What helps you to become a better writer

[MintCat]

Do you study vocab, grammar?

 

[oncewaslost]

reading. a lot.

 

[katelyn]

My answer would pretty much be the same as owl's. By reading the types of things you would like to write, you begin to get an idea of what works and what doesn't.

In regard to vocab and grammar, I want to get the book Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Browne and Woe is I: The Grammarphobe's Guide to Better English in Plain English by Patricia T. O'Conner. I don't have these books yet, so I can't really recommend them other than they look interesting and I want to read them. I don't think I'm terrible at grammar or editing, but I'm definitely not on the level of some English majors...so yeah. These books look good to me.

 

[discipleofWORD]

"Write" would be an obvious answer... but there's more to it.

Like oncewaslost stated is to "read." I assume it's very true because you have to know how sentences are usually created, plots organized, etc. Read books that interest you... don't force yourself to read "Thomas Paine" if you really don't like history.

Besides saying reading is important, I would say writing would help to improve you as a writer. It doesn't matter what topic or prompt you write as long it's your writing! But always write every day to exercise those writing muscles! I suggest to have a journal just to write your thoughts and ideas in there. When I looked back in my past writings, I think to myself, "wow...have I improve that much? I wrote this?"

Here are just some prompts I thought on top of my head to give you some inspirational sparks:

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be? Why would you want to go there? Describe about the place.

Write a story or a poem about a man and his fishing boat.

If you just want some more prompts... ask me or anyone else who has a very creative mind.

Plus don't worry what others think about your writing right when you put down the words on paper. Be free and write.

I hope these tips and advises help out~

 

[wgjones3]

You can't just read anything and become a better writer, you have to choose what you read wisely. Reading what use to be called dimestore romances (those cheap books at the supermarket or Wal Mart) probably isn't the best place to glean literary expertice. I would suggest that you study a mix of successful contemporary writers as well as the great classics. Guys like Orwell, Fitzgerald, Hemmingway, Steinbeck (and ladies like Shirly Jackson) are still studied in schools today for a reason. The problem is, if you write like that today, you'll likley be searching for a publisher because they want writers more like Nicholas Sparks, Stephen King, John Grisham, etc... So you really need to pic an eccelctic mix and start reading.

How you read is as important as what you read. If you just blast through the book from beginning to end and never think about why the writer did certian things the way he/she did, you're missing out on a lot. When reading a book, I always think back to what my junior English teacher said about Gatzby, that the light at the dock represented hope and longing, etc... That's the kind of stuff you have to look for. It's not the broad strokes that make a great writer great, it's the subtleties and knowing how to work them.

As for writing, anything you write will help you, but it's more important to get an honest critique. I'd suggest searching the web for a critique group. Christianwriters.com has a writer's workshop where you can post stories for critique and there's a Yahoo Group called Kingdom Writers that does email critiques. The bad thing about critiques is that for every ten you receive, less than five will be construtive to the point that it's usuable. And you have to learn to ignore unfounded criticism and embrace the criticism that has merit, as well as learn to distinguish between the two. It's not as hard as it sounds, but it isn't a fun process at all.

Lastly, I think you can learn to be a better writer by watching TV and movies. Snappy dialouge is all the rage now, and the same elements that make for good TV make for good reading, too. I tend to evaluate a movie on whether or not it makes the most effective use of the plot, and if so, how, and if not, where it fails and how it can be improved. Plotting is plotting, and it's a lot less time consuming to study plotting and pacing in a movie than in a book. A lot of writers will probably shun me for this last suggestion but I stick by it. As with choosing reading materials, it's all in the quality of your selections.

 

[katelyn]

I was going to say the thing about critiques also. I am almost done with a manuscript that I want to submit for publication, but I know I need some honest critiques first, or I will doubt my work. Like wgjones said, not every critique you receive will be constructive, and a lot of times it can be hard to accept, but it is still an important learning process.

 

[oncewaslost]

i guess i should have clarified myself on what to read. i meant good literature. i personally don't consider the dimestore romances as literature... i know someone has to write them but they're not the greatest thing in the world.

 

[Kaylynn]

I read a lot...always proofread my work and I have a lot of people critique it...

I mostly put my works on fictionpress.net

 

[Arikereba]

My answer would pretty much be the same as owl's. By reading the types of things you would like to write, you begin to get an idea of what works and what doesn't.

In regard to vocab and grammar, I want to get the book Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Browne and Woe is I: The Grammarphobe's Guide to Better English in Plain English by Patricia T. O'Conner. I don't have these books yet, so I can't really recommend them other than they look interesting and I want to read them. I don't think I'm terrible at grammar or editing, but I'm definitely not on the level of some English majors...so yeah. These books look good to me.

Self-Editing for Fiction Writers is a pretty good book, but it doesn't really focus on vocab and grammar. It focuses more on characterization, exposition, point of view, repetition, style, and so on.

My favorite grammar book is The Deluxe Transitive Vampire. The example sentences are so much fun!

The only way to get better at writing is to read a lot and write a lot. Some people have told me that anyone's first million words will be unpublishable. But I won't be discouraged!

 

[elanor]

My favorite grammar book is The Deluxe Transitive Vampire. The example sentences are so much fun!

Oh my goodness! This is the last place I ever expected to find a fellow fan of The Deluxe Transitive Vampire! It's really a fun grammar book, but it isn't for everyone. A less bizarre but equally amusing choice would be Woe is I. Hard to resist a book with a chapter entitled, "Metaphors Be With You."

I also use writing exercises. Room to Write by Bonni Goldberg is quite good. It gives you very short (1/2 page) reflections on a topic and then a suggestion to get you started writing about it.

Probably my favorite book about writing is Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott. She's an engaging writer (one of the best I've read!), and I've used many of her suggestions in my own writing. Be warned, though: It's not for those who are easily offended by language.

Someone mentioned a writers' group. I was a member of a local Christian writers' group for several years, and attended a regional writers' conference. I see potential for these to be valuable, but for me they weren't so much. I found myself talking about writing more than I actually wrote. Sort of defeats the purpose. Nice fellowship, though.

Tonight I began a creative non-fiction writing class at the local college. Personally, I focus and write better when I have a deadline to meet and someone holding me accountable. I think the class will be a great help with that.

Nice to see other writers on this board!

 

[katelyn]

Probably my favorite book about writing is Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott. She's an engaging writer (one of the best I've read!), and I've used many of her suggestions in my own writing. Be warned, though: It's not for those who are easily offended by language.

I started reading that, but got put off by the stuff about um..."bad" first drafts and how horrible perfectionism is. And not just by the language...it seemed like she was going on and on and on about how horrible first drafts had to be and how perfectionism is just terrible. I agreed with some of the sentiments, but I usually spend a lot of time thinking about what I'm going to write before I write it, so I tend not to rewrite as much as she was saying is necessary.

But if it's your favorite writing book, then perhaps it has more insight to share once I get past those points.

 

[Mr.Cheese]

I guess that depends on what kind of writing you plan on doing.

 

[elanor]

I started reading that, but got put off by the stuff about um..."bad" first drafts and how horrible perfectionism is. And not just by the language...it seemed like she was going on and on and on about how horrible first drafts had to be and how perfectionism is just terrible. I agreed with some of the sentiments, but I usually spend a lot of time thinking about what I'm going to write before I write it, so I tend not to rewrite as much as she was saying is necessary.

But if it's your favorite writing book, then perhaps it has more insight to share once I get past those points.

I understand that, Katelyn. Everyone has their own writing style that works best for them! That's part of being creative.

Lamott's advice to just write a "bad" first draft really struck home to me. I'm so quick to judge myself, and I get all twisted up trying to figure out how to say something perfectly from the very start, often to the point that I just sit without without writing or typing anything. (You have no idea how long I can fuss over a simple post!) I need to hear the admonition to just write the thoughts down first without perfecting and editing them. Just get the idea on paper (or screen), then go back and work on it. I do write for a living, so my employers are always much happier when I actually crank out a document or an article.

Another of her tips that helped me was just write it "bird by bird." In other words, don't let yourself get overwhelmed with the whole, but rather focus on one part at a time. A company I worked for awhile back was removing a number of underground fuel tanks. My job was to write the required closure reports on each of them. There were so stinkin' many--I was overwhelmed. I actually tacked up the reminder, "tank by tank" above my desk.

One more tip that I've remembered (did it come from Anne Lamott?) is that I don't have to start at the beginning and write through to the end of whatever I'm working on. I can start anywhere I want. Too often when I'm writing, say, an article for our department's Internet site, I get stuck on the lead paragraph. Now I just forget it and launch right into the middle. Usually when I've got more of the article done, the introduction just sort of comes to me and I go back and write it then.

All that to say that what I really learned from Anne Lamott was to stop putting so many needless restrictions on how I write and just write. It has been very freeing, and I'm a much better--and much happier--writer as a result.

But again, she's not everyone's cup of tea.

 

[Mr.Cheese]

Ditto the "just write" bit. There is no substitute for sitting down and doing it.
What you read often becomes what you emulate, so consider that.

Lastly, having someone who can offer you constructive...guidance on what you've written is priceless. God bless my English professors. They didn't jsut grade my papers, they told me how to make them better.

 

[Axver]

I do agree with the 'just write' advice to an extent. Thing is, I know some wannabe writers who've 'just written' and what they've written is just dreadful, especially in the grammar department. Reading never, ever goes astray. Find stuff you like and read like there's no tomorrow. I'm sure anyone who reads what I write will find clear examples of influence by Matthew Reilly and, in any humorous scenes, Douglas Adams. There's probably elements of Clancy and Grisham lurking there too.

I've never had any grammar issues really, so I'm no help in that department, sorry.

Having people who can provide constructive criticism is always an asset. Not just writing experts, either. (When I pluck up the courage to let anyone read my work) I love to run some of what I write past 'normal' people - friends, family, random people at school, you get the idea - because then you get an idea about whether what you've written is actually interesting to the kind of people who could potentially be buying your book.

 

[katelyn]

Yeah...like I said, I agree with a lot of the sentiments Lamott was sharing; it was just a bit extreme for me. However, I do take the "bird by bird" part to heart...sometimes I'll get close to a scene in my writing that I know is going to be tough and requires a lot of thought, and then I'll clam up altogether. If I try to take it "bird by bird," I can get my piece closer to that tough scene and it seems like the closer I get, the less tough it seems.

I also agree that it's bad to expect that you won't change anything in your work because you tried to be perfect on the first draft. That's obviously dangerous, because then you won't be able to learn anything from critiques, and that will prevent your work from reaching its full potential.

 

[Kokopelli]

Greetings and hello. I used to love creative writing when I was in high school. One thing I've noticed that is missing here - research. Researching the general topic of what you're writing about will make your fiction more enjoyable. It'll also add some realism to it.

A good example of some believable fiction, is Clive Cussler. Every novel of his that I've read, he starts off with an actual historical event. E.g. the sinking of the Andrea Doria, the use of the Hunley, etc. This added to his experience is blended with fiction. Overall it makes for a well written story that sounds like it "could happen."

This goes into the next area that would be helpful - experience. You could be one of the best heart surgeons in the nation. But if you want to write a story about a ship on Lake Supperior having to endure a powerful storm, it's going to be difficult if you have no experience in that area. With experience, you can put that on paper - describe what it's like to be at the mercy of Supperior. You can add your fears that you may end up joing the 6,000+ wrecks that fell victem to the lake.

Hope that helps.

 

[One Son of Many]

http://www.hollylisle.com a good website with lots of info!

 

[MintCat]

Thanks, I really appreciate all the replies.

 

[mpshiel]

A writer once told me that the first 1,000 pages are practice and I've generally found that to be true when building a writing style.

I have found there are really three main areas to writing anything: concept, writing and rewriting.

It is important before you start to write to have a really good idea of what effect you want. Otherwise if you are like me, you just end up putting words down and hoping something good happens.

Once you know what you want, then it is time to try and create that, no matter how many tries it takes. For example, I would heavily recommend Rilke and his poem "To a young poet" - Rilke took nine years to write nine poems but they have been considered literature ever since.

Rewrite - Strangely this is the part where most people (myself included) tend to let down. It is like climbing a mountain, reaching the top or finishing the work is only half way. Now it is time to be ruthless. I believe it was Dorothy Parker who advocated that 7 out of 10 words be rewritten. A lot of the time what needs to be done is not try to fix and tinker with things as they are but look at whole sections and ask, "Is there a better way?" and often that involves rewriting a whole section because you now see how it could be made better.

After that, I tend to find between 6-10 people in the target audience to give feedback and find out if I am actually making the impact I want to - try to get them away from saying, "Great piece" and find out how they felt in this or that section, which part was boring, made them cry, etc.