Does anyone have any writing tips?

[Shadowed]

I write alot of prose and a few poems, but lately I've had several failed attempts at writing a book. I can get like half way through, and then I lose inspiration. Does anyone have any tips on this or on writing in general?

 

[Bernergirl]

I have run into the same type of thing and I think I would like to learn more about how seasoned writers help things like story/character development to blossom. For now I am a short story writer.

 

[Tariel]

I write alot of prose and a few poems, but lately I've had several failed attempts at writing a book. I can get like half way through, and then I lose inspiration. Does anyone have any tips on this or on writing in general?

Don't force the book If the story comes, GREAT! If not, keep working at it, but NEVER force a non-existant story....that's all I can think of right now

 

[Lessien]

Exactly what Tariel said. Don't try and run with a story that's bound to die halfway through....that's a recipie for disaster. Just wait a few months or so once you get a story idea. Let it mature, work out the details, and make sure you have a beginning, middle, and end before starting to write.

 

[Jehane]

Put it in the dream bank; see what flows out of the sub-concious.

 

[phsyxx]

MY advice:

~Find an ending you want~
~Find a theme or a message that pervades the text~

If you realise these two things-
one, the end goal that you are working towards;
and two, the purpose for writing-

then you will produce a much more directed and focused piece of work, that will generally be of a higher quality because it adheres with these two factors.

In life in general, things tend to be better when working towards a goal, or an aim- attempting to achieve something always allows an individual to reach their aims than if they are not focused on what they want.

Once you realise where the story ends up, and what you want out of it, the book should almost fully form itself between the beginning and the end.


Hope that helps.
Phsy xx

 

[Tariel]

MY advice:

~Find an ending you want~
~Find a theme or a message that pervades the text~

If you realise these two things-
one, the end goal that you are working towards;
and two, the purpose for writing-

then you will produce a much more directed and focused piece of work, that will generally be of a higher quality because it adheres with these two factors.

In life in general, things tend to be better when working towards a goal, or an aim- attempting to achieve something always allows an individual to reach their aims than if they are not focused on what they want.

Once you realise where the story ends up, and what you want out of it, the book should almost fully form itself between the beginning and the end.


Hope that helps.
Phsy xx

I write because I want to know what the ending is. Once I discover that, I rewrite with the ending in mind.

 

[Lessien]

And don't start with a theme. I don't know about you, but when I start with a theme, my writing ends up preachy. Usually, the theme will arise naturally from the story. Your book should have a theme, but if you don't see one right away, don't panic.

 

[AFallingStar]

When I write, I start with a general idea, and then I just start writing and see where it goes. Most of the time, it doesn't go in the direction I originally had intended/wanted, but it seems to flow well and the story basically writes itself.

 

[Jehane]

I start with a picture. They tend to be a bit bizarre which probably helps. I mean, seriusly, who sits in the ashes of a dead fire raking through the embers for a non-existant song? Then I just try to answer the questions: why? when? how? what?

 

[Nakadek]

When I write, I start with a general idea, and then I just start writing and see where it goes. Most of the time, it doesn't go in the direction I originally had intended/wanted, but it seems to flow well and the story basically writes itself.

Yeah, I'd never thought Bane Prophecy would be where it's at now...

If you play video games, that might help. Alot of the names of people and places in BP comes from characters names I would use in online games (no, not like jedidude334). Also, try reading a book from the same genre as the one you're working on.

Lord Of The Rings was a big help in keeping me interested in BP.




Nak

 

[oncewaslost]

i usually start with characters and a basic idea of the end. most of the time, the end gradually morphs into something else but sometimes it doesn't. i also don't always start out with the thought "i'm going to write a book." i just write and see where it goes. i put works down for months (sometimes years) at a time and then pick it back up again when i get a new inspiration.

 

[Tariel]

Yeah, I'd never thought Bane Prophecy would be where it's at now...

If you play video games, that might help. Alot of the names of people and places in BP comes from characters names I would use in online games (no, not like jedidude334). Also, try reading a book from the same genre as the one you're working on.

Lord Of The Rings was a big help in keeping me interested in BP.




Nak

I would usually suggest avoiding that--the danger is that the writing will end up sounding too much like the book. If you're going to read for inspiration, make sure you're reading a large variety of authors.

And I agree with Lessien (what else is new?) A theme should never be forced. Write the story, pinpoint the theme, and then rewrite/revise.

 

[Jehane]

Someone once suggested to me that if you want to write well read really good literature. Their suggestion was the old King James version of the bible for the richness of it's language. I tend to find I start sounding like the archives so I don't suggest reading anything while you are in the midst of writing something.

 

[Tariel]

Someone once suggested to me that if you want to write well read really good literature. Their suggestion was the old King James version of the bible for the richness of it's language. I tend to find I start sounding like the archives so I don't suggest reading anything while you are in the midst of writing something.

Reading is fine, just read enough of a variety that you don't start sounding like any one person

 

[Lessien]

^ditto

And if you read just one person, you'll sound just like them, only you won't sound as good as that person does. Why? Because instead of sounding like yourself, you'll sound like you're deliberately trying to imitate that person, and the writng will sound fake. Want an example of this? Check out Eldest. Paolini was obviously trying to imitate Tolkien, and the dialogue sounds really really fake.

 

[Jehane]

I am going to have to read this book just so I know what you're all talking about.

 

[Lessien]

And I agree with Lessien (what else is new?) A theme should never be forced. Write the story, pinpoint the theme, and then rewrite/revise.

BUT don't panic if your story has been maturing in the back of your mind for a while and you already have a theme. In that case, you probably already have some of the key scenes and characters figured out, and through that your theme.

 

[Tariel]

BUT don't panic if your story has been maturing in the back of your mind for a while and you already have a theme. In that case, you probably already have some of the key scenes and characters figured out, and through that your theme.

very true.

and it's about time Paolini was mentioned

 

[Lessien]

Of course! Every writer needs a bad example she/he can learn from!

And for fantasy writers, Paolini is the best example of what NOT to do I've ever seen!