"Writers". Feh.
You know, I don't usually feel like I'm a particularly talented writer.
It's not until I have to read other people's writing that I feel like I have any talent at all.
Sadly, when I do (as I am now) I am usually fairly shocked at how poorly people write.
So, here are a few guidelines inspired by the writers in my English 321 class. Consider them a collection of helpful hints for when you do NaNoWriMo - or write at all.
1) Tense. Yes, it's important. Unless you really, really know what you're doing - pick one and stick to it. Bouncing between them does no one any favours.
2) I should have to say anything about spelling, grammar and the like... But "where he had wakened up"? Really? You're fired.
3) Learn how to write dialogue. Even just a little would help.
4) When the characters in your story are stereotypes, your story fails. Characters should, ideally, be pretty multi-dimensional, okay? Particularly the central ones.
5) When a character is chasing another, red-faced, down the street for sleeping with his daughter, he's probably not going to bring you tea when he catches you. I don't know what world you live in, but fiction needs causality. If it doesn't make at least a little sense, I don't want to be forced to read it.
6) If you're going to send a character into the wilds on page two, try not to forget about him by page ten. Don't introduce things you're not going to use. It's sloppy.
7) Among the things I want in a story is for it to go somewhere. If all I get is "Then I saw a dog. Then the dog chased me. Then I got away. Then I saw a bird. I thought 'birds are nice'. Then I went home.", I'm not going to be very impressed. If you're going to tell a story, make sure it's worth telling for someone.
8) Which brings me to this: Generally speaking, something should change for at least one of your characters by the time the story is over. It doesn't have to be a big thing. Generally speaking, though, I want a reason the character is telling this story. Not another day in the life, you know? Give me a turning point for one of your characters.
9) A climax to the story would be good. You know, some moment that stands out. That turning point, for example...
10) No character is perfect. No one is a little angel. Stop identifying so much with your characters that you're unable to let them fuck up. They need to fuck up. Just like you. It's how they grow.
There will be a million exceptions to these rules. I'm sure anyone can find at least a few. That said, we learn the rules first, we break them afterward. It should not be hard to get the basics of all this down. Really.
This is an intermediate writing class. No one should fail on these points.
For those of you doing NaNoWriMo, good luck. For those of you who aren't, write something.
Thanks,
~HelixNine
It's not until I have to read other people's writing that I feel like I have any talent at all.
Sadly, when I do (as I am now) I am usually fairly shocked at how poorly people write.
So, here are a few guidelines inspired by the writers in my English 321 class. Consider them a collection of helpful hints for when you do NaNoWriMo - or write at all.
1) Tense. Yes, it's important. Unless you really, really know what you're doing - pick one and stick to it. Bouncing between them does no one any favours.
2) I should have to say anything about spelling, grammar and the like... But "where he had wakened up"? Really? You're fired.
3) Learn how to write dialogue. Even just a little would help.
4) When the characters in your story are stereotypes, your story fails. Characters should, ideally, be pretty multi-dimensional, okay? Particularly the central ones.
5) When a character is chasing another, red-faced, down the street for sleeping with his daughter, he's probably not going to bring you tea when he catches you. I don't know what world you live in, but fiction needs causality. If it doesn't make at least a little sense, I don't want to be forced to read it.
6) If you're going to send a character into the wilds on page two, try not to forget about him by page ten. Don't introduce things you're not going to use. It's sloppy.
7) Among the things I want in a story is for it to go somewhere. If all I get is "Then I saw a dog. Then the dog chased me. Then I got away. Then I saw a bird. I thought 'birds are nice'. Then I went home.", I'm not going to be very impressed. If you're going to tell a story, make sure it's worth telling for someone.
8) Which brings me to this: Generally speaking, something should change for at least one of your characters by the time the story is over. It doesn't have to be a big thing. Generally speaking, though, I want a reason the character is telling this story. Not another day in the life, you know? Give me a turning point for one of your characters.
9) A climax to the story would be good. You know, some moment that stands out. That turning point, for example...
10) No character is perfect. No one is a little angel. Stop identifying so much with your characters that you're unable to let them fuck up. They need to fuck up. Just like you. It's how they grow.
There will be a million exceptions to these rules. I'm sure anyone can find at least a few. That said, we learn the rules first, we break them afterward. It should not be hard to get the basics of all this down. Really.
This is an intermediate writing class. No one should fail on these points.
For those of you doing NaNoWriMo, good luck. For those of you who aren't, write something.
Thanks,
~HelixNine