Ivy Keating's Blog - Posts Tagged "writingtips"
Pencil Me In
Today, many people are finding that their normal daily routine has been changed due to no fault of their own. If you are someone that feels they need an external stimulus to get motivated, now is the the time to to use effective strategies that can help you structure your day.
Why structure? Structure can help us feel secure in the sense that it gives us direction, purpose, and a path to reach our goals.
Think about something you want to achieve. Maybe you want to finish writing a book or learn how to use a new computer program.
Now, brainstorm - think of all the things you have to do to reach that goal. To learn a new computer program you may have to research what the best program for your needs are, watch a tutorial, upload information, etc. Write out what it takes to reach your goal.
Goals that are grand are usually harder to reach. A good trick is to focus on the step right in front of you instead of thinking about how far you have to go.
Every day, check your list and set aside some time to work on the behaviors you listed. By creating a new schedule for yourself, in absence of your regular daily routine, you may find you can achieve something you didn't have time to before.
Why structure? Structure can help us feel secure in the sense that it gives us direction, purpose, and a path to reach our goals.
Think about something you want to achieve. Maybe you want to finish writing a book or learn how to use a new computer program.
Now, brainstorm - think of all the things you have to do to reach that goal. To learn a new computer program you may have to research what the best program for your needs are, watch a tutorial, upload information, etc. Write out what it takes to reach your goal.
Goals that are grand are usually harder to reach. A good trick is to focus on the step right in front of you instead of thinking about how far you have to go.
Every day, check your list and set aside some time to work on the behaviors you listed. By creating a new schedule for yourself, in absence of your regular daily routine, you may find you can achieve something you didn't have time to before.
Characters and Communication
Characters in novels do not need to follow the same strategies for good communication that we do; they'd be boring if they did. In books, we want to see emotions take over reason and heated exchanges. It's one of the most enjoyable things about reading. We can loose ourselves in the drama. But, do these players have to follow any rules?
Of course they do. Here are my top three communication rules for characters:
The first is, they must stay within the confines of the story. A writer can have a scatter-brained hero - but, a character's way of communicating, no matter how quirky or interesting, cannot derail the reader from the plot or cause unnecessary theatrics. Dialogue must fit seamlessly into the story-line and make sense within the setting.
Characters must listen, but not in the same way that people do. They can choose to respond, ignore, or interrupt, but they must stay within the constructs of their personality. In my book, 'Camouflage', Chief Dermott is not always going to listen politely to his superiors--they are going to have it out!
Lastly, a character's dialogue must sound authentic. People have an established way of speaking that varies with few exceptions. This is even more important for book characters. Any communication that sounds unnatural can pull the reader out of the story. If you're a writer, reading the dialogue out-loud can help you detect awkward discourse.
We love outrageous characters, but even the most dysfunctional ones must adhere to certain guidelines. Fortunately, the rules we follow for "good" communication are different then the ones in books - giving those compelling players room to let loose.
Of course they do. Here are my top three communication rules for characters:
The first is, they must stay within the confines of the story. A writer can have a scatter-brained hero - but, a character's way of communicating, no matter how quirky or interesting, cannot derail the reader from the plot or cause unnecessary theatrics. Dialogue must fit seamlessly into the story-line and make sense within the setting.
Characters must listen, but not in the same way that people do. They can choose to respond, ignore, or interrupt, but they must stay within the constructs of their personality. In my book, 'Camouflage', Chief Dermott is not always going to listen politely to his superiors--they are going to have it out!
Lastly, a character's dialogue must sound authentic. People have an established way of speaking that varies with few exceptions. This is even more important for book characters. Any communication that sounds unnatural can pull the reader out of the story. If you're a writer, reading the dialogue out-loud can help you detect awkward discourse.
We love outrageous characters, but even the most dysfunctional ones must adhere to certain guidelines. Fortunately, the rules we follow for "good" communication are different then the ones in books - giving those compelling players room to let loose.
Not Again
Before a book is published, a copy editor can improve the story by enhancing the writing. It's one of the last steps before a book goes to print. I find this interesting because you might think it's the story itself that would face additional scrutiny, but it's actually elements of the written word.
A common mistake is word repetition. I usually catch redundancies when I reread a page. My second book is going through copy-editing now. Even with all the previous edits, the word "like" was overused, and this will have to be corrected. But, why are these repeats a problem?
Books let readers lose themselves in a world created by the author. Most novels will take hours to read, and good writing is the conduit for an entertaining story. Word repetition can be boring and uninspired. It can also be distracting if it garners attention.
When you're writing, challenge yourself to finding new words and different ways to say the same thing. This one fix will benefit not only the structure but also the readability. Remember, not everything bears … repeating.
A common mistake is word repetition. I usually catch redundancies when I reread a page. My second book is going through copy-editing now. Even with all the previous edits, the word "like" was overused, and this will have to be corrected. But, why are these repeats a problem?
Books let readers lose themselves in a world created by the author. Most novels will take hours to read, and good writing is the conduit for an entertaining story. Word repetition can be boring and uninspired. It can also be distracting if it garners attention.
When you're writing, challenge yourself to finding new words and different ways to say the same thing. This one fix will benefit not only the structure but also the readability. Remember, not everything bears … repeating.
Writing with Flaws
Why is it so hard to find an agent or a publisher? I think one of the reasons is because writing is thought of as an independent undertaking. Yes, when I wrote my last book, I did spend most of my time... alone... writing. But, the process of putting ones thoughts down on paper (or word doc.) is just one part of it. Here are some other key steps to becoming published:
I can't say enough about editing and what I'll call, “basic rules for writing a book.” They include no head hopping, don't repeat words, show vs. tell, and no intensifiers like "very" and "really." There's also marketing. An author has to put together a list of agents and publishers that are open to queries and are interested in their genre. This requires research.
So, why did I title this blog, Writing with 'Flaws'? I wanted to point out that it's unlikely that anyone is an expert on everything above. Your story telling may be great, but you need help editing, or your writing is grammatically perfect, but the action in your story starts way to late. Being able to pick out what you need help with is key to improving your work. The best advice I can give any writer is to open yourself up to criticism. Seek out anyone that will tell you the truth. This is usually not family members and friends. They are more likely to point out what they like, as a means of encouragement. If you're lucky enough to find your "flaws," seek help from professionals in the field. Keep working on your novel, and don't give up.
Finding an agent or publisher is not easy, but it is doable. Always submit your best work. Be open to suggestions along the way. Writing your story is often a solitary experience, but getting published can be a team sport.
I can't say enough about editing and what I'll call, “basic rules for writing a book.” They include no head hopping, don't repeat words, show vs. tell, and no intensifiers like "very" and "really." There's also marketing. An author has to put together a list of agents and publishers that are open to queries and are interested in their genre. This requires research.
So, why did I title this blog, Writing with 'Flaws'? I wanted to point out that it's unlikely that anyone is an expert on everything above. Your story telling may be great, but you need help editing, or your writing is grammatically perfect, but the action in your story starts way to late. Being able to pick out what you need help with is key to improving your work. The best advice I can give any writer is to open yourself up to criticism. Seek out anyone that will tell you the truth. This is usually not family members and friends. They are more likely to point out what they like, as a means of encouragement. If you're lucky enough to find your "flaws," seek help from professionals in the field. Keep working on your novel, and don't give up.
Finding an agent or publisher is not easy, but it is doable. Always submit your best work. Be open to suggestions along the way. Writing your story is often a solitary experience, but getting published can be a team sport.
Be Critical
Writing is a fantastic way to let your imagination go wild! But, for authors, there's a clinical side to it when it comes to editing your work. In life, it is often helpful to observe a situation without judgement and then proceed mindfully. This means to act on the facts in a thoughtful way. As an author weaves their fiction, they too must become a mindful observer. Difficult choices about what stays and what's edited out must be made.
When creating a novel, remember to stay true to your characters throughout the story. If you're building a cowardly person, you must put them in situations where they act afraid. Never assume a reader will know what's in your head. Always provide enough details for scenes to make sense. And, never write something out of context just because it sounds good. A player will not be shivering in the cold if the scene is set on a balmy day. This seems straightforward, but in the passion of writing it's amazing what might flow through. Just like in life, when emotions run high, we can easily say things out of context.
If you're writing for fun, let your imagination go everywhere. If you're writing for publication, take a critical look at what you've put down and be certain characters are accurately developed and behaviors are congruent with personalities and surroundings. When you learn to edit out passages you once loved, be proud you can take the criticism.
When creating a novel, remember to stay true to your characters throughout the story. If you're building a cowardly person, you must put them in situations where they act afraid. Never assume a reader will know what's in your head. Always provide enough details for scenes to make sense. And, never write something out of context just because it sounds good. A player will not be shivering in the cold if the scene is set on a balmy day. This seems straightforward, but in the passion of writing it's amazing what might flow through. Just like in life, when emotions run high, we can easily say things out of context.
If you're writing for fun, let your imagination go everywhere. If you're writing for publication, take a critical look at what you've put down and be certain characters are accurately developed and behaviors are congruent with personalities and surroundings. When you learn to edit out passages you once loved, be proud you can take the criticism.
