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Two blogs in one day, my oh my.
This isnt my first TL account im ashamed to say, i resolved the issue with mani after a 6 month or so time out, i promised not to be a lurker poster on the strat forums, he agree'd not to renuke me
With that said!....
Ok basically im looking for a few writing tips, i read quite alot and have an insanely active imagination, but im looking for other like minded TL'ers to discuss with, as i really dont mix in the kind of circles where intellectual discussion takes place.
I got the rough premise of a book i wanna write, to me its the most interesting thing in the world, but thats the general consesnsus when it comes to something of your own.
Ive posted entrys to a short story/ self narrated diary of an SCV on TL, i wont link it here coz im not fishing for views, i was kind of hoping it would prompt people to tell me how bad i was, with the aim of asking how to get better.
Outside education isnt an option for me, i left school before my GCSE's (high school diploma) but have always considered my self average/slightly above. (im just being honest here, as probably 90% of TL consider them selves in the same way)
Before i get into some soul searching post about finding my mind's inner eye, ill wrap it up.
Im just fishing for a discussion or tips on how to get better at writing in general, probably with the aim to write a book when im hitting my mid 40's, kinda midlife crisis style wondering how i misspent my youth
Cant believe i actually forgot to give a nod in the way of TL'ers, without this site my browser bar would consist of youtube and imdb
 
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Hi, I do a fair bit of writing, and am slowly writing a science fiction book myself.
I'd definitely take a look and give my honest view if you want.
WoShiMusashi.618
Add for battles!
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I think the best way to get better at writing is just to write a lot and try new things in different ways until you start figuring out what ways work better than others. Trying to get specific advice and obeying the advice of strangers on the internet who also suck at writing will just homogenise your writing and make it both bad and unoriginal.
That's my philosophy :O Of course you also need to work on your grammar and such, but that goes without saying.
You get better at StarCraft by playing and studying. You get better at writing by writing and studying. You don't really get better at StarCraft by reading the strategy forum. You don't really get better at writing by posting on editing boards.
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On April 13 2011 03:16 Chef wrote:
I think the best way to get better at writing is just to write a lot and try new things in different ways until you start figuring out what ways work better than others. Trying to get specific advice and obeying the advice of strangers on the internet who also suck at writing will just homogenise your writing and make it both bad and unoriginal.
That's my philosophy :O Of course you also need to work on your grammar and such, but that goes without saying.
You get better at StarCraft by playing and studying. You get better at writing by writing and studying. You don't really get better at StarCraft by reading the strategy forum. You don't really get better at writing by posting on editing boards.
Practice is definitely the most important thing of course.
That doesn't diminish the utility of asking for comments though, even reading the posts and becoming used to the different styles in which people write is an excercise in the practice of English.
Best of luck.
WoShiMusashi.618
Add me for Battlin'
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I'm not much of a writer, but I have been friends with good writers. The best thing is to find some people who are willing to read your work and provide unbiased feedback. Good luck!
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Yup everything that the people above have said. I will add that to write succesfully you really have to love writing. I mean, writing all the time! And rejection, you will get rejected almost all of the time. But as long as you have a group of people willing to support you by giving critical feedback you will improve. You should also note that some the best writers started by self-publishing.
Why not post a little here and see what people say? If nothing else you might get some constructive criticism.
GL
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I love writing, I wrote a novel length fanfiction when I was 15 and have written two novels since then, and am starting another one. 18 now. (None have been published, of course. Though I am steadily improving, and I’m pretty happy with my recent work.) Wrote a few short stories and some flash fiction as well. Once again not published but it was fun to do.
Like people already mentioned one of the best ways to get better at writing is to just write. Practice, practice, practice. I’ve also gotten a number of books on writing, which have been pretty helpful.
Also there’s the Writing Excuses podcast which I listen to, the early podcasts were particularly helpful.
Reading lots of books is probably going to help. I try to gobble up a fair number of books, particularly in the genre I’m primarily writing in. (Fantasy.)
Not sure how helpful things like writing classes are, I’ve heard good things about some of them and bad things about them. Though the aforementioned Writing Excuses did a podcast on them. (Writing Excuses: Do Creative Writing Classes Help?)
Also don’t be discouraged by rejections when you send your work out. Lots of famous authors received loads of rejections before they got published. Tons of authors. Though admittedly some get lucky and don’t have too hard a time getting in.
On the subject of thinking you have a great idea. Usually what happens to me is I come up with an idea, and I’m like: “Omg, this is an amazing idea!” I wake up the next morning and my reaction is: “Blehg, that’s a horrible idea, I’m going to scrap it.” Sometimes these ideas will become apparent in later work in different forms, creating a Frankenstein monster if you like.
When I actually come up with a good idea it’s: “Omg, this is an amazing idea!” Followed by me writing it, becoming completely disheartened and depressed halfway through the book when I come to the conclusion that the idea’s horrible and the book is bad. A little while later I regain my mental composure and finish the book being relatively happy with the work. And I find a number of apparent flaws that I need to fix but despite that I see large improvements over my last work.
With all honesty though it is sometimes hard to tell if the idea you’ve come up with is good.
Generally I like to play around with the idea for a long time before committing to it, but I’m a person who likes to use relatively extensive outlines for my stuff. So playing with the idea to make sure it’s as good as possible might not work for everyone. Just some thoughts.
Hopefully this post is helpful and my thoughts aren’t too scattered. Regardless I wish you good luck!
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Hey, I'm also somewhat learning to write on my own (Engineering undergraduate course). Here's a few things i can suggest to you.
1) Planning
Like an SC1 / 2 game, you have a beginning, a middle and an end. Before writing, you should prepare these cores or otherwise you will find a lot of problems and writer's block. Background and setting is also a very important thing to prepare especially when it is your own stories (I do fanfics for now).
2) Try paper
I find that typing a story on the computer can be difficult in churning out the creative juices. If you find the same problem, go with the pencil and paper. I do this and it helps me a very great deal in correcting things, planning, side notes and so on for my stories. It helps me prepare for point 3 down here.
3) Editing
The first draft will always have things to work on. Do the editing as many times as necessary. Like others say, get people to read it and give you feedback. There are things that you will not be able to see at times until pointed out.
4) Style works
Every writer has a style. Question is, do you know what your style is? How can you improve it? Find other writers that have a similar style and perhaps you can mix into a brand new style of your own.
5) Ideas
Some ideas work, some don't. How do you know whether they do? Try these questions
-What is the moral of the story?
-What do you want to express in the story?
-How do you transition in between the plots?
-What makes it special from others?
-Can you make it work?
Good stories may not have the best ideas but the writer can make it up with skill and artwork.
6) Research, research, research
If you're doing say a sci fi, get a lot of research done. Know whats upcoming, what's existing and what is possibly under research. If you have your own creative sci fi idea, great. Does it work with real life physics? Or what would be the undertaking in order to conform it to function?
If fantasy, what kind of environment will it be? What myths and creatures that have existed before then? If I have a new creature, how would I make it be? Should it have a tall head or maybe a short one? Why does it have to be so? Research is the key.
In short, it is to know the inside and out of a genre in detail. Its also useful for general knowledge and social conversations ;D.
Just my 2 cents. If you have any questions, feel free to PM me here.
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I sent you a PM with some thoughts. Let us know whether you want feedback in this thread or in private.
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Pick a time and place to write, and write every day. Work, relax, don't think.
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EPT
