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What makes a writer better?
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One thing I'd add to that is studying up on the basics of grammar and keeping up to date with the book industry. Just know the process of getting a book published and what publishers want. And, of course, keep writing and studying up on how to write better. You have to be committed to learning and improving all the time. Great advice!
I think one of the best ways to improve as a writer is to read and read a lot. And not just within your own genre.
So Neil Ostroff, what you are saying in essence is, practice, practice and practice some more in every way you can?
Writing must be edited to the fewest words possible, thus making the best writing better.
Geoff, what are the chances of getting you to create something instantly right here right now...say a novel in ten words?....Go!
A good writer knows how hard it is to edit her own work.
Practice and criticsm as much as we hate those daunting reviews, and yes, Sam, reading outside your genre. I'm laughing here because I recently read Sam's novel and I don't usually read horor. It was wonderful!I have found several authors over the years that I started reading after they'd become well established. Going back to read earlier works, I find myself disappointed. You can definitely see how their writing has evolved.
And Neil, it's funny you should mention people watching. It's one of my favorite pastimes. I'm an inveterate eavedropper in restaurants and airports, not because I want to know what they say so much as how they say it. I watch their facial expessions and hand gestures.
I don't think a good writer is ever satisfied with their work and there is always the danger of over editing. When is your product good enough? Can my readers close their eyes and picture the scene in their mind or is it only in my head and not conveyed on the page. That's where my beta readers are invaluable to me. A good beta reader is worth their weight in gold.
Hardwork, keep writing and learning from mistakes
I'd just like to add:A great writer isn't afraid to break paradigms, and develop a unique style that eventually becomes universally regarded, even if it may seem unorthodox to begin with. Examples such as James Joyce and Edouard Dujardin come to mind.
I guess with enough practice as well, a great writer ulimately learns to produce novels that bear no striking resemblance to one another in terms of voice. If, as an author, you can produce two novels that read nothing alike--I'm not talking about difference in genres here--then that's a mark of exceptional skill as well, in my eyes at least.
M. Reed
I think immersing yourself in your writing as fully and as often as possible is the thing to do. Staying in close proximity to the characters whilst maintaining that sense of detachment that allows you to pull a story together is a tricky balancing act. I think it just comes with practice.
The ability to be merciless and be willing to cut, cut and cut your work to that which is really needed remains, and superfluous material is junked.Be willing to listen to advice, take it on board and adapt your writing.
Do your research, ensure you know and understand your topic. Many writers fail in this regards, and it’d be a shame to let yourself down with shoddily researched material.
Keep a notepad with you at all times, write your ideas down, even if you don’t use it, it may spark a bit of genius later.
Listen to how people communicate, annunciate, and vocalise their feelings and opinions. Copy this is your writing and you will have realistic dialogue.
Jacqueline wrote: "... and yes, Sam, reading outside your genre. I'm laughing here because I recently read Sam's novel and I don't usually read horor. It was wonderful!"You just made my day... again!
What makes a writer better is drawing upon life experience first and foremost. The more you bring real emotions, real conversations, real situations you've experienced in life ... and are capable of turning them into something creative ... the better you'll be at expressing through words.
Sherri wrote: "One thing I'd add to that is studying up on the basics of grammar and keeping up to date with the book industry. Just know the process of getting a book published and what publishers want. And, of ..."I couldn't agree more. Talent can only take a person so far; a good educational foundation is fundamental to good writing. Some might disagree with me, but I think every author should study grammar and literary theory.
I also agree that writing as often as possible helps authors to hone their craft. Stephen King has it right when he says we're never finished learning and refining our art. Reading is equally as important, as is the willingness to take criticism and learn from it.
The thing for me was to join a writing group. It made such a world of difference to my confidence to have people honestly comment on my stories and tell me they liked them.It also forced me to write something every week and to be creative every week whether I wanted to or not. And write things outside my genre and stretch myself.
Constructive criticism by other, more experienced authors, may help. It helped me to take a closer look at what I wrote, and check if I'm being clear enough, if a word doesn't make sense, if the story is incoherent.
Yes I'd agree with you about 'time', Neil. I find the more I write the easier it becomes and the more confident I feel about putting pen to paper. Gathering as much feedback as possible and listening to it is hugely beneficial. There are lots of people out there who are absolute naturals. As for me I'm going to take up the challenge of blogging on a more regular basis. It's got to be worth a go.
Thank you all. Great advice and insights into "the life".
Language isn't always about being concise. I think it's about rhythm: long sentences that flow well are extremely useful if you know how to construct them. They also make the short sentences stand out. The easiest way to master flow is to read what you write out loud - preferably to somebody else. I always read my books to my wife and then edit them based on how they sounded.
Andrew wrote: "Language isn't always about being concise. I think it's about rhythm: long sentences that flow well are extremely useful if you know how to construct them. They also make the short sentences stand ..."Rhythm really is the key at the higher end of writing. It inflitrates by gentle osmosis and gives a flow that keeps a great story effortlessly rolling.
Thanks everyone. This series of observations is really great!
Trying to understand people. People who aren't like us, who believe/think/behave in ways that are strange to us. I believe that 90% of good writing is understanding the psychology of character and what those characters are going through and, let's face it, we can't just write thinly-veiled versions of ourselves over and over, can we?
Believe it or not, I rarely ever base a character on my own personality, mostly it's others I use. I have more than 80 characters in my twelve novels so it's kind of necessary.
Over the years I've really struggled to write quality fiction, long after all the classes, workshops and lectures were over, I've come to a tough decision. If you're a good writer, chances are that you were born with a big chunk of the storyteller's talent. You can spend all your money to have other people tell you how to "be" a better writer; but for the most part (assuming basic grammar, punctuation, spelling and structural skills are attained), all that does is teach you how they made themselves a better writer, or tell you what some third party said. Nope. IMHO, the only way to become a good writer (if you have the seeds) is to write. Again and again and again, until you've learned to be honest with your own voice and your own stories. It's a process that is never over, no matter how many awards or certificates you amass. No matter how many formulaic tips you digest. Writers should never stop learning or stop doing. Even the best occasionally pen junk.
What makes a better writer? For me, it's when a writer's creativity flows freely. When the reader can just feel the emotions the characters are feeling. When the author makes everything seem so realistic that you feel like your the character.
Writing is basically talking through paper. Your telling the story and you want your reader to know what its about,and what they need to know. That makes you a better writer. Its communicating through the cover down to the last pages and your still hung up by every word.
Richard, this might sum it up. You can learn grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure, but you can't learn VOICE. You can learn how to access it if you have it, though.
Neil wrote: "I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what makes a writer better. Certainly, you have to be creative, that’s a given, and you have to love stories and reading. But what is that will make you better..."One thing makes a writer better: reading better.
There is an emotional component in writing. I can tell the difference when I'm writing from the heart, or I should say the character's heart, and when I'm not. If I drive myself too hard, set deadlines for myself etc., then it is all coming from my head and the characters don't take over. I can make up stories but they don't feel real. I believe I can tell, when reading a book also whether or not the author was writing from the heart. Take some of my favorite best selling authors, for example, I liked some of their earlier books the best and they felt like they came from the heart. There are two that I can think of who used their main characters up and their novels became boring. It was like the authors heart was no longer in it.
Critiquing other people's work. I'm in a novel writing group, where all we do is read each other's full manuscripts, and I've learned so much about pacing and structure from looking at these drafts from a reader's point of view. I see where my attention wanders, or where I feel confused or disconnected from the characters, then figure out what has bumped me out of the manuscript. That kind of diagnostic practice has been invaluable for my own revisions.
What do I mean by that?
With the exception of a few very talented people, most writers take years to hone their skills. Some writer’s like Stephen King say that a writer’s schooling is never finished. That writer’s always have something more to learn about the craft. There’s always a better descriptive phrase or character trait out there in the field of the imagination. And I do believe that.
A few things that I’ve learned over the years that have helped make my stories better is blogging. I try to post every two or three days if possible. The constant pressure of trying to come up with a subject and then write a post for the world to see has honed my storytelling skills. A now famous newspaper journalist-turned-novelist once said that the daily articles she provided for her editor prepared her for the rigors of writing a full scale novel. This writer’s name was Jennifer Weiner, bestselling author of numerous chic-lit novels.
The other thing I’ve learned about becoming a better writer is you have to talk to yourself a lot. I mean a lot! I know it sounds crazy but a few of you will relate. Tell yourself stories during the day. Make up things about people you pass on the street. I spend a good portion of my social activities imagining things about people I see, sometimes talking out loud to my wife about the fantasy lives I’ve concocted about these folks. She’ll look at me a little weird.
The last quick note I want to say about becoming a great writer is that you must write something every day. I know everyone’s heard that a million times but it’s so true. It makes you better and faster. My first novel took me three years to complete, my eleventh novel took one. And now I’m in the throes of a four book dystopian novella series that I’m planning one complete book every three months.
Writing is a profession as difficult as any. You can’t take a magic pill or a single college course and learn all there is to the craft. A real writer knows this and knows with time they will only get better.
http://www.neilostroff.blogspot.com