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Any writers in the house? - 1/28/2014 9:55:24 AM

ARIES83

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In the recent thread about peoples careers, I noticed a few posters were interested in writing.

I was wondering if there were any Writers/Authors here, and if so would you care to share any techniques/ methods which have helped you with your writing, for the benefit of those just starting out or struggling.

< Message edited by ARIES83 -- 1/28/2014 9:56:49 AM >

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RE: Any writers in the house? - 1/28/2014 10:16:24 AM

Rule

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Participate in as many short story contests as you can, provided that they have a good reputation, and especially if the jury comments on each story.

I recently published a book on Smashwords. So far one sale and a couple of dollars in one month. I need one hundred thousand sales!

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RE: Any writers in the house? - 1/28/2014 12:48:17 PM

SylvereApLeanan

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Know your genre/audience. Each genre of writing has different rules. Writing for the web requires a different technique than creative writing. It's more like journalism or writing an op-ed piece for a magazine and follows AP style format when it comes to punctuation and when to spell out number words or use numerals. Writing romance/erotica is not the same as writing sci-fi or mystery but all of them follow the format in Chicago Manual of Style.

If you're writing fiction, it's best to take a writing class at your local university so you have the benefit of the workshop environment. If you don't have that option, study the masters in whatever genre you choose and read as many writer's reference books as you can lay hands on. There are dozens of books that will help you with everything from basic writing techniques, such as The Art of Fiction by John Gardner, to books that are genre specific, such as the Writer's Reference library from Writer's Digest Magazine. You may also benefit from finding a writer's group. Check Meetup.com to see if there are any writing groups in your area. Don't give your writing to your friends/family because they probably aren't going to be able to give you the constructive critique you need to improve. That's why workshops and writing groups are important.

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RE: Any writers in the house? - 1/28/2014 1:34:52 PM

RedMagic1

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quote:

ORIGINAL: ARIES83

In the recent thread about peoples careers, I noticed a few posters were interested in writing.

I was wondering if there were any Writers/Authors here, and if so would you care to share any techniques/ methods which have helped you with your writing, for the benefit of those just starting out or struggling.

http://www.reddit.com/r/books/comments/1qb6tz/ive_been_a_professional_novelist_since_1998_i/

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RE: Any writers in the house? - 1/28/2014 4:42:23 PM

Kisuka

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This isn't exactly "writing" as much as practicing penmanship, but... One of my future plans is to make my own parchment paper, make my own hard covers, and copy the stories from the games of "The Elder Scrolls". And this is the important part... It'll be written by hand with a Quill Pen. (there's over 900 three to five+ page books in this series of games).

I know I'm a nerd.

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RE: Any writers in the house? - 1/28/2014 4:46:50 PM

Moonhead

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It's nice to have a hobby.

Would using a dip pen rather than a quill be cheating?

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RE: Any writers in the house? - 1/28/2014 4:48:02 PM

LookieNoNookie

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quote:

ORIGINAL: ARIES83

In the recent thread about peoples careers, I noticed a few posters were interested in writing.

I was wondering if there were any Writers/Authors here, and if so would you care to share any techniques/ methods which have helped you with your writing, for the benefit of those just starting out or struggling.

As someone who has written hundreds of press releases, copy unending, legions of docs, speeches, legislation....the best advice for a writer (from my very limited experience) is.....

To write.

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RE: Any writers in the house? - 1/28/2014 4:53:17 PM

Kisuka

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Moonhead

Would using a dip pen rather than a quill be cheating?

I would say no. They're just forms of the same means, right? I mean hell... I could just use a basic yellow pencil and a notebook... but that would ruin all authenticity.

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RE: Any writers in the house? - 1/28/2014 4:57:29 PM

Moonhead

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I can dig it: there's no point doing something like that if you don't do it right, is there?

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RE: Any writers in the house? - 1/28/2014 5:02:16 PM

Kisuka

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Nope, but I have a long way to go. Not only will it take forever, cost a bunch of money on ink, cost a bunch of paper, and probably give me carpel tunnel multiple times through the writing... but if I want it done right, who is better to judge than the hand that makes it?

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RE: Any writers in the house? - 1/28/2014 5:51:16 PM

HipPoindexter

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quote:

Don't give your writing to your friends/family because they probably aren't going to be able to give you the constructive critique you need to improve.

I would add to this that, especially when you're at the phase where first and foremost you just need to make yourself write, where you just need to get in the habit of getting your words down instead of daydreaming about things you wish you were writing, do NOT tell your amazing ideas for stories/novels/songs/whatever to your friends. It feels like you're going to be getting feedback that will help you when you decide to start writing things down, but all that really happens is you get some cheap and useless positive attention. Part of why we write is for attention, so being able to get attention and some quick and cheap praise for how clever you are without actually having written anything down quickly becomes a disincentive to actually doing the work you know you need to do.

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RE: Any writers in the house? - 1/28/2014 6:13:59 PM

Missokyst

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*FR*
I have also considered writing someday. I used to have a fan club back when the web was younger and more innocent. It would be nice to jump back in now that people are more jaded to see what the response might be today.
Do any of you ever post stories in the creative writing section here?

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RE: Any writers in the house? - 1/28/2014 6:16:50 PM

ChatteParfaitt

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Get in the habit of writing everyday. It's one reason I started the blog, I wanted to be forced to write -- to have that blank page and have put something on there.

Of course read, but when you read, study what you're reading. How did that particular author put the story together? What is the theme, etc. Learn to dissect what you're reading. Fiction is built of various components, and you won't be able to master them until you can identify them.

The idea about short story writing contests is a good one. Very few will publish an unpublished author. Get yourself published however you can.

You can find copies of Writers Digest at the library. It's a must read. Also the Writer's Market. Knowing genres and markets is a huge part of the publishing game.

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RE: Any writers in the house? - 1/28/2014 10:09:55 PM

MasterCaneman

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I like to pretend I'm a writer. I have a clumsy piece in the Writing forum, but it isn't very good. I basically get an idea, and hammer away at it until it's either done or I run out of gas and set it aside. As a result, I have megabytes of unfinished pieces. That's my biggest problem-ending the story, otherwise it just keeps going ad infinitum.

Is there anything out there that can help an amateur writer learn how to do this? Ending a story in a meaningful way, that is? It drives me nuts to go over some of what I've written and not being able to see how it ends up.

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RE: Any writers in the house? - 1/29/2014 12:22:30 AM

Rule

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I have the same ending problem. I never found a solution.

I think that it might be best to ask and answer a couple of questions before one starts to write a story.

1. What is the problem
2. What are possible solutions
3. What is the story about, i.e. what is its essence.
4. What other couple of problems can be introduced to enable the character to grow and for the readers to be prepared for the final solution.
5. Etcetera.

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Si vis pacem, para bellum.

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RE: Any writers in the house? - 1/29/2014 12:28:18 AM

EdBowie

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Don't turn down anything.

I've written for free, I've written for free copies, I've written in small town papers that were glad to have the filler, I've done all sorts of articles and chapter reviews, and after a while some small checks started rolling in. (and I mean small...$25 to $50).
I'm at the point now where I might even see a couple of real bucks depending on overall sales, and my publisher has shown interest in some projects that I mentioned while discussing the for spec book I'm working on now.

If I had waited for a 'real' writing gig to come along, I'd probably still be waiting.

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RE: Any writers in the house? - 1/29/2014 12:37:02 AM

DaddySatyr

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quote:

ORIGINAL: MasterCaneman

I like to pretend I'm a writer. I have a clumsy piece in the Writing forum, but it isn't very good. I basically get an idea, and hammer away at it until it's either done or I run out of gas and set it aside. As a result, I have megabytes of unfinished pieces. That's my biggest problem-ending the story, otherwise it just keeps going ad infinitum.

Is there anything out there that can help an amateur writer learn how to do this? Ending a story in a meaningful way, that is? It drives me nuts to go over some of what I've written and not being able to see how it ends up.

I carry around a recording device, in case an idea comes to me when it's not convenient (in the car, for example).

As far as an ending, for me, when I get a great idea, I may start writing a bit, right away but, early on, I think it through and make an outline.

Outlines are your friend.

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RE: Any writers in the house? - 1/29/2014 2:25:48 AM

MissImmortalPain

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This may seem like a clichéd piece of advice but it a very important one. Write about what you love, what you know, what you understand. Like all forms of art writing should be driven by a passion that only you know. Before you pick up a pen, a tape recorder, or sit at a keyboard look deeply inside yourself for a voice that needs to share something with the world. Don't worry about perfection, grammar, or editing that can be done later. Tell your story as if you were speaking it to an interested listener. As for the subject of not being able to find an ending I find it is often easier to start at the end rather than the beginning.

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RE: Any writers in the house? - 1/29/2014 7:18:35 AM

Moonhead

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quote:

ORIGINAL: MasterCaneman

I like to pretend I'm a writer. I have a clumsy piece in the Writing forum, but it isn't very good. I basically get an idea, and hammer away at it until it's either done or I run out of gas and set it aside. As a result, I have megabytes of unfinished pieces. That's my biggest problem-ending the story, otherwise it just keeps going ad infinitum.

Is there anything out there that can help an amateur writer learn how to do this? Ending a story in a meaningful way, that is? It drives me nuts to go over some of what I've written and not being able to see how it ends up.

It helps if you plot stuff out in advance, and have an end in mind before starting. Stephen King may insist otherwise, but some of his advice on writing is more like special pleading to stress that he's far more talented than anybody who reads him, and other writers who actually work at their craft instead of just making it up as they go along and stick on a perfunctory deus ex machina when they run out of steam.

There are plenty of how to books on plot construction and narrative technique, but the absolute best way to learn how to write a decent story is writing a few bad ones.

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RE: Any writers in the house? - 1/29/2014 8:29:57 AM

MasterCaneman

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Good advice all, and I've tried a lot of those suggestions. Here's what happens in my bubble of bone. I get the idea, and tell myself the story in my head. Then, when I get home or somewhere I have a writing pad, I jot down a rough outline. Then, I fire up my computer and the first third seems to just happen. Then I start bogging down.

Ed, I entertain no illusions about making money off of this (but it would be nice). Most of what I write is purely to entertain me, because it's what I want to read and no one else has written it for me, if that makes any sense. I have one article online now, and I've done a few articles when I was back in college, but nothing more. I've toyed with the idea of submitting articles to the weekly paper, but my problem with endings always crop up. That and word counts. Everyone can tell from my posting style that I like putting words on the screen.

And DS, I've tried that too, only to have the same problem in reverse. I write a great ending, and now I have to retcon the entire story to fit. It does have validity, I just haven't learned how to work it out yet. I tried the recorder thing, but it just ended up as a collection of meaningless rambles, many of which I wouldn't want to risk having a casual observer overhearing due t the subject matter. Moonhead, if you could browse my writings folder, I've got plenty of bad examples already. They all have little nuggets of what I think are genius, only that they're trapped in a puddle of muck I can't extricate them from.

All the suggestions are good, great even, and others have made points I intend to exploit shamelessly. I'll wrap up that gawdawful piece I have posted here (I've been pecking away at it) in the near future. And I never bother with editing while I'm doing it, and I tend to lay them aside and re-read them to get the feel of the vignette again before making changes. Thanks to all for the input.

< Message edited by MasterCaneman -- 1/29/2014 8:30:21 AM >

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