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Writing FAQ
Almost every user on this site has worked a page, be it an informational article, or the next great fiction. This page is written to help you, mostly in the latter, but most techniques could be applied to articles as well. For specific information on characters, go here.
1. Why do you write?
2. Short and Long stories
3. Perspective
4. Writing Style
5. Grammar - Common Errors
1. Why do you write?
No, this isn't a philosophical course, but you should understand how this idea affects your writing on multiple levels. Why do you write, in general? Do you want to inform, to delight, or to break a norm? What sort of writing will you bowl over the masses with? That's something you may not figure out until you've written for a while, but you should always ask yourself.
The other question, what do you want to do with your writing, what emotion do you want to inspire in the reader? Some stories loose themselves in their own writing because they were never written with a clear goal. Don't fall into the same trap. Write with something in mind, always, and stick with it.
The problem with many excellent works is where the writer simply stops updating. Sometimes, they loose interest, but it can also be self-doubt and a feeling that they have lost their touch. In every single case, finishing the story, no matter how poorly it pay appear to be, is better than letting it die off. Besides pissing off legions of readers, it's easier to come back and rewrite a piece rather than start from scratch, after a long period of isolation. That's what kills many fictions. The inability to keep writing.
As I've pointed out many times before, this is more pronounced in short fictions, where you lack the luxury of complex character development and an intricate plot, and that's what we'll cover next. The key thing to remember is that you have to realize what you really want to do in writing, or if you want to write at all. The only real advice I can give you, is to actually develop your own opinion. Don't turn someone else's desire into your own goal.
2. Short Versus Long Pieces
It seems to be a dumb question. Should you write a shorter story, or a longer one? It's much more involved than how much work you will need to put out. There is a fundamental difference in the way stories attract readers.
A longer story relies on immersion and reader connection. It keeps the reader hooked all the way through, because it's intricate characters and deep plot captures their wonder and curiosity. A moral or message works great, but including such isn't absolutely necessary for a good read.
A short fiction restricts the development one can feasibly display. The writer has to be very skilled in quickly developing characters, or use known ones, if the writer has an established character. The latter applies well to a fan fiction, where a short fiction may be an epilogue of sorts, tying together an established situation. It isn't possible to fully create and resolve a cast from scratch, and no matter the form, a short story's attraction is mainly it's emotional and symbolic appeal to a reader. Simply put, a short story has to be strong because of it's ideas, as well as it's cast and it's plot.
3. Writing Perspective
First, we'll look the kinds of perspective used in writing. Fiction is primarily written first and third person, but second person is occasionally used in some pieces.
First person means that the text is narrated by one of the characters, and everything is related from their perspective. They use "I" and "me", instead of "them" "he / her" or names.
First person makes it difficult to maintain a large cast, as the reader only knows what the narrator has learned. It is also awkward to change characters in a first person setting unless they are fully fleshed out. What has worked in the past, is when the main character of a story may be written from the first person, but they will narrate the events of other characters in a third person of some kind. First person stories are very often narratives utilizing past tense.
The main benefits of first person are the extent to which one can illustrate the events unfolding before the character, and the relative ease with which thoughts can be blended with description. In this respect, first person can be easier and harder than conventional third person to write effectively.
In the opposite direction, there it what is commonly called "stream of consciousness" writing. The writer puts down exactly what the character is thinking. Description of the background, sometimes even other dialogue is left out, for the reader to fill in with their own imagination. This type of writing has a very unique feel to it, but it is also quite a bit more difficult. The author recommends that a new writer use stream of consciousness to lay out the basis of an event, then build details upon the thoughts.
Example: "I was framed by ruddy brick and rain soaked cement as I strolled down the alley The misty air felt cool against my skin, swirling intricately into the lights above. I counted the doors, anticipating the lucrative deal my contact had related. Door number ten. I grabbed the brass knob and entered, for better or for worse."
First person can also be directed at the reader instead of simply stated. Generally, this is done in short pieces, but an entire story can be done in such a style, especially a recollection. Max Brooks' World War Z makes use of exactly such a style with it's interviews.
Example: "You know, they all say that emotion clogs up your performance, and slows you down. Now, if they'd have stopped to think for a darned second, they'd know it to be different. Think about it, would people even try without some kind of feelings pushing them along?
Whether it's to kick that smart ass in his smug face for messing with your family, or writing faster when that deadline is gettin close, there is never a single thing you do without emotion proddin you in the back. Sure, without emotion, we'd stop being so sloppy and rash, but would we do anything, period?"
Third person Limited and Third person Omniscient are probably the most common perspectives for fiction. The narrator, if the story does indeed have one, is not necessarily involved with the events of the story. The difference between the two, is that omniscient shows the thoughts of all characters equally, where third person limited is closer to first person in that it relates the thoughts of the main character.
Third person is probably the easiest and most flexible style for writing in general.
Example (limited): "Frank crashed through the half open panel, not daring to look back. The exit was so close, he pushed his legs to pump faster. He did not even consider if Christine or Kevin were keeping up, just if the next door was locked. Thankfully, it wasn't, and he immediately veered left for his prize. He barely grabbed the PS3 before being trampled by other shoppers. Black Friday was an evil, evil thing. He thought this before he passed out."
Example (omniscient): "As they collapsed into the grass, Mark fought the urge to yell "freedom!", having escaped his harrowing past. Jess thought the same, and more. Alive, sane, and in the presence of something worth living for. The two locked gazes and all at once shared this."
Second Person is a bit of an odd style. It is where the text states the events of the story as if the reader was the main character. It is pretty much guided first person. While entire stories written in this style are quite awkward, second person is a mainstay of many childhood "scare books," notably those that allow multiple endings depending on the reader's decisions, like a graphic novel.
Example: "You creep down the stairs, taking care not to create any noise. Half way down the oak steps, you see something that freezes the blood in your veins. Someone you've never seen before casually walks by the living room. The door is locked, and you heard no entry. Shaking now, you press your body against the wall and peer around the corner. IT scares you more than you could think possible. Nothing."
4. Writing Style
Writers are known for what they write, be it fantasy, science fiction, analysis. More than genre or target audience, however, is how the author chooses to express their thoughts. Writing style defines a writer as much as what they write about, and even when stating exactly the same thing, two different styles will have several times as many effects on the readers.
Almost every budding writer starts because of their respect for another author, and it's no big surprise when their work emulates a particular style. Indeed, this is a good way to discover what works, and what doesn't work, for the individual.
"Style" isn't just the mood of writing. It's the type of characters used, the imagery for the settings, the wording of every question.
It's the collective effect on the reader, from every aspect of the writer's work.
It's impossible to instruct someone on how to develop their personal style. The best I can say, is don't write to be like another person in the long term, or strive to be a deviant. While it is definitely true that you need to adopt a different tone for various characters, it's best to stay true to your particular style of writing.
Individuality is good, but it should come on it's own. Trying too hard to be different makes you more the same.
There's no "right" or "wrong" in writing.
5. Grammar
That's right. Gramm(a)r, not gramm(e)r.
While proper conventions aren't definitive of the intelligence or competence of a writer, they are important, and possibly the most immediately visible example of a writer's efforts.
Efforts? Some writers may have a hard time designing characters or illustrating a particular scene, but one can't pretend that they're "naturally bad at grammers" (mistakes intended) and use it as an excuse to be sloppy. Grammar is just memorization of patterns in writing. They are the reader's first impression of the writer's aptitude, and poor appearance can drive away readers without giving them a chance to get into the story.
Mozilla Firefox has a plugin for spellcheck, and Microsoft Word has a half decent spell and grammar checking program.
However, these can only help proofreading if the writer already has a good knowledge of conventions.
First and foremost, they for the most part don't catch grammatical mistakes, although MS word partially so. You could be spelling every word right, but using entirely the wrong word (they're, there, their) and completely botching sentence structure. You still need to proofread. They also have a limited dictionary, and you'll have to manually enter some words.
1. Why do you write?
2. Short and Long stories
3. Perspective
4. Writing Style
5. Grammar - Common Errors
1. Why do you write?
No, this isn't a philosophical course, but you should understand how this idea affects your writing on multiple levels. Why do you write, in general? Do you want to inform, to delight, or to break a norm? What sort of writing will you bowl over the masses with? That's something you may not figure out until you've written for a while, but you should always ask yourself.
The other question, what do you want to do with your writing, what emotion do you want to inspire in the reader? Some stories loose themselves in their own writing because they were never written with a clear goal. Don't fall into the same trap. Write with something in mind, always, and stick with it.
The problem with many excellent works is where the writer simply stops updating. Sometimes, they loose interest, but it can also be self-doubt and a feeling that they have lost their touch. In every single case, finishing the story, no matter how poorly it pay appear to be, is better than letting it die off. Besides pissing off legions of readers, it's easier to come back and rewrite a piece rather than start from scratch, after a long period of isolation. That's what kills many fictions. The inability to keep writing.
As I've pointed out many times before, this is more pronounced in short fictions, where you lack the luxury of complex character development and an intricate plot, and that's what we'll cover next. The key thing to remember is that you have to realize what you really want to do in writing, or if you want to write at all. The only real advice I can give you, is to actually develop your own opinion. Don't turn someone else's desire into your own goal.
2. Short Versus Long Pieces
It seems to be a dumb question. Should you write a shorter story, or a longer one? It's much more involved than how much work you will need to put out. There is a fundamental difference in the way stories attract readers.
A longer story relies on immersion and reader connection. It keeps the reader hooked all the way through, because it's intricate characters and deep plot captures their wonder and curiosity. A moral or message works great, but including such isn't absolutely necessary for a good read.
A short fiction restricts the development one can feasibly display. The writer has to be very skilled in quickly developing characters, or use known ones, if the writer has an established character. The latter applies well to a fan fiction, where a short fiction may be an epilogue of sorts, tying together an established situation. It isn't possible to fully create and resolve a cast from scratch, and no matter the form, a short story's attraction is mainly it's emotional and symbolic appeal to a reader. Simply put, a short story has to be strong because of it's ideas, as well as it's cast and it's plot.
3. Writing Perspective
First, we'll look the kinds of perspective used in writing. Fiction is primarily written first and third person, but second person is occasionally used in some pieces.
First person means that the text is narrated by one of the characters, and everything is related from their perspective. They use "I" and "me", instead of "them" "he / her" or names.
First person makes it difficult to maintain a large cast, as the reader only knows what the narrator has learned. It is also awkward to change characters in a first person setting unless they are fully fleshed out. What has worked in the past, is when the main character of a story may be written from the first person, but they will narrate the events of other characters in a third person of some kind. First person stories are very often narratives utilizing past tense.
The main benefits of first person are the extent to which one can illustrate the events unfolding before the character, and the relative ease with which thoughts can be blended with description. In this respect, first person can be easier and harder than conventional third person to write effectively.
In the opposite direction, there it what is commonly called "stream of consciousness" writing. The writer puts down exactly what the character is thinking. Description of the background, sometimes even other dialogue is left out, for the reader to fill in with their own imagination. This type of writing has a very unique feel to it, but it is also quite a bit more difficult. The author recommends that a new writer use stream of consciousness to lay out the basis of an event, then build details upon the thoughts.
Example: "I was framed by ruddy brick and rain soaked cement as I strolled down the alley The misty air felt cool against my skin, swirling intricately into the lights above. I counted the doors, anticipating the lucrative deal my contact had related. Door number ten. I grabbed the brass knob and entered, for better or for worse."
First person can also be directed at the reader instead of simply stated. Generally, this is done in short pieces, but an entire story can be done in such a style, especially a recollection. Max Brooks' World War Z makes use of exactly such a style with it's interviews.
Example: "You know, they all say that emotion clogs up your performance, and slows you down. Now, if they'd have stopped to think for a darned second, they'd know it to be different. Think about it, would people even try without some kind of feelings pushing them along?
Whether it's to kick that smart ass in his smug face for messing with your family, or writing faster when that deadline is gettin close, there is never a single thing you do without emotion proddin you in the back. Sure, without emotion, we'd stop being so sloppy and rash, but would we do anything, period?"
Third person Limited and Third person Omniscient are probably the most common perspectives for fiction. The narrator, if the story does indeed have one, is not necessarily involved with the events of the story. The difference between the two, is that omniscient shows the thoughts of all characters equally, where third person limited is closer to first person in that it relates the thoughts of the main character.
Third person is probably the easiest and most flexible style for writing in general.
Example (limited): "Frank crashed through the half open panel, not daring to look back. The exit was so close, he pushed his legs to pump faster. He did not even consider if Christine or Kevin were keeping up, just if the next door was locked. Thankfully, it wasn't, and he immediately veered left for his prize. He barely grabbed the PS3 before being trampled by other shoppers. Black Friday was an evil, evil thing. He thought this before he passed out."
Example (omniscient): "As they collapsed into the grass, Mark fought the urge to yell "freedom!", having escaped his harrowing past. Jess thought the same, and more. Alive, sane, and in the presence of something worth living for. The two locked gazes and all at once shared this."
Second Person is a bit of an odd style. It is where the text states the events of the story as if the reader was the main character. It is pretty much guided first person. While entire stories written in this style are quite awkward, second person is a mainstay of many childhood "scare books," notably those that allow multiple endings depending on the reader's decisions, like a graphic novel.
Example: "You creep down the stairs, taking care not to create any noise. Half way down the oak steps, you see something that freezes the blood in your veins. Someone you've never seen before casually walks by the living room. The door is locked, and you heard no entry. Shaking now, you press your body against the wall and peer around the corner. IT scares you more than you could think possible. Nothing."
4. Writing Style
Writers are known for what they write, be it fantasy, science fiction, analysis. More than genre or target audience, however, is how the author chooses to express their thoughts. Writing style defines a writer as much as what they write about, and even when stating exactly the same thing, two different styles will have several times as many effects on the readers.
Almost every budding writer starts because of their respect for another author, and it's no big surprise when their work emulates a particular style. Indeed, this is a good way to discover what works, and what doesn't work, for the individual.
"Style" isn't just the mood of writing. It's the type of characters used, the imagery for the settings, the wording of every question.
It's the collective effect on the reader, from every aspect of the writer's work.
It's impossible to instruct someone on how to develop their personal style. The best I can say, is don't write to be like another person in the long term, or strive to be a deviant. While it is definitely true that you need to adopt a different tone for various characters, it's best to stay true to your particular style of writing.
Individuality is good, but it should come on it's own. Trying too hard to be different makes you more the same.
There's no "right" or "wrong" in writing.
5. Grammar
That's right. Gramm(a)r, not gramm(e)r.
While proper conventions aren't definitive of the intelligence or competence of a writer, they are important, and possibly the most immediately visible example of a writer's efforts.
Efforts? Some writers may have a hard time designing characters or illustrating a particular scene, but one can't pretend that they're "naturally bad at grammers" (mistakes intended) and use it as an excuse to be sloppy. Grammar is just memorization of patterns in writing. They are the reader's first impression of the writer's aptitude, and poor appearance can drive away readers without giving them a chance to get into the story.
Mozilla Firefox has a plugin for spellcheck, and Microsoft Word has a half decent spell and grammar checking program.
However, these can only help proofreading if the writer already has a good knowledge of conventions.
First and foremost, they for the most part don't catch grammatical mistakes, although MS word partially so. You could be spelling every word right, but using entirely the wrong word (they're, there, their) and completely botching sentence structure. You still need to proofread. They also have a limited dictionary, and you'll have to manually enter some words.
John_234 |
Latest page update: made by John_234
, Apr 20 2010, 9:32 AM EDT
(about this update
About This Update
Edited by John_234
1 word added 1 word deleted view changes - complete history) |
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More Info: links to this page
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| Started By | Thread Subject | Replies | Last Post | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| vampirejediknight | On Grammar (page: 1 2) | 20 | Nov 14 2011, 7:50 AM EST by crittergetter | ||
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Thread started: Nov 6 2011, 9:21 AM EST
Watch
I'd just like to point out that the majority of people on the internet use "your" for "you're" and vice versa, and it's really starting to annoy.
Also, it's better to learn grammar and turn your grammar check off on microsoft word, because it will often advise you incorrectly. Also, if you're wondering why it matters (which was addressed in the page to a satisfactory degree, I think), it's because people won't listen to your actual point if they beleive you to be less intelegent. It makes reading and understanding difficult as well as making you look steroetypical. This page is very informative and well done. I congratulate its author. Also, "its" means belonging to "it," while "it's" is a contraction meaning "it is." Just my notes on the subject. |
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| candy800 | Yes, as a wannabe be writer. | 0 | Jul 25 2010, 1:45 PM EDT by candy800 | ||
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Thread started: Jul 25 2010, 1:45 PM EDT
Watch
Yes very informative page! ,
I am a wannabe writer and this has been very helpful. I find that very few pages are dedicated simply to the task of enjoyment for the public domain therefore I am applying to be a writer(check out my progress on my profile) because I would like to put a few pages forward to make it fun and exciting! I think we should make more Movie and book review pages on the reference section and some polls (etc) . Perhaps on community topics! Writing should be enjoyable and this page puts forward helpful advice for wannabe writers . Well done . Candy800 |
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| jdfcanada | Good read | 0 | May 8 2010, 3:37 PM EDT by jdfcanada | ||
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