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What Good Authors Do
Below are some tips I’ve collected over the years about what good writers do. There is nothing wrong with modelling your practice after the writers who have met with great success. Here are some timeless quotes from a few of the greats. Good writers respect the reader. Lack of courtesy may be the chief fault that distinguishes unsuccessful writing from the most successful…The reader of fiction is primarily seeking an experience different from and greater than his or her daily experiences in life. How to Grow a Novel—Sol Stein Good writers do not simply describe a barn. Good writers describe a barn as seen by someone in a particular mood, because only…
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Starring…YOU!
Don’t just plan to write—write. It is only by writing, not dreaming about it, that we develop our own style. P.D.James Writing Prompt Begin a story with a character based on you. Put the character in a place and/or situation you’ve never been. Write what happens.
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Looking for Inspiration?
The best thing to do, when you don’t know what to write, is just to write. Somewhere. Anywhere. Today, to get the creative juices flowing, have a look at today’s prompt. You can never ask, what if too many times. Next Monday, there will be another post about developing compelling characters, in my HOW TO WRITE A NOVEl: Step by Step series. Tuesday to Friday, I’ll post an inspirational quote along with a writing prompt, in case you get stuck. WRITING PROMPT Tip: Brainstorm all the places this scary guy may show up. Find a reason to put yourself in that setting and begin to write. Don’t forget, looks can…
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CHARACTERS
HOW TO WRITE A NOVEL: STEP BY STEP I write Young Adult fiction, so my main character will be around High School age. If you are writing an adult book, you won’t need to worry about the ages of your characters. Who Are These People? Perhaps a better question is, “How Do You Find These People?” The first, most obvious answer is, YOU. I often find myself thinking about who I was in high school. What did I think about? What was important to me? I also draw on other experiences in my memory to evoke emotions, even though the situations are totally different. For example, in my current contemporary…
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One Step At A Time
If you are starting to write a novel, don’t think about the mammoth task ahead. Think of it one step at a time. Set goals for yourself each day that are reasonable and achievable. Writing Tip: I recently attended a digital workshop with the wonderful Linda Sue Park. Her tip for writer’s block is to write for short periods of time and write badly. That’s the key, she claims. Give yourself permission, no insist, that you write badly. It’s very freeing. “I love the revision process,” she says. Keep that in mind as you work on your first draft. It’s going to be crap. It’s supposed to be crap. A…