going. Example B) Getting married and living happily ever after… A little harder to start up. Did they have an affair? Was it love at first sight? What will grab a reader and make them stick with the story?
Different writers open up a novel with different methods. I have included links to various websites that discusse the importants of opening up a story – and each writer likes to use their own theory to start the story. I included the links because they were intresting to me, and the techniques seemed to work. I find that it is up to each author to find their own groove, and to see if these openings will work for them.
Writing World.com Will Greenway- Dynamic Beginings.
Writing World.com Lital Talmore- Where to Begin?
Orson Scott Card on Beginnings
These three examples should help writers discover their own beginnings and what works best for them. Happy writing, and may your beginings grab your readers in new and exciting ways!
January 29, 2009 at 3:29 am · Filed under fiction, writing and tagged: author, book, books, fiction, harry potter, novel, novels, short stories, short story, stories, tips for writers, websites for authors, writing advice, writing techniques, writing tips
One of the things that I am working on as a writer, is improving my characters. I feel that your character is one of the many things that grabs a reader and makes them intersted in the story. If a character is to boring the reader will wander away. If the character is to one dimentional the reader will lose interest. Characters need to be created so that they are believable, and so that people can feel a connection with them. My favorite characters are the ones who are so close to life they feel like a best friend; some authors have made me walk away feeling as if I know their main characters inside and out. Characters should breath personality, and they should push the story forward. They should change with the story, and be more than just one dementional.
I have included a few links from people talking about Characterization for this article. The only way to improve on what you are writing is to read about it, think about it, and breath it for a while. Are your characters ready to grab your readers and hold your interests? If not follow these links to writers who can help you…
C.J. Cherryh - Strong Characters
John Hewett- Creating Memorable Characters
Writer’s Village - Character Building Workshop
James Kelly- You and your Characters
Notice how most of these are from Sci-fi Fantasy authors? Yes, I have a love of that particular genre. The thing of it is, characterization is important across the board, and all of these authors are professionals in their own rights. They had to start somewhere, and it was probably with learning how to craft a good story, and how to create a great, person grabbing, must read about character.
January 20, 2009 at 1:00 pm · Filed under fiction, life, writing and tagged: author, book, books, fiction, novel, novels, short stories, storytelling, writing, writing groups, writing help, writing techniques, writing tips
Hi all!
I’m looking for a small writers group to join. This is one of the things that I have not done, but am interested in doing. I was wondering if any of you who write have joined a group and if you have, which ones do you like? Was your experience good? Bad? Indifferent? I’m looking for recommendations! Please comment and let me know your experiences with writing groups. Thanks 
January 19, 2009 at 1:56 am · Filed under fiction, life, writing and tagged: 10 tips, author, fiction, lists, newbie writers, novel, stories, tips for newbies, tips for writers, writers, writing, writing advice, writing tips
Every new writer needs to do a few things when they are starting out. Since I’m a new writer, I thought I would be able to share with you all the items that I think a writer needs to start out – or at least needs to keep up with the competition. I have gathered this information as I walked the path to self discovery, and learned that no matter if I like it or not, I am a writer. Information has come from various places that I have explored, I just gathered what I deemed necessary all in one place. Hopefully this information will help you out in your writing.
1. A place to write. This can be a home office, a computer, a desk, or the local library or coffee shop. It can even be, as in my case, the bedroom. (My desk is located in the bedroom. Everyone knows not to disturb me when I’m writing.) It should be someplace where you can write in peace, and concentrate on what you are doing.
2. Backup. There are various ways to do this. Google.docs is a good solution. Another solution that people use is printing out a hard copy, or handwriting a hard copy, but that takes a lot of effort, and ink. Yet another solution is to either burn your documents to a CD, or back up on a zip or a usb drive. It doesn’t matter HOW you do it, it just matters that you do it, preferably every time you write. My recent experience with spilling soda over my computer tower is a prime example of how technology can sometimes fail you due to human error.
3. New Writers need to know how to research. They don’t have to love it, but they do need to know how to do it. How else can you write a romantic novel set in the 1800′s so that its realistic? Or write about inner city life if you live in the country? Or heck, how can you describe what’s on a Navy Ship, and how military people live, if you can’t research and connect with the military online?
4. A good internet connection. I know not everyone agrees with me, but hear me out. If you have the internet at your fingertips, you can complete a lot of the research right from the comfort of your home. If you have the internet, you can email potential clients, or work with a group (I recommend joining some sort of writers group – they can be useful when it comes to critiquing your writing. I haven’t joined one yet, so if anyone has a good one they can recommend, please let me know.) You can also connect with clients, look up jobs, find writing tips… as you can see, the list is endless.
5. Access to the local library. This is highly important for both research, and another quiet place to write. It is also a place to work on your writing skills by checking out books by authors you love, and you can also check out books on writing. As an aspiring author, books are our friends, and we should use them, and the local librarian with her recommendations, to our advantage.
6. A “business” email account. This can be something as simple as a gmail or yahoo account to work from. Keep it separate from your personal information, so that you always know what is work related and what isn’t.
7. A paypal account, or its equal could be useful also. Its always nice to have a way for clients to pay you after all.
8. Some writers insist that you need a business checking account – a business account if you will, where all the money related to your writing goes. I don’t know if this is necessary when you are small time, but if you do have a novel in progress, or are a freelancer, this might come in useful. To me it is a optional item on the list.
9. A website. Websites are useful as a way to put yourself out there. They are great for displaying articles, your work, and your bio. This is a way for you to get noticed by the writing community, so when you do put yourself out there, make sure you put your best foot forward.
10. Business cards. Again, one of those optional things. It might be nice to be able to put yourself out there as a professional writer, if you have meetings and important events to attend. It also is a way for people to remember who you are, and that you may have writing services they are interested in. This is especially useful for freelancers.
11. Word of Mouth. Let everyone you know both personal and professional what you plan on doing for a living (even if it -is- on the side) Let them know that you are looking for work related to writing. Let them know you are willing to negotiate rates and availability. Network with everyone you can, because you never know where the next gig – or even the -first gig- will come from.
12. Hard work, dedication, and the willingness to rewrite are all a part of being a writer. The will to write, the knowledge that the pay isn’t great and the hours are long is also important. What matters is that you have decided to start writing, and in making that decision you are changing your life forever.
Good luck, keep the faith, and go where the muses take you. If you have anything to add to my list, please let me know.
January 16, 2009 at 3:00 am · Filed under life, writing and tagged: books, fiction, grammar, grammar for writers, grammer websites, improving writing skills, novels, short stories, writing, writing info, writing tips
One of the things that I suck the most at when it comes to writing is Grammar. I flunked freshman English in High School. (And I call myself a writer.) Freshman English mostly consisted of Grammar being crammed into my head, and the reading of Romeo and Juliet. The rest of freshman English was a blur. Although summer school rocked! but that’s another story.
Anyhow, I decided that I am going to be busy trying to fix up my grammar while I’m writing. I know that we can always go back and edit, but one of the things that I’m going to focus on as a writer is improving the quality of my writing the first time around. Yes there will still be edits, but the edits will make the quality even better still!
So, since this is what I’m working on, I thought that maybe my readers might find some resources helpful. I googled Grammar and came up with all sorts of links. Here are some of the nifty links for your viewing pleasure!
Libraryspot.com has a decient list already written. Check it out!
Grammar Guides.com is a website dedicated to English Grammar.
University of Minnesota has a Online Grammar handbook.
SJLibrary.org has a list of online resourses available.
As I continue to research Grammar in my quest to become a better writer, I will post any links or hints I find. I know that good grammar is one of the keys to being published, and if I ever want to be published I need to work on the grammar part…
January 14, 2009 at 1:05 pm · Filed under fiction, writing and tagged: blogging, blogs, fiction, how to write a novel, novels, snowflake, snowflake method, stories, storywriting, writing, writing tips
I was browsing through my lists of writing links, when I stumbled across this idea and thought that it was perfect to blog about. I have tried snowflaking a time or two – it sometimes works, sometimes doesn’t but I think that is more my own flakiness than the actual method.
The Snowflake Method was created by a man named Randy Ingermanson. The idea behind the method is to basicly take each part of the snowflake and write a part of the outline. The outline/storyline becomes more detailed with each round of writing, and by the end, you almost have all your ideas down. Then, all you have to do is put them together, polish it off and you have a story. Nifty, eh? I like it because it gives me a chance to start out writing in a different way. My explination isn’t the exact Snowflake method, but its sort of close. I highly reccomend reading the webpage and seeing if it is useful to you.
January 11, 2009 at 8:26 am · Filed under fiction, review, reviews, writing and tagged: blog, blogging, blogs, review, reviews, tips, tools of the writing trade, writing, writing tips
Hello everyone!
Are you aspiring writers who would like a constant feed of new tips and tricks on a daily basis? Do you constantly need to go looking for writing how to’s, grammar talk, and articals from a writer’s point of view? Dailywritingtips.com has articals about grammar, writing styles, how to’s, as well as articals about life as a writer. This website is one of my go to places when I am uninspired and I need a pick me up. It doesn’t always have content that is relivant to my need, but it does have a nice archive, the people are good writers, and the links will take me to places that I do need to be.
Go ahead and have a read. Its well worth it.
January 7, 2009 at 2:18 pm · Filed under review, writing and tagged: reviews, writing, writing tips
I started out this blog with the intent on reviewing lots of DIFFERENT things, and to use it as a place for me to practice writing, and create a place on the web.
It seems that what I review most is writing websites. The thing of it is, that there are so many ways to break into the industry I feel that it is probably useful for people to have a place to go to for links on writing sites. If that is the way my website turns out – hey thats ok. I think I’ll follow up on this thought on a different post, but for now, I present the review.
Newbie-writers.com is a website that is geared towards exactly what it says – newbie writers. You see, everyone has to start somewhere! The website contains articles by various people about writing, and the craft of writing. I particularly like the fact that it acknowledges that not everyone is going to be a good writer at first, but that if you take time to learn the craft, and connect with the writing world, and if you practice writing, you will get better. For instance – I know that the sentance I just wrote was a long run on, but I also know that anything I write a month from now will be much better! *Ok, so that was a bit silly of me, but hey, I worked 3rd last night.*
It is a good starting point, and has a little bit for every beginer.
The linke to the website is here at Newbie-writer.com
