S.R. Crawford's Blog, page 89
July 16, 2017
Tools to Help you Focus When Writing
Inspirational music
A comfy but not too comfy environment
No noise or other people or distractions
Turn off your phone
Turn off your WiFi
Set a time slot for working
Take breaks
Have notes to refer back to in order to get started and stay on track
Tell people you’re about to write and don’t want to be disturbed
Just free write – it’s very relaxing and takes the pressure off
July 10, 2017
How to Write Every Day
Have a set writing environment.
Have inspiration tools readily available, e.g. Read a chapter before writing or music or a Pinterest board!
Force yourself even when you don’t feel up to it. (You can always edit later.)
Even writing one paragraph is more than you had yesterday.
Discipline!
Tell yourself that it’s important, more important than tv or video games.
Have a timer on your phone for when it’s time to get down to writing.
Set yourself a period of time for continuous writing e.g. “I will write what I can for just an hour” and have no distractions at this time.
Plot out what you may write beforehand so you don’t stare blankly at your screen or notepad.
Try to track or notice when you are most creative. If you can pinpoint when you write best or get your best ideas, then it’ll make perfect sense to sit down and write at that time every day.
Contrary to the last point, though, some people don’t work well when forced to. You have to find what works for you. Try to switch up your routine now and then, and remember to take breaks to stay productive.
Have good vibes around you.
Have good people to remind you.
Never forget what you love about writing and why you do it. Let it push you forwards -writing shouldn’t feel like a chore or punishment!
July 6, 2017
How Life is Like Driving…
Anyone can be good or bad at it at any stage or walk of life.
There’s always someone who can give you advice on how to be better.
When you trust in your ability, you always get to the right destination in the end.
There’s a lot of roads that lead to the same place – you can take your own route.
Sometimes people can drive with you and they knock your confidence – limit the amount of rides these people get.
If you ignore the signs it can be dangerous.
Your parents can teach you but in the end, you need to try for yourself in order to learn.
Everyone has a different style and method of travelling through.
Just because you can’t see your destination, doesn’t mean you’re not on the right road.
You can’t take the fast roads everywhere.
If at first you take a wrong turn, you can always find a new way to the same place.
You’re not allowed to stop suddenly or reverse suddenly, plan out a secure manoeuvre.
Practice makes perfect.
Trying to get everywhere too fast can be dangerous.
Only by exploring do you find better ways to reach your goals.
It’s always better with music.
There’s hundreds of others on the same road as you, but you are unique.
Stay in your lane.
Focus on the road ahead – you can only look back now and again but never leave your focus there.
Things can get really complicated.
Backseat drivers are the worst – trust in yourself.
Sometimes you have to do it in murky conditions.
There’s more than one perspective to take.
Always consider your blind spots.
Always have a hand on the wheel.
Don’t forget to take care of your vessel.
Every vessel needs to refuel and recharge.
If you trust in your ability then you’ll do just fine…
July 2, 2017
Why Writers Rock!
We give life to everything.
We are the creators of the lines those “awesome actors” you love say.
No writers, no films or tv shows.
Take nothing and make it into something.
We build worlds.
We bring people to life.
We make many cry, laugh and fall in love.
We know things…
We unite people.
We help people understand things better.
We are the foundation of all our entertainment – games, tv, films, books, magazines, blogs, YouTube, social media…the lot!
We fill blank pages.
A great world of ideas lurks within our heads.
We are open minded.
We make great friends – but terrifying enemies.
Writers make the impossible, possible.
June 29, 2017
How to Be a Better Writer
Live – I believe that good writers have lived good lives. By good I don’t mean perfect, I mean adventurous and full lives. They’ve loved and travelled and explored and tried many new things. They’ve gone out of their comfort zone and this has helped them learn more about the world they’re writing about.
TV/Films – yes, watching tv or films helps our craft. I’ve been inspired countless times by the awesomeness I watch on tv,so get yourself a Netflix account, now!
Friendships – good writers don’t become hermits. They go out and socialise, at least now and again. This helps fiction writers most because you’ll have a better eye for good dialogue after being a social person.
Mistakes – good writers make mistakes and don’t let them stop them. Make mistakes and then allow them to be critiqued so you can get better. If you’ve never made a mistake, you’re not asking the right people.
Write – the best writers write all the time. They’ve written many different things. They’ve written even when they didn’t feel up to it. Write, write and write some more. This is the only way to get better; practice. Even when you write badly, it’s still worth it because you’ll recognise your own bad writing!
Make sense? Good! Now get to work.
June 28, 2017
Know the Whys of your Story
You have a great story. It’s full of Acton and drama and brilliant characters, right? Well if you don’t know the whys behind all of that, then I’m sorry but you’re story isn’t really that good.
But don’t fear! Here’s some why questions to ask yourself in order to get started!
Why does your character want what they want?
Why does your villain target your protagonist?
Why are people fighting/ in conflict?
Why are your main characters friends?
Why do your main characters love each other?
Why are the events happening now and not sooner or later?
Why do they speak or act the way they do?
Why does your characters make these sections and not those ones?
Why is it set where it’s set?
Why is your world the way it is?
Why?!?!
These are simply a start, but the questions will flood in when you consider your story specifically. In general, you need to know why your story is happening and how. It can’t be as simple as “because it’s awesome, that’s why!” Have real answers, real backstory. It’ll give your story depth even if you never mention half the things – knowing the answers yourself is half the work.
June 23, 2017
How to Write Better Characters
From our last post, you found out that the characters in your work need to be well thought through. But how do you actually make them real? How can you make them shine so that your readers truly engage with them? Well here’s a few tips…
Have them have many relationships (family, friends, partner, pets, colleagues) and have them act differently with each.
Give them a deep backstory even if you never end up mentioning it.
Have them go through hell! #sorrynotsorry
Develop their character, don’t have them stay the same throughout the story. Experiences change people….
Have them make mistakes; be imperfect; be human and relatable and realistic (people fart and have messy hair and sweat!)
Know the basics and then go further (hair, eyes, job, family, relationships etc.)
Always consider their speech! Not every character will sound the same and if they do, they’re not realistic enough (don’t go overboard though and give everyone a different accent.)
Have them have quirks and interests and hobbies and speech go-tos.
June 22, 2017
Why Characters Matter
Your characters are the ones running the story – not you. I’m sorry but your story is theirs, you can’t always control what happens. Sometimes the characters need to decide for themselves. If your characters are real enough, that is…
I’ve read books where you can definitely tell that the characters are simply tools for the story. This is not a good thing. People want the characters to seem real. For them to make realistic decisions based on their personalities, past experiences and their unique situations.
Getting the idea? So here’s a quick fire list of why you need to care more about the characters in your story…
They will be the people hat the readers are living through, so if they don’t like them or connect with them or believe in them, then you’ll lose your reader.
Characters are people and people are important
They need to be the hero or at least the protagonist and that means they need substance.
A flat character is a boring character and a boring character means a boring story.
Characters talk and if your character is underdeveloped then their dialogue will be poor or forced or unnatural, and therefore unbelievable for the reader or dry for them – and dialogue is a big part of the story.
Because they matter, okay!
Stay tuned for a post on how to make your characters work better in your story.
June 7, 2017
Pirates of the Caribbean Film Review
Today I watched the new Pirates of the Caribbean film and I have to say I loved it! So much so, I got out my notebook to take notes because it was inspiring me with new fantasy ideas!
What I liked:
The curses and spells are always so fascinating in these films.
It was hilarious throughout, effortlessly.
The way the characters intertwined was so well done, crazy, but well done.
The ending was heart warming and fun.
The bad guy was so different! I can easily say that I’ve never seen a baddie like him! I loved how he looked and how he spoke – just everything about him and his undead crew!
Jack Sparrow… duh!
Fresh faces – the two youngsters did great; Kaya is a rising star.
Adventures on the sea aren’t done as much so whenever it is done, it’s fascinating and fresh.
So definitely a must see for all, no matter who you are. From a fantasy writer’s perspective, it was spot on!
June 5, 2017
Hey!
I’m just going to introduce my blog, firstly. It will be used to share any writing tips that I’ve found useful. I’ll speak about author life – often with a comedic approach. I’ll review any awesome or inspiring books and films, too. And lastly, about any life stuff that I feel I should share with you all. I’m excited, are you?
