literature

Hopefully Helpful Writing Tips

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Published: Jul 5, 2013

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First of all, I've never done one of these before, so bear with me. Second of all, this is for fictional prose. Third of all, just remember that there is no correct way to write! This is just how I do it.

Also, this is organized into parts of the tutorial, this is not any true order!

Brainstorming ideas

-Now, I'm actually not a terribly creative person. A lot of what I do is taken from real-life experience--- something that's happened to me, or I want to happen, anything of the sort. This is especially good when you're writing fanfictions, where you already have a world established and are wanting to show different sides of that world.

-However, sometimes this runs you dry. No one wants to read something entirely ordinary, which is what an everyday routine is. At this point, I usually turn to music. I'll put on a song I haven't heard in a while, or whatever is stuck in my head at the moment, and usually from there an idea or two will come.

-Not one for music? That's okay! Art can do the same thing, or food, or anything you truly enjoy. As long as it inspires you, it's good for this purpose!

-Take time to observe people. Not just friends, (though friends are very fun to observe!) but strangers on the street as well. The key to being able to write prose with people is understanding that not everyone acts the same. How I react to something could be totally different than how you react!

Characters

-Let's say you've already got your idea. But you have no idea what kind of character you want. Well, think about it! In order for your idea to play out correctly, what does the character need to have? Maybe you want to write about a practical joke, make your character a prankster! (Or perhaps the one being pranked, whichever serves your purpose better.)

-Names do not have to define a character. Just because this boy's name is John Smith, doesn't mean he doesn't have the most fascinating adventures! Same on the other end of the spectrum, just because her name is Makreana Tallisam, doesn't mean she couldn't be the most stereotypical, dull person you'll ever meet.

-However, names do make a difference in whether people will stick with a story. A name with a strange spelling will be difficult for people to pronounce, making them frustrated as they go along. (Is it Uh-lee-uh? Uh-lay-uh? Ah-lay-uh? Ah-lee? And the name is just Alea!)

Organization

-Alright, you've got your idea and your character. Now how do you organize your thoughts? There are tons of different ways; some people like webs, some like a prewrite, some dive in headfirst with no idea where their story is going.

-I wouldn't recommend the last one; you should at least know the basic plot of your story, know how it's going to end before you start it. Prewrites are definitely helpful for this, and there's no specific format you have to use--- bullets are perfectly fine, just as much as any standard note-taking format! Just remember, save the detail for the story. Prewrites are meant to sketch out your thoughts.

-Alas, organization is one thing I'm not very good with. What I do with multi-chapter stories is create scenes in my head, write those out first, and then begin to link them with prose in between. Unfortunately, often before I finish these stories, new inspiration hits me.

-When writing one-shots, it's good to just go as you see fit. Because these are only one chapter long, it's a lot easier to write them in one go, and if you let them flow, I promise you they will work better. You can go back and edit after you feel you've come to a good stop.

Phrasing

-To me, this is the most fun part of writing. Phrasing is important because it creates the imagery of your story; it's what allows people to envision exactly what you're talking about.

-You may have heard the phrase "show, don't tell" when it comes to writing. I cannot emphasize this enough. A good author doesn't need to stick his or her character in front of a mirror and list off physical traits in order for the reader to get a good idea of what they look like.

-For example, take something that is telling. "She had curly brown hair and bright blue eyes." See how obvious that is? It's boring, and I don't care if she's the prettiest person on the planet, when you put it like that, no one is going to care.

-A better way to keep people interested would be along these lines. "Twirling a bronzey ringlet, she batted the long black eyelashes that shaded her stunning cerulean eyes." Through this, not only does it hook the reader, it puts a better picture in their mind as to exactly what shade her eyes and hair are. Plus, it even adds that her eyelashes are long and black!

-Sentence variation. Please, for the love of anything you hold sacred, do not start every sentence with he, she, or I. There are verbs, adjectives, articles, and other parts of the language for a reason. It can get difficult in first person stories, but my general rule is this: only begin the sentence with "I" when you absolutely have to, or you want to make a point.

-Which brings me to writing style! Some writers have a very casual style of writing, while others can feel more uptight. You'll develop your style as you continue to write, but remember that you're allowed to flipflop. And never feel limited by your style--- if that ever happens, try something new! No one will judge! (And if they do, send them to me. Kidding!)

-There's also word choice. Consider exactly who you're writing for--- would a bunch of teenagers want to read about a girl walking down the road to school, or would they rather hear about the seudctive hip sway when she slinks along the sidewalk? The first one gives a very different feel!

If there's anything else you guys would like me to talk about, comment and I'll do my best to add it!