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- Rank: Eccentric Mentor
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@kathleenramm @erinramm @leonfleming @nova21 @e-k-seaver @lewilliams @devastate-lasting @i’m-just-tagging-random-folks-cuz-i-want-someone-to-read-this-so-please-tag-others-if-you-like
So, I’m starting up an “advice column” on my blog for writers/wannabe writers, to answer all the questions–the basic, the obscure, the ones you don’t ask until it’s too late, the little, the important, the publishing questions, the grammar questions, etc–in one place. It’ll be a weekly installment, not too long, one question a post. Now, I have a few already that I’ll answer, but what I want from y’all are the questions you asked when you first began writing, or the questions you should have asked or are asking now. What kind of advice did you get/are getting that has helped you the most? What kind of tips and tricks would you share with a new writer? What are the most important lessons that you’ve learned, whether they be the ones everyone teaches or the ones no one does? (That does make sense, right?) What questions do you have now that you would like to see answered? Yadda, yadda, yadda.
Thank y’all for your help! 😊
– “What is story structure/why does it matter?” (It’s the plot, and a way to plan out your key points and then fill the scenes in between. It matters because it’s a key factor to creating a good story)
– “How do you create characters who are different from you?” (Find out the characters’ motives/fears/defining traits. Sometimes basing them off people you know to start with are good.)
– “How do you successfully edit your story?” (Still working on this one. XD)
The pen is mightier than the sword, but in a duel, I'm taking the sword.
ekseaver.wordpress.com- Rank: Eccentric Mentor
- Total Posts: 1789
@e-k-seaver Good ones! Thank you! 😊 I’m with you on the last one–but I don’t think you can ever be fully satisfied with a manuscript, no matter how many times you edit. 😪
@gracie-j
This sounds really cool! Here’s some questions I asked as a beginner writer:
1. How do you balance description, dialogue, monologue, and action? How do you know how to do the right amount of all four without having too much or too little of one or multiple?
2. How do you avoid writing cliches when all the ideas you have are cliche?
3. How to make each POV feel like a different person when your writing from multiple perspectives?
And my advice for beginner writers is to not worry about getting everything right. It’s okay, and actually necessary, to be a bad writer in order to be a good writer. So learn to write for the love and joy of writing. Because in the beginning, your going to write some pretty bad stuff, which could make you stop writing if your only goal is write an epic novel. So in the beginning write for the love of it, write a ton, and make a lot of mistakes. Writing a lot of bad stuff is the key to writing a lot of good stuff.
Also, to immerse yourself in the world of writing and stories. Become obsessed with everything related to story-telling. Read hundreds of books, subscribe to dozens of writing blogs, listen to all the writing podcasts, watch videos of writing advice and interviews with authors, become friend with other writers (online or in real life), surround yourself in the world of stories and writing. Soak in as much advice from authors and writers as possible, and all your gained knowledge will naturally infuse into your own writing.
Those are my two biggest tips for beginner writers, along with of course being consistent and making writing a daily habit.
What’s the name of your blog? It sounds really neat!
@gracie-j The only one I can really think of right now is: What is good grammar? How do you use it?
So maybe compile a list of common grammar mistakes or something. Good grammar can really boost writing quality.
Lately, it's been on my brain
Would you mind letting me know
If hours don't turn into days- Rank: Eccentric Mentor
- Total Posts: 1789
@devastate-lasting Definitely a good one–thanks! I keep learning more and more about grammar myself, and it’s crazy how many little tiny things there are that even most bestselling prolific authors don’t even know. Like the proper usage of were versus was. Or which versus that. Or even the common I versus me. Or…yeah, it’ll be a long list!
@gracie-j I’ll be back with More Thoughts™ but the piece of advice that has helped me the most (shoutout to my high school screenwriting teacher) is to give your first drafts permission to be absolutely awful. It’s never as bad as you think, but it’s okay even if it is. Just let it kinda suck. You can make it pretty later.
“Seven seconds till the end. Time enough for you. Perhaps. But what will you do with it?”
- Rank: Eccentric Mentor
- Total Posts: 1789
@lewilliams Oh, yes, definitely a good one! Thanks!
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