Writing Tips..

[Highlander II]

Yep - if you have writing tips -- drop them here ---



I just read a good one the other day when I was flipping through a writing journal at Barnes & Noble -->


(and I'm paraphrasing b/c I don't remember the exact quote)

When you sit down to write, don't let your hands stop moving - either w/ the pen or at the keyboard.

Basically - leave the editing 'hand' out of your writing. Just write. B/c you write in the moment.

And, honestly, this is very sound advice. And I instantly thought of all the posts I've read here and on other groups about writers who say they can never finish anything b/c they are constantly editing what they've already written -- so, here's a suggestion to all of you who do that (and yes, I'm guilty of it too, but it's not generally why I can't finish my stories) --

Sit down and just write. Forget about leaving things out, or stuff that doesn't quite mesh, or something that you haven't mentioned yet. Just write. You can always go back later and 'fix' stuff. It will always be there. You can add 'lead-ins' and 'foreshadowing'. You don't think all those great writers out there start writing a story and on page 10 think 'Hey, why don't I foreshadow something that's gonna happen on page 45?' - I don't think it generally works that way. You have to go back and add that stuff. (Mostly b/c if you're at all like I am, you won't remember that you've foreshadowed by the time you GET to page 45!)


So - that's today's writing tip.

I'll try to find one, if not everyday, every week and post it here for everyone. That's what Clan MacSlow is for, right? Helping each other achieve our writing goals? Whether it be to write faster, or better, or to just complete that fic that's been hanging around for quite some time.

[Highlander II]

Today's writing tip:


"Lose control. Say what you want to say. Don't worry if it's correct, polite, appropriate. Just let it rip."


(and, I'm taking these from Natalie Goldberg's "The Essential Writer's Notebook")


And this is good too! it goes w/ yesterday's tip about keeping your hands moving. Don't worry about everything all at once. That's what the editing phase is for.

[Highlander II]

Today's tip - from Jack M. Bickham's "The 38 Most Common Fiction Writing Mistakes" -


Don't make excuses!

He suggests getting a calendar and on each day, write the number of hours you spent writing and how many pages you completed during that time. However, for any day that you 'don't have anything in terms of work [writing] to report' sit down and type up one, double-spaced, page of excuses for why you didn't write, date it and put this list someplace where you'll know where it is. And you have to do this for every day that you don't write.


Now, true, this book is mostly for those who are seriously attempting to jump into the job-market as a fiction writer, but the advice is still excellent!

And, I'll just bet if you sit down at your computer and type up a 250 word document about WHY you didn't write one day, and you do that several days out of the week, you'll stop making up excuses and start writing pages upon pages!

Now, I'm not saying that other things in your life should not come before writing, if writing is only a hobby, but have you noticed that there is always some reason why you couldn't write? Keep a list - see how long it gets. Eventually, you'll be tired of making excuses - or, that's the idea anyway!

Happy writing!! (and I highly recommend this book!)

[Kimmielvr]

I came across a good writing tip the other day...and it's one that works for me.

If you're coming back to a piece of writing after a period of time...to get "back into it" Retype write the last paragraph you wrote (or last couple if they're short) without making any edits...just to get the feel of the piece back again.

It works for me because I always have trouble getting back into the mood of a piece, if I've been away...and this retyping kicks me back into gear. Not saying it'll work for everyone, but it's worth a try.

I found it whilst flipping through Writer's Digest in the bookstore. And oh yeah, don't forget to delete the repeated paragraph(s) once you're done and ready to send it off to a beta :rolly2:

Cheers,
K'Immie

[Highlander II]

I've been very bad - I was supposed to add tips here every week - and I haven't added any in --- a long time.


So - here goes --


Map out what your story will be about - the plot, the setting, the conflicts, any major key points you want to hit before you reach the climax or the end - doing this will streamline your efforts and keep you from veering off track once you have an idea in place. But, don't feel like you're locked in to staying on this path. You can make changes and alter your outline / map as you go - b/c something might come to you as you're working that you didn't think of before you started.



I'll try to be better about these ---

[SwingGirl]

I recently figured out something that helps me write. I usually do my writing on the computer. I've found that I concentrate better and get more done if I close all chat rooms, IM, etc, etc. Any window that doesn't have anything to do with what I'm writting gets closed. Sometimes I even turn the internet off completely, unless I'm using dictionary.com or thesaurus.com (great sites, btw -- I absolutely LOVE using those sites).

I don't know if this would help any of you, but it definitely helps me concentrate better and get more done.

[Highlander II]

yeah - closing all the other windows helps a LOT!

That's probably why it's easier for me to hand-write when I'm writing -- harder to get locked into a chat w/ a friend that way! (that and it's way easier to tote a notebook around than to haul my PC to lunch! )

[Highlander II]

Just a quick note -- we now have a Writer's Lounge here at ASciFi for all those budding writers either looking for advice or trying to get that newly published book on the market --

Check it out and see if there's something there that might help you out...