Writing Resources

[nosferatu_blue]

I should have created this a long time ago.  Like, an insanely long time ago.

I had been meaning to compile a list of writing resources and ask my friends if there are any they love that I should know about.  I recently had communication with someone on ff.net where I promised I'd send some writing tips.  Ff.net's awesome messaging system doesn't handle links well so I thought I'd get off my ass, compile/organize my links and post this entry.  I love sharing links.  It's the libtech in me.

The following links are meant as resources for those interested in writing (beginning and experienced).  There is no one solid rule to how to write, but tips are a valuable way of honing one's skill and I just love reading them.  I love writing tips hardcore.



The bulk of my links are stored here... Delicious Bookmark Account - Writing links

Tags of note:

• Basics - Don't know where to start?  I've highlighted all the simple tips and starter lessons that identify the bare-bones basics of writing.
• writingprompts -  In here is a large number of livejournal prompt communities.  Even if the communities are no-longer active, I still like them for the prompts they offer and use them as exercises.
• namegenerator - there are a lot of great sites out there to get names for your characters.  I've split these up into sub-categories of "fantasy" and "reality"

Here are a few choice links for the person who had asked me for them.

The Basics - General overview of writing fiction

• Fanfiction basics FAQ - I just found this link while looking up the definition of a beta.  This site details how to become a better writer, beta readers, and tips for writing better fanfiction.  Out of all the resources I've found, this is a perfect page to get anyone started in writing fic.


• The Basics -- An article detailing the basics of writing.  I love these because reading them over and over helps cement the ideas in my mind so when I write I dont' have to think about them because they are ingrained in my mind.


• Creative Writing: Fiction -- Writing Tips  --  This site has a great overview of writing in general.  It gives some specific information on the different areas of a story like dialogue or point of view.  There are some specific tips peppered throughout the article as well as a very useful section at the bottom labelled "Other tips" with some sort tips.


• Tips-o-Matic -- great tips on what goes into a sentence, paragraph, essay.  Grammar, punctuation and more.

Websites with a vast array of resources, tips, guides, articles, etc.

• Daily Writing Tips --  Daily Writing Tips. I'm subscribed to the newsletter so I get an email with new tips every day.  There is a great arcive of different articles to look through as well.  They are organized by subject, so all articles on Punctuation are kept together and easy to find.
  
  Punctuation is a very important thing, since it can change how a sentence is read:
  Let's eat Grandpa  <-- implies cannibalism
  Let's eat, Grandpa <-- inviting Grandpa to eat with them


• Writing Tips Reference  --  This is a great list of some very precise writing tips.  Even if I think I know something already, I'll check to see what the advice says to see if there is anything that can strengthen my understanding.  It deals with Abbreviations, Capitalization, Numbers, Punctuation, Word Usage, and Writing Styles.

Other links

• Characters --  Great articles on creating characters.  This isn't SO applicable with fanfiction where the characters are already known, but there can come a need for even OCs in fanfic and building them properly can be a great way of making readers care about them.  Writing original fiction definitely requires some extra thought that goes toward character creation, which is why this page is so useful.


• little_details -- Ever been writing a story and there was a small detail that you didn't know, but was key to making your story believable?  Excellent community for answers.


• Questions for Couples -- I like this as it lets me roleplay my characters against one another to see what they will say.  It's a great exercise to practice writing, warm up, and get to know characters.


• Fanfiction.net's beta page -- BetaBetaBetaBetas are writers' friends and barrier against posting things on the internet that make them look foolish for all the errors ♥  I love my beta.

My own personal rules for writing - in brief:

• No head-hopping - Pick a character and stick with them.  It's hard to get the hang of (a good beta can help identify what parts hop about).  Once a writer can see this for themselves, it will become very obvious when points of view are jumping about.  It's very jarring.


• Pick a tense and stick with it - This one is obvious, but I've seen so many past-tense fics with smatterings of present-tense thrown in to taste.  A skilled beta can catch this until one gains the skill to catch it themselves.


• Less is more/Bigger isn't better - Long sentences can drag on.  Short, concise sentences using periods can make ideas pop.  Sure, longer sentences have their place, but if there's one thing I learned about writing action scenes that applies to any writing: short sentences give the sense of a fast paced story. Long sentences can drag on like a lazy summer day.


• Constructive Criticism is good, but you'll feel bad at first - constructive criticism (con crit) is a writer's best tool for improving.  Nobody is perfect and we all make mistakes.  Someone who is kind enough to point out where we could improve is valuable and rare.  I read some articles (which I can't find anymore) which talked about responding to an editor's revision of a work that will be published.  The same principles apply.  A writer will: hate what they hear needs to be fixed, want to argue, should hold their tongue, take some time away from writing to stew over the suggestions, look at the suggestions again after some time away, consider whether the suggestions are valid and if they can see where the reviewer/editor/etc. was coming from, apply suggestions to writing, repeat. This should not be confused with a flame, which tells a writer nothing of their mistakes (they are usually generic hate-filled notes which should be laughed at and ignored).  It can be hard to ignore flames.  Personally, I just remember how sad the person on the other end must be to waste their time filling their lives with hate for me/my writing.  I try to focus on only positive things, so flames are immediately deleted from the inbox.  Don't dignify them with a reply.  Don't feed the trolls.
  
  I will look for this article in the morning, or at least an article similar to it since it really is a valuable resource that influenced me more than I realized.


• Comments, while lovely, should not dictate what or how a writer writes.  This may sound contradictory to the previous point, but I say it for another reason.  Just becuse someone comments and says an author needs to change something in a story does not mean the author should run to re-edit their entire story in the hopes of making that one commenter happy.  As soon as this is done, another commenter is bound to come along and suggest changes opposite to the first.  Chances are both of them will have quickly forget what they said and won't see the changes if they're made.  Other times, a commenter will try to sway the writer in how the next chapter goes, or what the author writes next.  It's lovely to interact with commenters, but to blindly do things that strangers on the internet ask can become stressful, draining, and altogether empty.  Write for yourself first.  Personally, I like to write for friends that I know a bit more than through a couple comments (I've met a lot of them through comments, but developed into friendships beyond those).


• When finished writing, read over the whole thing.  Often times I've found that what I thought was a flawless piece of work was jumbled by how erratic my thoughts are.  Read over once to catch any mistakes that are evident to you, then read over again.  It's kinder to a beta if an author sends them a work that's as perfect as they're capable of.  Leaving it full of mistakes for them is rude; it gives the impression of lazyness and a 'the beta will fix everything for me' attitude.


• It's helpful to read a story out loud.  I've often done this (under my breath) to catch any mistakes in how a story flows or just sounds.  Some mistakes just pop if they're audible.


• there are more... I just can't think of them atm.

Please ignore any didactical or "you" language here.  I'm tired and am trying to get my thoughts out.  I might not come across as tactful as I'd like.  Ultimately, I just want to be helpful and share my thoughts on writing.

Also, to any of my writing friends... want to pool/share our writing links?  I haven't gone on a link hunt in a while so I don't know of any new articles that might tickle my fancy.