anonymous
asked
D. Alyce Domain:
hi. Im trying to get into writing since others stories/books really influence me (in a positive way) and i want to be the reason why someones smiling.. Do you have any useful advice for beginners ? (trying to doge the common rookie errors ;)
D. Alyce Domain
Hi,
Sure, I have a few pearls of wisdom for you...
First thing, before you actually start writing your story/book, do extensive pre-writing preparation.
1. Do Character Biographies for all the major players in your story. This helps you define their personality better...you, as the writer, get to know them. This way you can write about them more effectively. Have you ever read a book/series...where the character's personality changed? Or he/she seemed to be doing stuff that was "out of character" for that person? Doing Character Bios can help prevent this. It also helps create a more believable, and multi-layered character...(Bios should include likes, dislikes, fears, background, looks/appearance, clothing, quirks, political views, etc, anything that might effect their behavior in the story)
2. Also I would do a plot outline...and/or a timeline of events. This will help you with pacing...keeping it even so you can create a story that unfolds naturally....like peeling an banana (bad analogy, but you know what I mean.) You don't want the action or plot elements to bunch together so all the good stuff happens too soon...or too late. This will cause some readers to lose interest. (Readers are a fickle bunch.)
Also, I got a book recommendation for you...It really helped me write better stylistically. Its all about common errors made by beginning writers. Its called "The First Five Pages" By Noah Lukeman. Its principle aim is to help aspiring writers avoid amateurish mistakes that drastically lower their chances with the traditional publishing companies, but no worries, the knowledge is universal. It applies to your writing even if you're going the indie self-publishing route, like me. Whether you're working with a publishing company (or plan to) or you're doing the self-Pub thing, you want your book/short story/novella or whatever to be written well and to appeal to the reader. Seriously, its uncanny, some of the things he wrote in this book are the exact reasons I (as a reader) sometimes put a book down and never finish it. The book is easy reading and not terrible long, so give it a glance.
Hope my advice helps!
D. Alyce Domain
Sure, I have a few pearls of wisdom for you...
First thing, before you actually start writing your story/book, do extensive pre-writing preparation.
1. Do Character Biographies for all the major players in your story. This helps you define their personality better...you, as the writer, get to know them. This way you can write about them more effectively. Have you ever read a book/series...where the character's personality changed? Or he/she seemed to be doing stuff that was "out of character" for that person? Doing Character Bios can help prevent this. It also helps create a more believable, and multi-layered character...(Bios should include likes, dislikes, fears, background, looks/appearance, clothing, quirks, political views, etc, anything that might effect their behavior in the story)
2. Also I would do a plot outline...and/or a timeline of events. This will help you with pacing...keeping it even so you can create a story that unfolds naturally....like peeling an banana (bad analogy, but you know what I mean.) You don't want the action or plot elements to bunch together so all the good stuff happens too soon...or too late. This will cause some readers to lose interest. (Readers are a fickle bunch.)
Also, I got a book recommendation for you...It really helped me write better stylistically. Its all about common errors made by beginning writers. Its called "The First Five Pages" By Noah Lukeman. Its principle aim is to help aspiring writers avoid amateurish mistakes that drastically lower their chances with the traditional publishing companies, but no worries, the knowledge is universal. It applies to your writing even if you're going the indie self-publishing route, like me. Whether you're working with a publishing company (or plan to) or you're doing the self-Pub thing, you want your book/short story/novella or whatever to be written well and to appeal to the reader. Seriously, its uncanny, some of the things he wrote in this book are the exact reasons I (as a reader) sometimes put a book down and never finish it. The book is easy reading and not terrible long, so give it a glance.
Hope my advice helps!
D. Alyce Domain
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