Some Old Writing Tips: Part II

Did I say that I was going to post these *soon*? Because I really meant later. Whoops. Anyway, sorry about so much space between this and 'Some Old Writing Tips: Part I'.

Some all-around tips:

1). Don't be neat. Now, that might seem rather odd, but when I mean to not be neat, I mean to not sweat the details in your first draft. You should be neat in your final draft of your book, but when you're beginning, don't spend half an hour trying to make your first chapter perfect. If you agonize over every single word, phrase, and action, you won't get much done and your work will sound too labored. That is why I like to write my first draft instead of type it. If I type it, I'm tempted to delete and re-delete, which is made very easy by a handy-dandy delete button. If you write with a pen, you can't erase, which keeps you from getting hung up over a mere sentence. If there is something that you know needs editing in your first draft, just make a note of it in the margin and keep going. It doesn't matter if your book is perfect by the first-draft! Because it's not going to be. This is what made the Elandai series [now 'out of print', lol] so hard to write; you guys basically saw my first draft of it.

2). Start out simple. Right now, I'm on a level with some of my books where I have sub-plots and sub-sub plots, supporting characters and characters that support the supporting characters. It's very hard. If you're just writing your first book, I would suggest you start off with just one plot (maybe a small sub-plot, too) and just a few supporting characters. Then you can get more complicated as you go.

3). Talk to other first-time authors. When I was just starting out, I had a lot of friends who wrote--but I didn't know they did. It's encouraging to talk to other young authors, not to mention helpful.

4). Find out what genre you are. I am a fantasy/allegorical genre. Seriously, I can't write anything else then fantasy and allegories. I've tried historical fiction, sci-fi, contemporary, and others, but I can't write those. You can experiment to find it out, or you can think on what books you read a lot of. Read a whole bunch of fantasy? You might want to try writing fantasy.

5). Read. A lot. I think that's self-explanatory, but I'll explain anyway. If you find a really good author, study their writing style. They probably use a lot of strong verbs (like sprinted or dashed instead of ran) and you can copy their ways of making the reader interested.

6). Have other people read your books. The first book I actually let someone read was the first third of Sarea. They probably will be able to tell you if your characters are strong, plot interesting, etc.

7). Get a fair amount of sleep, drink a lot of water, eat healthy, get a good amount of exercise. They're actually important factors of good writing because they keep your brain in good shape.

8). Get your school-work and chores done before you sit down to write. That way there will be less interruptions from siblings or parents asking if your household duties are done yet, and you will be able to concentrate more if you don't have a to-do list hanging over your head.

9). Try to write often, even if it's only for a little while. If you skip one day, it'll be easier to skip a week.

10). Don't give up! No one ever becomes world-best author without a lot of work.

A tip or two on strong characters:

#1. Base them on a real person. A lot of times, I base my main character, at least, on someone I know, including me. Ehra in Sarea for example. She's based on two real people: one friend for personality, and another for looks (with some of her own, too). If you think you'll get too attached to a character you're going to have die, then...I guess you could make up your own personality or something. I don't usually kill my characters, so I'm not much help there. I also base my bad guys on unsavory characters I know, or even historical ones (such as Sisera from Judges 4, or Judas Iscariot from Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). Basing them on real people helps when you aren't quite sure how your character would react in a situation; simply have them act like the person they're based on would.

#2. Put some of their background into it. Add something more personal about them, so the reader really feels that they know the character. I added a few pages in Sarea when Ehra is talking to her parents, whom she has a very close relationship with. I also added a chapter when Ehra and her sister are chatting with some gossipy village girls, showing how different they are.

And a suggestion on lightening dark plots:

Add little children into it. They're so innocent and funny; it lightens up the plot right away. I am naturally very optimistic, so I don't tend to have this problem, but I do have it sometimes. Also add some friendly family into it; if your character is an orphan with a sibling who's her mortal enemy, is running away from a cruel slaver while unwittingly falling into a trap their malicious sibling has set, it would make for an interesting story line, but it'd be extremely dark and...not very pro-family.

Izori

READ THIS!!!!

We were forwarded this, so therefore I'm going to share it 'with everyone I know' the best way I can. By blogging it. Meet Brian Chontosh Churchville-Chili Central School Class of 1991. Proud graduate of the Rochester Institute of Technology. Husband and about-to-be father. First lieutenant (now Captain) in the United States Marine Corps. And a genuine hero, the secretary of the Navy said so yesterday. At 29 Palms in California Brian Chontosh was presented with the Navy Cross, the second highest award for combat bravery the United States can bestow. That's a big deal. But you won't see it on the network news tonight And all you'll read in Brian's hometown newspaper is two paragraphs of nothing. The odd fact about the American media in this war is that it's not covering the American military. The most plugged-in nation in the world is receiving virtually no true information about what its warriors are doing. Oh, sure, there's a body count. We know how many Americans have fallen. And we see those same casket pictures day in and day out. And we're almost on a first-name basis with the jerks who abused the Iraqi prisoners. And we know all about improvised explosive devices and how we lost Fallujah and what Arab public-opinion polls say about us and how the world hates us. We get a non-stop feed of gloom and doom but we don't hear about the heroes. The incredibly brave GIs who honorably do their duty. The ones our grandparents would have carried on their shoulders down Fifth Avenue . The ones we completely ignore, like Brian Chontosh. It was a year ago on the march into Baghdad . Brian Chontosh was a platoon leader rolling up Highway 1 in a humvee. When all hell broke loose. Ambush city. The young Marines were being cut to ribbons. Mortars, machine guns, rocket propelled grenades. And the kid out of Churchville was in charge. It was do or die and it was up to him. So he moved to the side of his column, looking for a way to lead his men to safety. As he tried to poke a hole through the Iraqi line his humvee came under direct enemy machine gun fire. It was fish in a barrel and the Marines were the fish. And Brian Chontosh gave the order to attack.. He told his driver to floor the humvee directly at the machine gun emplacement that was firing at them. And he had the guy on top with the 50 cal unload on them. Within moments there were Iraqis slumped across their machine guns and Chontosh was still advancing, ordering his driver now to take the humvee directly into the Iraqi trench that was attacking his Marines.. Over into the battlement the humvee went and outthe door Brian Chontosh bailed, carrying an M16 and a Beretta and 228 years of Marine Corps pride. And he ran along the trench, with its mortars and riflemen, machine guns and grenadiers. And he killed them all. He fought with the M16 until it was out of ammo. Then he fought with the Beretta until it was out of ammo. Then he picked up a dead man's AK4 and fought with that until it was out of ammo. Then he picked up another dead man's AK47 and fought with that until it was out of ammo. At one point he even fired a discarded Iraqi RPG into an enemy cluster, sending attackers flying with its grenade explosion. When he was done Brian Chontosh had cleared 200 yards of entrenched Iraqis from his platoon's flank. He had killed more than 20 and wounded at least as many more. But that's probably not how he would tell it. He would probably merely say that his Marines were in trouble, and he got them out of trouble. Ooh-rah, and drive on. "By his outstanding display of decisive leadership, unlimited courage in the face of heavy enemy fire, and utmost devotion to duty, 1st Lt. Chontosh reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service." That's what the citation says. And that's what nobody will hear. That's what doesn't seem to be making the evening news. Accounts of American valor are dismissed by the press as propaganda, yet accounts of American difficulties are heralded as objectivity.. It makes you wonder if the role of the media is to inform or to depress - to report or to deride. To tell the truth, or to feed us lies. But I guess it doesn't matter.We're going to turn out all right as long as men like Brian Chontosh wear our uniform. If you are as proud of this Marine as I am, then send this to EVERYONE YOU KNOW

Writer's Daybook

Writer's Daybook
Entry 10

What time is it...10:06 AM

I'm feeling...just a bit nervous .

Outside is...melting snow. The sun...finally!

Today I...am going to perform at a nursing home. And write a scene of the script.

I am hearing...Galdor playing in the family room.

I am hoping...that my wrists will hold up today.

I'm looking forward to...relaxing.

I am glad that...I'm not *too* nervous. I've known my piano pieces ever since December.

What I'm currently working on writing-wise...script and my new book.

What I just finished reading...uh, I've been reading things such as Emma and The Black Arrow, but I haven't finished either.

What I'm hoping to read...Jane Ehre. Is that how you spell 'Ehre'?

Writing buddy who I talked to last...igirl.

Writing tip of the week...don't spend so much time on the computer that you're absolutely brainwashed.

Number of words I wrote this week...maybe 6,000.

What time is it...10:12 AM

Izori

My Opinion on 'Avatar'

No, I haven't seen it, but I have formed my own opinion of it. I've seen pictures and ads for it, and I think I would have to agree the most with Doug Phillips. Go HERE to read a very interesting post by him on this movie.

Izori

Look like spring is just around the corner!

Finally! The white in our yard is finally starting to give way to green! Before, probably because snow was so rare, I would usually be really sad that the snow was starting to melt, but now I'm really, really happy.

And then of course, snow is a possibility in the next few days.

:(

Oh well. Heh, I guess that I'll appreciate summer more. I usually don't like summer because it's so hot and you just feel like crawling down into the basement and dunking your head under running water.

Did you know that I started another book? Yes, another one. I'm not quite sure what it'll be about yet, but I'm sure it'll be another allegory. And I already thought up a really cool character.

Izori

Another person made it home...

Hope, who many people have been praying for over the last few months, died after a hard battle with cancer. Go HERE to read about the end of her journey, and please pray for her family. I've had pets die, not to mention relatives and an older sibling that I never knew, but I can't imagine how hard it is to lose a daughter.

I'll see you there, Hope!

Izori

Writer's Daybook

Writer's Daybook
Entry 8 or 9. I'll go with 9.

What time is it...3:11 PM

I'm feeling...a little overwhelmed.

Outside is...Snow. I'm sick of it now. Anyone want some snow? 'Cause it's free for the taking! Just grab it out of my front yard! jk, lol.

Today I...went to the alpaca meeting. Alpacas are so...so...unlovable. They don't even look cute. And they're so skitterish! I'm actually kind of afraid of them. Horses are so much more easy to deal with, and less frightening, and more loving, and more cute, and more fun, and less persnickety, and less...

I am hearing...silence. Blessed silence. I should make a poem about that.

I am hoping...that I'll get everything done today! I already wrote some of the script for my friends today (I'm feeling a little guilty--haven't worked on it in so long). And I'd also like to make quartet arrangements for Danny Boy. Might use them for a little singing group, but it's mainly for fun.

I'm looking forward to...when Galdor gets up from his nap. That's when I get to play the piano, because if I play it now it'll wake him up. And no one wants a cranky baby on the loose!

I am glad that...I got to sleep in today.

What I'm currently working on writing-wise...screenplay.

What I just finished reading...gee, I haven't read in such a long time...'Castaways of the Flying Dutchman' I suppose

What I'm hoping to read...The Adventures of Tintin all over again. Like Ehra, I'm really into them!

Writing buddy who I talked to last...igirl. For real. I saw her yesterday. Briefly, of course. :(

Writing tip of the week...I would say don't procrastinate, but then you could call me a humbug. So...uh, don't procrastinate.

Number of words I wrote this week...maybe 1,000.

What time is it...3:18 PM