Rebecca Graf's Blog - Posts Tagged "writing-tips"
Verbose Usage
We are in a society where most people don't talk. Yet many think they need to be verbose to be good especially as a writer. It is all about the number of words you use. People are fixated on that number. Why do we have to be so verbose?
I was editing a novel that was exceedingly long and wordy. I suggested that she cut out a few words in this one scene to smooth it out and tighten the flow. The author was horrified. She said she had to have a certain number of words to be seen as a good writer. What?????
I always fall back on Edgar Allan Poe. He wrote short stories that were vibrant and legendary. He didn't have to write 100,000 words to be good. He accomplished that in a fraction of the amount.
We can get too wordy. How can we fix it? (https://medium.com/writers-guild/fixi...) What are your opinions?
I was editing a novel that was exceedingly long and wordy. I suggested that she cut out a few words in this one scene to smooth it out and tighten the flow. The author was horrified. She said she had to have a certain number of words to be seen as a good writer. What?????
I always fall back on Edgar Allan Poe. He wrote short stories that were vibrant and legendary. He didn't have to write 100,000 words to be good. He accomplished that in a fraction of the amount.
We can get too wordy. How can we fix it? (https://medium.com/writers-guild/fixi...) What are your opinions?
Not Following the Writing Crowd
Crowds are everywhere. They are based on popularity. People follow others they think will help them find their own place. What does that mean? Those who are following are wanting to find the same success as those before them. The problem is that with so many in that crowd, no one person can be picked out.
Success is Standing Out
If you are among people who look just like you, how can I spot you? How can you stand out? If you are doing what everyone else is doing, you melt into the crowd and just become one of them.
Success is standing out to potential readers. Don't look like the other writers, including the bestsellers. Be yourself.
Be Yourself
Don't try to be like others. Again, you want to stand out. Be yourself. There is only one you.
Do you have a warped sense of humor? Then use it in your blog posts, your tweets, and even your writing. Show your true self and let others see how different you are.
I can be a little sarcastic at times. I've had people say I can be pretty funny, but I tend to hide all that when I write or interact online. Since I decided to be myself, I've found more followers.
Don't be like all the other writers. Be yourself.
https://medium.com/@rebeccagraf_63084...
Success is Standing Out
If you are among people who look just like you, how can I spot you? How can you stand out? If you are doing what everyone else is doing, you melt into the crowd and just become one of them.
Success is standing out to potential readers. Don't look like the other writers, including the bestsellers. Be yourself.
Be Yourself
Don't try to be like others. Again, you want to stand out. Be yourself. There is only one you.
Do you have a warped sense of humor? Then use it in your blog posts, your tweets, and even your writing. Show your true self and let others see how different you are.
I can be a little sarcastic at times. I've had people say I can be pretty funny, but I tend to hide all that when I write or interact online. Since I decided to be myself, I've found more followers.
Don't be like all the other writers. Be yourself.
https://medium.com/@rebeccagraf_63084...
Becoming a Writer
Being a writer is relatively easy. You don't have to purchase anything. There is no expense to start. There is no education needed beyond basic education required. Can you string together sentences? Then you can write and learn to improve the craft.
Now, while I say anybody can be a writer, not everyone has what it takes. Not everyone has the ability to create a story and put it into words. Just as anyone can cook a meal, but not everyone can create a gourmet meal. Good writing is not always achievable by all who attempt it.
What makes a good writer? We could come up with a very long list, but I think the first and most important aspect to a good writer is one who is willing to learn and humble enough to take constructive criticism.
I have worked with authors who have the misguided idea that their story is written once and nothing should be done to it. They admit to no self-edits or reviews of it after they wrote it. I tried to explain to them that even bestselling authors go through many rewrites of their work to achieve greatness. No one writes it in one draft and achieve perfection. It is possible. These misguided writers could have been good. Instead, they were determined to be horrible writers.
I'm not a great writer. I'm working on getting to that level, but it takes time, patience, and the desire to learn. Anyone can be a writer. Are you one you can be good?
Read more on my article on the 5 Laws to Becoming a Writer. https://hubpages.com/literature/5-Law...
Now, while I say anybody can be a writer, not everyone has what it takes. Not everyone has the ability to create a story and put it into words. Just as anyone can cook a meal, but not everyone can create a gourmet meal. Good writing is not always achievable by all who attempt it.
What makes a good writer? We could come up with a very long list, but I think the first and most important aspect to a good writer is one who is willing to learn and humble enough to take constructive criticism.
I have worked with authors who have the misguided idea that their story is written once and nothing should be done to it. They admit to no self-edits or reviews of it after they wrote it. I tried to explain to them that even bestselling authors go through many rewrites of their work to achieve greatness. No one writes it in one draft and achieve perfection. It is possible. These misguided writers could have been good. Instead, they were determined to be horrible writers.
I'm not a great writer. I'm working on getting to that level, but it takes time, patience, and the desire to learn. Anyone can be a writer. Are you one you can be good?
Read more on my article on the 5 Laws to Becoming a Writer. https://hubpages.com/literature/5-Law...
When An Author's Character Dies
An author has a vested interest in what they write. The story is a part of their heart and soul. That includes the characters. They are a part of the author and the death of one is extremely tragic.
I wrote a novel and had to kill a major character off. That one act touched me more than anything else I had ever written. I never thought that writing such a scene would draw such emotion from me. I actually tried to write the scene other ways to avoid killing him off. It didn't work. My fingers kept typing his death scene. It was going to happen no matter what. I gave up and let his death occur and cried like my best friend had passed suddenly. It ripped my heart out.
When you read a scene that is emotional, think of what the author went through when they wrote it. It might be more emotional than you think.
Read my article on this - https://medium.com/@rebeccagraf_63084...
I wrote a novel and had to kill a major character off. That one act touched me more than anything else I had ever written. I never thought that writing such a scene would draw such emotion from me. I actually tried to write the scene other ways to avoid killing him off. It didn't work. My fingers kept typing his death scene. It was going to happen no matter what. I gave up and let his death occur and cried like my best friend had passed suddenly. It ripped my heart out.
When you read a scene that is emotional, think of what the author went through when they wrote it. It might be more emotional than you think.
Read my article on this - https://medium.com/@rebeccagraf_63084...
Mental Movies Equal Books
Every author has their own methods of writing a book. Some write out timelines. Others construct complete outlines. Some just start writing and see where the story goes. Then there are the ones who create a movie in their head before they write.
How does a particular scene play out? I like to play the scene in my head for days and create each piece of the scene. How does it start? Who is there? What is said? Where are they? I adjust the scene as I go to make it work.
By letting the movie grow in your mind, you can play with dialogue over and over before you put it to paper. You can create new characters or remove them as you need to. All this can be done while driving a car, waiting on the doctor, walking down the hall, or as you fall asleep at night. I've even worked on my stories while at boring functions. Keeps me entertained.
Every author has their way. Maybe this is one for you. Read more about it here - https://hobbylark.com/writing/Create-...
How does a particular scene play out? I like to play the scene in my head for days and create each piece of the scene. How does it start? Who is there? What is said? Where are they? I adjust the scene as I go to make it work.
By letting the movie grow in your mind, you can play with dialogue over and over before you put it to paper. You can create new characters or remove them as you need to. All this can be done while driving a car, waiting on the doctor, walking down the hall, or as you fall asleep at night. I've even worked on my stories while at boring functions. Keeps me entertained.
Every author has their way. Maybe this is one for you. Read more about it here - https://hobbylark.com/writing/Create-...
