Final A to Z Writing Tips
Here it is- the final installment of my alphabet tip series. It’s with reluctance that I end this journey. I almost wish there were another 26 letters to run through. It has been fun but also challenging to make the tips diverse and coordinate with these letters. Now we’re at the end, easily the trickiest. The reason being is that there aren’t as many words that begin with these letters. So, coming up with the tips that fit was difficult, but fear not, I managed. Perseverance is a good quality for writers to have, and now I am regretting using patience as my letter P. Before I continue on this rambling tangent, take a look at the final tips:
Use Social Media: Social media is your friend. It can allow you to tap into the writing community as well as getting in touch with potential readers. Or maybe even literary gatekeepers.
Very Needs to Go: There are times “very” is worth using, but similar to other filler words, more often than not, you can cut them out.
Write What You Love/Know: This age old phrase rings true and every writer should use it as the foundation for their stories. For non-fiction, write what you know. For fiction, write what you love.
X-marks the Spot and Other Clichés: I have an entire list of my most hated clichés. They’re unoriginal and take space away from where you could be showcasing your boundless creativity. Don’t corral your imagination, let it roam free!
You Must Be Dedicated: The writing process is long, strenuous and a constant struggle. But don’t give up at the first sign of a missing comma or query rejection. Be resilient, keep calm and carry on.
Zone Writing: Much like zone defense, if you are struggling to power through from start to finish, skip around and play to your strengths.
With all these tips, I have to say that it is nearly impossible to pick a favorite single piece of advice or a grouping of advice. I hope the choice is easier for you. If you’d like to share, leave a comment below. Until next time, folks!
Story Evolution
A squirrel carrying an acorn. That was the inspiration for my current story. I never thought something so simple and ordinary would transform itself into a fully fledged adventure. In a matter of moments, the characters and setting rushed into my mind and the image possessed me. I was hooked. It goes without saying, I had to tell people.
That was ten years ago. And just now am I realizing I missed the anniversary by a week (Oops! Sorry!) And now? My story has grown and transformed just like anyone over ten years. It evolved from an infant idea into a fully developed plot. In human terms, I created a fourth grader! So the question then becomes, “Is it the same story it was in 2002?”
Your answer is a big resounding, “No.” The MC, conflict and setting are (generally speaking) the same. How I thought those would factor together or turn out in the end has completely changed. One tiny addition to someone’s personality, or the name-change of a place compounded several times over until it came to its finished product. I added characters I never thought would fit in this narrative while those I had originally made MCs were cut. Big portions of the concept morphed into different versions of themselves, like the phases of the moon.
Without a doubt, this will happen to any and every story as there will be additions and subtractions throughout the journey. These won’t only dart across your writing road at the beginning, but even when you’re deep down the trail. Even now that I am editing I find myself taking whole scenes out and replacing them. If I had to guesstimate the amount of versions I’ve gone through, I think 15-20 would be conservative. And I didn’t come to the title until this past winter. That doesn’t bother me. People don’t reach their full potential for years. Neither do stories. Believe it or not, time is a writer’s best friend.
Tell me how your story has progressed! Did your character change? A piece of the plot or the entire concept?
Writing Tips A to Z Part 4
Took a week off of the alphabet tips series for some concentration on querying. Over there you can read my and many other’s wonderful pitches and see the behind the scenes tricks to making them better. Since it’s been a while (a while in internet time) you can find the other tips here. Now, let’s commence with the next edition of writing tips. The late middle of the alphabet has some tricky letters to generate ideas from, but by golly I’ll manage it! Without further adieu, here is the newest set:
Patience is a Virtue. The writing process is long and involved. No matter the route you take for publishing, having patience will get you a long way.
Quick, brown fox jumped over the lazy log. Diversify your writing with sensory details and descriptors. It’ll give your story flavor.
Read! All of the things! Or watch things that inspire you. By soaking in the hard work of another storyteller, you can learn from their tribulations and triumphs.
Stay True to Yourself. Don’t let the current market or a bad review or naysayers get you down. The story you wrote was something you were meant to tell. Never forget that.
Time Management. Find time no matter what your schedule is to write. You are responsible for your story, so set deadlines and goals to accomplish. Each little milestone gets you a step closer to success.
Stick around! The final installment of A to Z writing tips will hit the blog next week!
7 Steps to World Building
There’s an aspect of writing that takes place behind the scenes, something the reader must never notice and yet always be aware of. What is it? The world you have constructed. For those of us writing a narrative that takes place outside of the current time and status of Earth, there is significant research and planning that needs to be done. It can be a daunting task, especially if you’re altering more than one or two details. Essentially, you must create a new world from the ground up.
Step 1: Decide what will change from our contemporary setting and what might be the same.
Step 2: Brainstorm history, objects or people that will fill in the “what will change” category.
Step 3: Research information needed to make your alterations realistic.
Step 4: Test your changes. Ask these two vital questions: Do they make sense in the world you have constructed? Will they make sense to your contemporary readers?
Step 5: If you answer “yes” to both, move to Step 6 but if you say “no” to one or both fix your mistakes accordingly. Repeat Step 4.
Step 6: Build your narrative around the setting. Since you are building a world, it must control the story in some way- be mindful of these influences.
Step 7: Integrate the world in dialogue and sensory description that will help set your setting apart.
The last few steps, having a beta reader, or editing do not necessarily affect your world building so I have not included them. The aforementioned steps may take you a few days, weeks, months or years depending how involved you want to get in your world building. Some locations require a short world building timeframe while others require intense concentration and devotion to the build. However long your construction takes, be patient, pay attention to detail and above all, make your reader forget that your world isn’t real.
How was your world building experience? Exhausting or fun?
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