TIPS AND TRICKS, General writing tips Options

[level]

I think it would be good and helpful to make a thread about writing tips :D


I'll go first:


I find that when you're editing your story, it's good to break down every sentence by saying them outloud and fixing what sounds wrong (or doesn't fit).

Nine times out of ten, you'll correct yourself automatically!


Naturally this only works with English, but even if you have a general knowledge of the language, it should come naturally!


Also, if you're having trouble don't be afraid to ask another for help, sometimes you will need the eyes of another to be brutal so your fans won't!

[ChefMKT]

Don't proof read after writing. Spend a few hours or days not thinking about it, doing something else, then go back and check it out. You're more likely to catch mistakes.

[jcdietz03]

Don't rush and write a chapter in like 10 minutes. You're bound to not only make a bunch of mistakes, but make the chapter sound crappy anyways.

[AzureDemon]

OUTLINE!


Draw up a quick plan on how your story will unfold. Once you get a general plotline going, fill in the details.

[slash89slash]

Okay, I know this may sound stupid, but I feel like I should point it out.

NEVER and I mean NEVER write a Wall of Text. Not only are they a pain in the ass to read, they're sore to the eyes and a sure sign of bad writing skill. USE PARAGRAPHS. THEY SAVE US ALL PAIN.

[CardBoardBox]

References. Dictionaries, thesaurus, encyclopedias, wiki (HA HA HA HAHA HA) websites, books, dvds, television.


Use them. It shows that you put actual work into your stories as opposed to just throwing something together at the last minute. You'll be glad you did.

[Mystic_Truhan]

Description should always involve the six "senses". I will cover briefly on each.

1. Touch
This will involve the reactions and thought processes formed from this sense.

Here's an example:
Simple Sentence: The fire was hot.
Using "touch": The searing heat burned his/her skin.

The words in bold are words used in the aspect of touch. Do you see how this creates a more visual scene?

2. Sight
This will involve what you see around you, or what you see in your mind's eye. This includes actions, behaviours, colours, scenarios, etc.

Here's an example:
Simple sentence: The zombie was rotting.
Using "sight": Pieces of flesh were falling off the zombie that shambled forward as it stretched out its grimy hands to grab my head.

The words in bold involve the aspect of sight. They describe the movement, behaviour, action of the zombie and what it looks like.

3. Hearing
This will involve what you hear.

Here's an example:
Simple Sentence: The person was in pain.
Using "hearing": The person groaned in immense pain.

Notice that the world in bold defines the amount of pain the person is in.

4. Smell
This will involve what you smell. It can be either positive or negative, or a mixture of both.

Here's an example:
Simple Sentence: There was a pile of rubbish outside our house.
Using "smell": The pile of rubbish outside our house reeked.

Notice that the word 'reeked' was used to express an extremely bad odour.

5. Taste
This will involve what is tasted, be it physical or figurative (e.g. the taste of defeat).

Here's an example:
Simple Sentence: The berry was sweet.
Using "taste": The berry gave a burst of fruity flavour.

I'm aware that it'd be common sense that a berry would taste like... a well... fruit. But the repeat of it gives emphasis on the flavour.

6. Feelings
This will involve the thoughts and emotions.

Here's an example:
Simple Sentence: I was sad.
Using "feelings": There was great sorrow within my heart.

Notice that I exchanged the word 'sad' with 'great sorrow'. This creates a greater depth in the sadness your character feels.


Of course, the six "senses" aren't used alone (though they can be at times). Quite often, you will use them together to create a visual image.

Here's an example: The fetid stench (smell) of rotting flesh (sight) seemed to pulse (sight) and it fell with a grotesque splat (hearing) on the ground.

Notice that I have just used three aspects of the senses to describe? Note that a good grasp of vocabulary is also EXTREMELY important as it helps with your description. If you have a limited grasp for the English language, your ability to describe will be limited as well.

Finally, one other way to help with your description is usage of imagery. It can be something used to compare, or something out of place.

Here's an example: The undead was like the spawn of darkness.
Comparison: Note that I have compared the undead to a spawn of darkness, which automatically leads you to figure that it is a creature of darkness.
Something out of place: Ever since when was the darkness able to have offspring (in the real world at least)? This is when the word 'spawn' draws attention to your sentence.

I really hope that this guide to description in writing has helped you in some area of writing or another. Have fun writing. ;)

~AT

[Shadow]

Hmm, let's see.

Once in a while, read the story from the start to where you are, you might remember of a new/better way to express what you want to transmit to the reader, or even add more details.

Re-read the previous chapter to make sure it connects to the one you're currently writting.

Not much, since everyone's advices are already good hints...but this might help too.

[Sir Spiff]

It's hard to read a story that is comprised of all flowery text and very little substance. First, get to the point. Then elaborate. If a reader can tell what your point is, you've done a good job. If you don't have enough substance for a story of a specified length, either shorten that specified length or do a little brainstorming to figure out something else. Purple prose is outdated and most people would rather not read it, unless they're of the percentage that would marry Shakespeare and/or Thomas Hardy if either were still alive.

[Swifty-chan]

For someone so against drawn out stories as to suggest cutting the ornamentation, you sure do write unnecessarily long posts.

[LukewarmHoliday]

For someone so against drawn out stories as to suggest cutting the ornamentation, you sure do write unnecessarily long posts.

I meant that when the story's all purple prose and nobody gets what you're trying to say because it's so buried under the ornamentations. And I have to work on it too. It's not a strong point of mine.

[Mr. Sirius]

It doesn't matter what you meant; I'm getting to the point, as you recommended.

[Keith Kurogane]

-If you're working on a story and either the plot doesn't want to go or the characters won't do what you want them to, take a break from writing and engage in some other random stupid fandom stuff.

-If they still won't do what you want, try to compromise with them and think of another way to make your plot device occur.

-If the story wants to go somewhere and it doesn't directly contradict anything you want it to do, let it. Some of the best scenes I've ever written just sort of appeared on the screen when I meant to be doing filler stuff in between the real plot points.

-If you want to make something happen but you have no idea how to, think it over to yourself while you're trying to go to sleep but can't because you're an insomniac/had too much sugar or caffeine. If that doesn't work, talk to a friend who also writes. If that doesn't work, again, take a break. Read a book. Inspiration comes from everywhere.

-Save often. And keep backup copies of your stuff. You never know when they'll come in handy. TT_TT

[Acras]

Break the basic conventions of the English language. Whore your commas, semi colons, and run on sentences.