Location: Writing FAQ

Discussion: How to improve writing.Reported This is a featured thread

Showing 1 - 20 of 32  |  Show  posts at a time
2 | Next
John_234
John_234
How to improve writing.
Oct 4 2009, 5:28 PM EDT | Post edited: Oct 4 2009, 5:28 PM EDT
How many of you guys would be interested if I wrote a page on how to improve one's writing, mainly fiction?

It'd focus on common mistakes, differences in various types of story, and perspective.Trouble shooting plot and conflict.
Possibly building characters, an overview of combat, dialogue, and the peculiarities of various types of scenes.

I aim to help a writer develop their own voice, and to write as incredibly as I do.

The latter is a half joke, as writing like me would require an uncommon degree of insanity and creativity.

But that's the fun in writing, eh?
Do you find this valuable?    
John199312
John199312
1. RE: How to improve writing.
Oct 4 2009, 7:17 PM EDT | Post edited: Oct 4 2009, 7:17 PM EDT
"How many of you guys would be interested if I wrote a page on how to improve one's writing, mainly fiction?

It'd focus on common mistakes, differences in various types of story, and perspective.Trouble shooting plot and conflict.
Possibly building characters, an overview of combat, dialogue, and the peculiarities of various types of scenes.

I aim to help a writer develop their own voice, and to write as incredibly as I do.

The latter is a half joke, as writing like me would require an uncommon degree of insanity and creativity.

But that's the fun in writing, eh?"
Please do, but, as a sidenote, I think A_G would love it if you showed his site some love.
Do you find this valuable?    
StrykerPez
StrykerPez
2. RE: How to improve writing.
Oct 4 2009, 7:23 PM EDT | Post edited: Oct 4 2009, 7:23 PM EDT
I'd like to see it. I think I have decent writing style but it could definitely be improved. Do you find this valuable?    
ironhand
ironhand
3. RE: How to improve writing.
Oct 4 2009, 7:30 PM EDT | Post edited: Oct 4 2009, 7:30 PM EDT
Good idea, John.

I think everyone could benefit from that : )

Do you find this valuable?    
Freelancer47
Freelancer47
4. RE: How to improve writing.
Oct 4 2009, 8:49 PM EDT | Post edited: Oct 4 2009, 8:49 PM EDT
I'm all for it Mr. 234... DO IT! Do you find this valuable?    
IrishHitman
IrishHitman
5. RE: How to improve writing.
Oct 4 2009, 8:53 PM EDT | Post edited: Oct 4 2009, 8:53 PM EDT
Seems like a decent plan. Do you find this valuable?    
timberrattler
timberrattler
6. RE: How to improve writing.
Oct 4 2009, 8:54 PM EDT | Post edited: Oct 4 2009, 8:54 PM EDT
I've been flirting with trying my hand at writing its just a leap of faith to put your work out there for people to see.

I think that I could use some instruction. Its been a long time since high school for me.
Do you find this valuable?    
IrishHitman
IrishHitman
7. RE: How to improve writing.
Oct 4 2009, 8:58 PM EDT | Post edited: Oct 4 2009, 8:58 PM EDT
"I've been flirting with trying my hand at writing its just a leap of faith to put your work out there for people to see.

I think that I could use some instruction. Its been a long time since high school for me."
Exercising one's creative side is an essential part of keeping innovation at the forefront of your mind, in my opinion.
Do you find this valuable?    
John_234
John_234
8. RE: How to improve writing.
Oct 4 2009, 9:10 PM EDT | Post edited: Oct 4 2009, 9:10 PM EDT
I added a bit on types of perspective, check it out.

Stryker, you'll like the second quote....
Do you find this valuable?    
IrishHitman
IrishHitman
9. RE: How to improve writing.
Oct 4 2009, 9:16 PM EDT | Post edited: Oct 4 2009, 9:16 PM EDT
"I added a bit on types of perspective, check it out.

Stryker, you'll like the second quote...."
The Black Friday quote?

Honestly, what is Black Friday?
"Let's go insane" day?
Do you find this valuable?    
John_234
John_234
10. RE: How to improve writing.
Oct 4 2009, 9:18 PM EDT | Post edited: Oct 4 2009, 9:18 PM EDT
"The Black Friday quote?

Honestly, what is Black Friday?
"Let's go insane" day?"
Well, if you're honestly asking, it's when they slash the prices on everything just before thanksgiving.
HUGE price cuts, so everybody sells well.

There have been cases where people have been killed for getting in the way of a mob of shoppers.
Do you find this valuable?    
IrishHitman
IrishHitman
11. RE: How to improve writing.
Oct 4 2009, 9:20 PM EDT | Post edited: Oct 4 2009, 9:20 PM EDT
"Well, if you're honestly asking, it's when they slash the prices on everything just before thanksgiving.
HUGE price cuts, so everybody sells well.

There have been cases where people have been killed for getting in the way of a mob of shoppers."
Ah.

I youtubed it, and got a video of crazy people.
Do you find this valuable?    
John_234
John_234
12. RE: How to improve writing.
Oct 4 2009, 9:23 PM EDT | Post edited: Oct 4 2009, 9:23 PM EDT
"Ah.

I youtubed it, and got a video of crazy people."
That is really what it is. A bunch of cheapasses going nuts over prices.

What'd you think of the page thus far?
Do you find this valuable?    
IrishHitman
IrishHitman
13. RE: How to improve writing.
Oct 4 2009, 9:29 PM EDT | Post edited: Oct 4 2009, 9:29 PM EDT
"That is really what it is. A bunch of cheapasses going nuts over prices.

What'd you think of the page thus far?"
It's good.

The next step would be to add various techniques, such as in medias res etc.
Do you find this valuable?    
PointMan
PointMan
14. RE: How to improve writing.
Oct 4 2009, 9:30 PM EDT | Post edited: Oct 4 2009, 9:30 PM EDT
"That is really what it is. A bunch of cheapasses going nuts over prices.

What'd you think of the page thus far?"
I think we have the right type of members contributing in here, I myself would really benefit from someone teaching me how to write.
Do you find this valuable?    
killerZtime
killerZtime
15. RE: How to improve writing.
Oct 4 2009, 9:33 PM EDT | Post edited: Oct 4 2009, 9:33 PM EDT
"I think we have the right type of members contributing in here, I myself would really benefit from someone teaching me how to write."
AS would I,Thanks John 234
Do you find this valuable?    
IrishHitman
IrishHitman
16. RE: How to improve writing.
Oct 4 2009, 9:53 PM EDT | Post edited: Oct 4 2009, 9:53 PM EDT
Maybe a section on plot writing would be a good idea.

Keep main characters reactive, not proactive, etc.
Do you find this valuable?    
SkipNChurch
SkipNChurch
17. RE: How to improve writing.
Oct 4 2009, 11:17 PM EDT | Post edited: Oct 4 2009, 11:17 PM EDT
"Good writing" will remind us of several things happening at once.
People and persons are not clones of each other no matter how well trained or together they are as a unit, or how disparate they are when thrown together by circumstance.

Everyone is an individual. voices, inflections, tones, accents will all bear witness to individuals trying to find a voice in events writer has chosen to throw them together in.

For the Zombie genre, we must remember that people in cities have certain daily skills that folks in rural areas have little or no need of. Ruralites will have needs for some tools and things that the urban man or woman cannot conceive any use for.

Mixing, matching people from different neighborhoods in the city or suburbs may make for more of a dramatic mixing of mores than a bus full of Future Farmers kids from different areas being tossed into Day Zed.

"Decent" writing has reader wanting more of story, wondering which direction things are going to happen. As authors we want to avoid tendency to make "TAAAAA-DA!!!" happen in story, leaving a huge hole of "Huh? Whu happn'd man???" in the midst of it.

Suprised slots, holes to be filled in later, spots with no immediate answers, and hopefully things to cause caution are tools to allow author to be able to build drama.

Drama is what helps build suspense, and in turn cause readers to want more of what you write.

kFL
Do you find this valuable?    
Troy_Redgrave
Troy_Redgrave
18. RE: How to improve writing.
Oct 5 2009, 12:48 AM EDT | Post edited: Oct 5 2009, 12:48 AM EDT
I'd love to see it. I just started writing, and tips from someone who's work you've seen is always valuable. Do you find this valuable?    
ViolentKisses
ViolentKisses
19. RE: How to improve writing.
Oct 5 2009, 4:44 PM EDT | Post edited: Oct 5 2009, 4:44 PM EDT
I like writing but school has ruined it for me and has washed away my soul with piles of meaningless papers 3  out of 3 found this valuable. Do you?    
2 | Next

Related Content

  (what's this?Related ContentThanks to keyword tags, links to related pages and threads are added to the bottom of your pages. Up to 15 links are shown, determined by matching tags and by how recently the content was updated; keeping the most current at the top. Share your feedback on Wetpaint Central.)