8 TIPS WHEN WRITING

 

HERE IS 8 TIPS TO KEEP IN MIND WHEN WRITING 

(These are some tips to keep in mind when writing, they're inspired by this guardian article, while it's an informative and insightful read, some come off comedic and the list is quite large, so here are seven main tips I've gathered from reading it over as someone who writes mainly fictional stories. Here are my opinions on the tips I found most important and also clear exceptions.) 

            https://www.theguardian.com/books/2010/feb/20/ten-rules-for-writing-fiction-part-one

    1. Never open your story with the weather. If you do only to create an atmosphere and not a character's reaction to the weather, you don't want to begin your story with this cliché or long introduction.

    HOWEVER, and here me out: unless it is necessary for the sake of your reader! For example, when starting a story that takes place in a fantasy world, this can be an excellent start to your story. When you're writing begins by demanding your reader suspend their disbelief, starting with something the reader can find realistic comfort in can be a good start. For example, "The sky was clear, absent of any clouds and the sun shone brightly across the griffin's large feathers," by starting with the weather and sky description can allow your reader to believe in the griffin's existence because they can agree with the first three statements, it can help them agree to the next.

    ALSO, setting the story's mood a certain way is NOT a negative thing. If it's a romance story, describing the story's introduction can play to a certain trope that the reader's can be familiar with. And, when it comes to genres such as Harlequins, readers love what they can recognize as familiar. It's like wrapping a candy in red paper if it's strawberry flavoured, or yellow if lemon. It's not necessary for the person eating the candy in order to recognize the flavor, but it's a welcomed comfort.

    SO, in regards to opening with weather. Try not to, but if you do, make sure it's for a specific intent and not to 

2. Avoid prologues. They often turn into info dumps that can be placed in a more "show not tell" way throughout or later on in your story. Unless, it is telling the reader something that cannot be told in the story. This means if your prologue is the form of letters or a letter which would not fit into the story then GO for it. Or in many of my own cases, if it's a different point of view. Most of my stories are written from the 1st POV narrative, thus the reader learns at the same pace as the narrator. Sometimes, I use a prologue to give the reader a either different voice or POV that allows the reader to be properly set up. For example, in my story THE ELEMENTAL CHRONICLES (can be read here: https://www.wattpad.com/1186798340-the-elemental-chronical-prologue) I use a prologue to give a scene from the protagonists childhood which allows the reader to expect the story to start a certain why. The prologue focuses on two character's sibling relationship which later becomes clear something about this once good relationship has gone bad. It allows the reader to seek answers for this change, and drives the actions and reactions between the two later. 

3. Don't go into great details with descriptions. I cannot tell you how many times I've read a book and it hits me with a long description that completely looses me. Descriptions do not need to be extremely detailed and in fact, it can be helpful for the reader's own perception of the book if their not. Of course, that doesn't mean avoid descriptions, this one is more of a caution. You don't need a long description to paint a picture. For example: "The tree was as tall as the sky it reached for" is just as if not more effective than "The trunk was rough, it's bark a mixture of moss and a deep sienna brown and that it's height grew beyond the measuring of the buildings around it. The texture drove upwards towards the tree's long branches which acted like long, never-ending arms that seemed endless with their insect riddled bark and the spotted pattern of the curved, deep green leaves." While you might think the second isn't that terrible (If the second one didn't completely confuse you, good for you) imagine every description like that and don't internally cringe. 

4. This is actually one I am taking straight from the article and it's descriptions are hard. They are! Do not stress about them, the best thing you can do when you're stuck is write what you know. All descriptions are a mere opinion of something existing in the world or in your experience of the world. If you don't know how to write it, or where to start, start with something familiar to you. For example, if writing about a dragon, and you don't know where to start, google what a dragon looks like. Or even just research lizards. I went to Cuba back in June and let me tell you, watching those little salamanders wiggle around has helped me immensely when writing about dragons surprisingly enough. 

5. A story needs rhythm. Read your story out loud or force a loved one to read it. Sometimes when we write, we aggressively word vomit. Which isn't a bad thing, it just can sometimes make waves in the vibe. Read it out loud and make sure everything flows. 

    Is the grammar ok? Can your reader breathe? Do the words sound nice to the ears? 

6. Protect your experiences and the experiences of those around you! When we write, the best thing you can do is write what you know, or what your loved ones know. It is ok to borrow their attributes or experiences (depending on the experience, consent might be a good thing) as long as you protect both your personal and their personal privacy and dignity. For example: if you write a character based off yourself who has struggled with their mental illness that's alright. However, that is also your own business and no one needs to know where that character's experience is based off. The same goes with your loved ones. If you write up a character where a "sister" character takes after attributes from your own sibling, that's fine. However, if you're borrowing attributes from your friend's secrets, ask for consent first. The world never needs to know where it came from, but you will know and your friend will know so ask first. There's no worse feeling than reading a book and realizing your friend had used your struggle for their own gain. 

7. Show not tell. It can be hard to do so, but it allows your readers an even more greater experience when they can fully absorb the information like they were apart of the story instead of watching it from afar. For example: "He was a vampire" is a fact that is thrown towards us which distances us from the experience of the book. This way: "He lifted his top lip, pulling it back into a smirk and as he did, a sharp canine gleamed in the light" allows your reader to feel the experience and be apart of it rather than distanced from it.     

8. REMEMBER THAT YOU LOVE WRITING. Writing can be hard but it is ever so rewarding. We love it, even if it doesn't love us back. That's alright.   

Those are all the tips I can think of right now! They provide a good base for either the start or your journey or help with your current journey. All of these points have exceptions, they'll have some I hadn't mentioned too. And remember, writer's are hypocrites. We write of different experiences that will at times counteract other experiences we've written. I can promise you there have been times I haven't followed all 8 of these tips and I will continue to do so. That's alright. The perfect thing about writing is there's no perfect way to do it. 

    Be you and that's the writer you should be.