Advice to an aspiring author

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

No kidding and this thread has been extremely civil. Go figure.

PILOTS outta town.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

While we're on the subject, last nite I read Ayn Rand's tutorial for plots and conflict. It oughta be chiseled onto the Statue of Liberty.

 

[lovecraft68]

PILOTS outta town.

Glad you said that. I was thinking the same thing. The forum really is much quieter without him.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Glad you said that. I was thinking the same thing. The forum really is much quieter without him.

Yep. When things are quiet and civil, all yuh gotta do is count noses.

 

[Ironiclaconic]

Iterate.

Writing has made me far more aware of the mechanics of writing in other authors, as I see how they grappled with the same choices. So write, read examples of great writing, learn, write again, read more, etc.

 

[JonB1969]

Hi, I'm new to the site and new to writing as well. I was hoping to get writing advice and wisdom from some of you who have been doing this for a while. What's the best way to get better?

--------------------------------------

Good question. There are several ways to get better at writing.

1. Write. Even if it's just a few words a day. Write. Do a journal or online blog or keep a diary. Write.

2. Read. As many styles from as many sources as you can get your hands on. Books. Magazines. Online articles. Newspapers. Eventually you will find your own style and maybe even inspiration for a story.

3. Get a thesaurus and a dictionary. If you don't mind a recommendation, go to dictionary.com and thesaurus.com - two excellent online resources.

4. And finally, have patience. Writers are readers, too, which means we can't wait to see what happens next or find out how the thing ends. That means you need to have patience and write the story through to the very end.

Hope these pointers helps. Happy writing!
- JonB1969

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

What surprises me is how there is no book that clearly and plainly explains the parts of a short story and how the parts work together.

 

[glynndah]

--------------------------------------

Good question. There are several ways to get better at writing.

1. Write. Even if it's just a few words a day. Write. Do a journal or online blog or keep a diary. Write.

2. Read. As many styles from as many sources as you can get your hands on. Books. Magazines. Online articles. Newspapers. Eventually you will find your own style and maybe even inspiration for a story.

3. Get a thesaurus and a dictionary. If you don't mind a recommendation, go to dictionary.com and thesaurus.com - two excellent online resources.

4. And finally, have patience. Writers are readers, too, which means we can't wait to see what happens next or find out how the thing ends. That means you need to have patience and write the story through to the very end.

Hope these pointers helps. Happy writing!
- JonB1969

Concerning number 3. While finding the exact words to convey your thoughts is important, knowing when to put the thesaurus aside is also very important. A simple "he said" is often much better than "he asservated".

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I know lotsa asservating people!

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

For those interested, John Steinbeck wrote a cute book about a hooker and a perfesser, SWEET THURSDAY. The movie was titled CANNERY ROW with Debra Winger and Nick Nolte. Its a love story set in a small town, and shows what you can do with sex and good writing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweet_Thursday

 

[Ironiclaconic]

Concerning number 3. While finding the exact words to convey your thoughts is important, knowing when to put the thesaurus aside is also very important. A simple "he said" is often much better than "he asservated".

I think new writers sometimes use Thesauri for the wrong things, trying to identify obscure terms when a clear one will do. To me, the best use of a thesaurus is to stamp out the unclear use of common words. Take a sentence like: "If I am going to have to put up with you for three weeks, you will make me go crazy!" That sentence is chock full of common utility words, helper verbs, and prepositional clutter. The writer is just being lazy in word choice. I used a thesaurus just yesterday to remind myself that "amplify" existed, deeming it better than "making it more powerful", which had been my placeholder language on the first draft.