Charles Gull
In my experience, there is no one thing that ensures the success of a fledgling writer as they set off on this adventure for the first time. Furthermore, the kinds of things that are of benefit change from situation to situation.
For example, people often recommend that you write 'about what you know'. Well, I write about monsters, magic and space ships. I haven't experienced any of those! However, I think this is not really about journalism. It is all about inspiration.
Don't simply copy and paste real life situations into an out of context scene. Instead, use your experiences and memories like ingredients when you bake a cake. Take little bits from each of your memories and mix them together in a new and original way.
For instance, when you want to write about a particular character having a particular emotion. Don't simply describe yourself last time you felt that way. Instead, remember all the little individual things that had to converge before you could feel that way. Try and find parallels in the story you want to write. Long before you start describing the emotion itself, you need to start weaving these causal threads into the narration. You spread a net that gathers the reader in so that they can not only read but also experience what you are describing.
When I strive to achieve this in my own writing, the results feel far more genuine rather than contrived and invented.
For example, people often recommend that you write 'about what you know'. Well, I write about monsters, magic and space ships. I haven't experienced any of those! However, I think this is not really about journalism. It is all about inspiration.
Don't simply copy and paste real life situations into an out of context scene. Instead, use your experiences and memories like ingredients when you bake a cake. Take little bits from each of your memories and mix them together in a new and original way.
For instance, when you want to write about a particular character having a particular emotion. Don't simply describe yourself last time you felt that way. Instead, remember all the little individual things that had to converge before you could feel that way. Try and find parallels in the story you want to write. Long before you start describing the emotion itself, you need to start weaving these causal threads into the narration. You spread a net that gathers the reader in so that they can not only read but also experience what you are describing.
When I strive to achieve this in my own writing, the results feel far more genuine rather than contrived and invented.
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