Writing Advice

Man, I must be pretty damn egotistical to be giving writing advice. Would it help to say this really is more like common sense advice, and you find the same thing just about on every writing forum? I don't tell you how to use techniques in here at all. All techniques have their place, and it's not up to me to decide which ones get used.

Sort of copied from the advice I gave some kid writing a novel, but it can work for rps or other things too.

1. Read A LOT. When you read you get an idea of what works and what doesn't in fiction. You also get ideas from those authors and then experiment in your own fiction.

2. It (almost) goes without saying, write A LOT. I heard a statistic that it takes 10,000 hours of doing something to get really good at it. I don't know if its true but even so, but every time you write you get a little better.

3. Get to know your characters really well. Get to know them as well as (or better than?) your friends and family. Which leg do they step in first when putting their pants on in the morning? Know your characters and their world inside and out and their story will become that much more easier to write.

There are websites to help you with this. They're called character charts and they're just a bunch of questions you can ask about your characters. You don't have to answer all of them or even any of them. The questions are just meant to make you think. I find the easiest way to get to know characters quick is to write quirks first, and the rest of the character sort of builds itself around that.

This is a conversation I have honestly had.

Me: Oh! They sell tuna-and-egg salad here? Roger would love that!
Mom: Who'd Roger? Your boyfriend?
Me: Yuck Mum. He's thirteen. *blush* He's my character.

4. Don't take it too seriously. Writing is an art, not a science. Experiment. Even if you don't think something will work, try it. And don't think you have to emulate the style of other authors. Figure out what works for you and you will have found your voice.

5. Don't take /yourself/ too seriously. You are not God's gift to literature and it won't help you to act that way. Not everyone will like your work- get over it! Don't let your emotions get you worked up- understand what critics are trying to tell you.

As a corollary to 5, know the difference between flames and critiques. While a critique can be helpful a flame just rips you down. Unfortunately, many people confuse the former for the latter and get very defensive. Remember, a flamer will only say the negative about your work and probably will throw in a few personal attacks. A critic will tell you how you can improve.