About the Article: The 10 Commandments of Fiction Writing
All right, so today is one of those days I have promised writing advice, and I shall granted. Unfortunately, due to the fact that I am in this very moment supposed to be packing for college and organizing the crazy mess I have left in my room, I don't really have much time to write a whole article. Neither did I have time this week to start writing the article I wanted to post today.
Thankfully, however, Writer's Digest has saved me. =D
A couple of days ago WD posted online the article The 10 Commandments of Fiction Writing by Raymond Obstfeld, an article I found very helpful.
Obstfeld starts off by saying something I have many times mentioned here on my blog: Most experts agree that when it comes to writing fiction, no rules are carved in stone. A writer is free to bend, twist, smash or shred any of the golden platitudes of writing that have been handed down by the well-paid, well-respected writers we all hope to become. Certain writing guidelines, however, are so self-evident few writers would dispute them. He later lists 10 basic rules of the professional writing process that most writers have probably heard of already, yet that are helpfully summarized enough for writers to identify or review what areas they need to improve. He does not talk about the stylistic improvements that a writer needs to make, but that subject is something entirely different.
Some of you may find some rules more important than other rules. For me two commandments of the ten stood out the most:
To read it just click here.
Thankfully, however, Writer's Digest has saved me. =D
A couple of days ago WD posted online the article The 10 Commandments of Fiction Writing by Raymond Obstfeld, an article I found very helpful.
Obstfeld starts off by saying something I have many times mentioned here on my blog: Most experts agree that when it comes to writing fiction, no rules are carved in stone. A writer is free to bend, twist, smash or shred any of the golden platitudes of writing that have been handed down by the well-paid, well-respected writers we all hope to become. Certain writing guidelines, however, are so self-evident few writers would dispute them. He later lists 10 basic rules of the professional writing process that most writers have probably heard of already, yet that are helpfully summarized enough for writers to identify or review what areas they need to improve. He does not talk about the stylistic improvements that a writer needs to make, but that subject is something entirely different.
Some of you may find some rules more important than other rules. For me two commandments of the ten stood out the most:
- Commandment #6: Stick to a schedule. Now I already knew I have trouble with sticking to schedules. It's easier for me to follow deadlines or schedules when others depend on me, but when I just owe the responsibility to myself, well, that's hard.
- Commandment #8: Develop thick skin. All right, so I think I can manage rejection pretty well. It's going to hurt, but I can manage it. However, Obstfeld refers to a permanent thick skin. No matter how good of a writer you become, rejections and bad critics or reviews will always appear. His exact words were: As a beginning writer I dreamed of the day when I would never have to face another rejection. Forty published books and 12 sold screenplays later, not a day goes by when something I've written or proposed to be written isn't rejected by someone. And such words struck me, because as an aspiring writer I dream of a day with no rejections. Yet, now I wonder if there is a single writer out there, even with all of his/her success, who doesn't receive rejection. If there is, he/she is probably a rarity of the world. Still, I love writing way too much to ever stop doing so just because of what others think. Besides, I have my hopes that what I write is worth something. Some people may agree, others may disagree. Such is life, not just writing life but all life.
To read it just click here.