Young People Writing discussion

Is there anywhere you get writing tips from? Websites, books, author's suggestions?

For me, I like...

Books - 'On Writing' by Stephen King and 'the Everything Guide to Writing A Novel' by Joyce and Jim Lavene

Authors - Maureen Johnson (http://www.maureenjohnsonbooks.com/fa...), Lauren DeStefano (http://laurendestefano.tumblr.com/pos...), Cassandra Clare (http://www.blackholly.com/writingreso...), and Holly Black (http://www.blackholly.com/writingreso...)

Websites: http://www.dailywritingtips.com/, http://beatwritersbane.tumblr.com/, http://fuckyourwritinghabits.tumblr.com/, http://writingbox.tumblr.com/, http://thewritershelpers.tumblr.com/, and http://yeahwriters.tumblr.com/

I'm sure there's tons more under each category but those are the only one's I've discovered so far and use on a daily advice.

My advice is to write about something you are passionate about, not what everyone else is passionate about.I have found that the best books out there are the longest ones because the author clearly knew what they were talking about and wrote the book in a passionate way.

Yes, I agree with Ninja. If you are passionate about something, your passion spills onto the page and it's like you know what you are talking about. Plus, if it feels real to you, it will feel real for the reader :)

Ninja wrote: "My advice is to write about something you are passionate about, not what everyone else is passionate about.I have found that the best books out there are the longest ones because the author clearly..."

That's a great piece of advice! I'm finding in a lot of the books I've read lately that it really seems the author has lost interest in the topic their writing about (ex: Nevermore). I really hope to never be one of those writers

Something you know a lot about, for example a certain aspect of your life that may be different to other peoples is always quite a good start. For example i am one of 7 children and that isnt exactly common i suppose!!!

★ Mist ☆ Cassidy ★ wrote: "Ninja wrote: "My advice is to write about something you are passionate about, not what everyone else is passionate about.I have found that the best books out there are the longest ones because the ..."

I agree! Nevermore did feel like Mr Patterson list interest :(

kurt vonnegut's 8 basics of creative writing 101:

1) Use the time of a total stranger in such a way that he or she will not feel the time was wasted.

2) Give the reader at least one character he or she can root for.

3) Every character should want something, even if it is only a glass of water.

4) Every sentence must do one of two things—reveal character or advance the action.

5) Start as close to the end as possible.

6) Be a sadist. No matter how sweet and innocent your leading characters, make awful things happen to them—in order that the reader may see what they are made of.

7) Write to please just one person. If you open a window and make love to the world, so to speak, your story will get pneumonia.

8) Give your readers as much information as possible as soon as possible. To heck with suspense. Readers should have such complete understanding of what is going on, where and why, that they could finish the story themselves, should cockroaches eat the last few pages.

The greatest American short story writer of my generation was Flannery O’Connor (1925-1964). She broke practically every one of my rules but the first. Great writers tend to do that.

^^ I like these, they make a lot of sense :)

Blujeanbooks96 wrote: "^^ I like these, they make a lot of sense :)"

me too! I love vonnegut, he's probably my favorite author! :D

Those are reallly good! :D

Kirby wrote: "kurt vonnegut's 8 basics of creative writing 101:

1) Use the time of a total stranger in such a way that he or she will not feel the time was wasted.

2) Give the reader at least one character he..."

Those are really helpful tips!

My big writing tip is to get involved with other writers. Whether you join a writing group in your community, a group on GRs (like this one!), or join in an online roleplay, I think it really helps. I'm apart of several online writing groups but roleplaying online with different fandoms is so much fun. You get to see a whole bunch of different writing styles and new depths of characters you already know.

Like right now I'm apart of a tumblr-roleplay for Harry Potter lovers called Potterwatch. I love learning from all the great writer's on there's styles. If you guys have a tumblr account (or even if you don't) you should check out that RP! It's so awesome :D

http://www.writersdigest.com/writing-...

The best tip I can offer is never stop.

Recently I reached a stage when my book was just a pain in the backside and I wanted nothing to do with it. I then found a guy on GoodReads called Gary who gave me a kick via email... His encouragement was fantastic and with his advice I was able to look at my book again and appreciate it.
Now I can't stop...

I find Quotes inspirational. Old Poetry in particular, Thompson, Wilde, Shelley etc. I found myself in the library early in the year and queued behind a woman who returned William Shakespeare's Measure for Measure, announcing to the librarian it was rubbish before flouncing off, leaving behind a cloud of toxic hairspray vapour and eu de parfume la 'wet dog'...(I never studied french)

I took out that book...Not because she said it was bad (and the devil in me wanted to correct her), but because I love Shakespeare and had never even heard of it. And one thing got me, a quote:

"Some rise by sin and some by virtue fall".

This was the quote that inspired me to write the Sins of Virtue...The plot, the characters and the setting...everything just came to mind in an instant...(I wasn't even planning on writing a second book!) And my little devil did prove her wrong...it wasn't too bad.

All in all,don't give up! You are a writer! Write!

Afterall: J.K. Rowling was turned down twelve times!

Katie wrote: "The best tip I can offer is never stop.

Recently I reached a stage when my book was just a pain in the backside and I wanted nothing to do with it. I then found a guy on GoodReads called Gary who ..."

That's some great pieces of advice! Thanks! :)

I think that sometimes the best thing to do is to step back for a few weeks. It helps you get out of the book and get into it again with a new perspective - a reader's perspective rather than an authors. That way, you find plot holes and mistakes easily.

But sometimes, it doesnt really work. When you step back for a long period of time, you might lose interest and never look back at it again...

Shaleezah wrote: "I think that sometimes the best thing to do is to step back for a few weeks. It helps you get out of the book and get into it again with a new perspective - a reader's perspective rather than an au..."

That's very true. When I was younger I stepped away from writing for a long time and instead of only taking a break for a month, it took me three years to get back into it. :P

★ Mist ☆ Cassidy ★ wrote: "Shaleezah wrote: "I think that sometimes the best thing to do is to step back for a few weeks. It helps you get out of the book and get into it again with a new perspective - a reader's perspective..."

Same with me. When i got back into it, I couldn't believe how much I missed it. :P

Shaleezah wrote: "★ Mist ☆ Cassidy ★ wrote: "Shaleezah wrote: "I think that sometimes the best thing to do is to step back for a few weeks. It helps you get out of the book and get into it again with a new perspecti..."

Me either! When I got back into it, I couldn't figure out why I ever stopped! :P

Katie wrote: "Wow, all these tips really helped me with writing a short horror story :3 When everyone puts a little bit of their knowledge it creates into something really big and helpful hehe"

It definitely does! How is your story going? :)

Detail detail detail!!!!!!!!!
That's what makes a story really If u think bout it. ;)

Also, get a feel for the story. Know the characters. Know their background, settings, situations clearly so u can show not tell.

Hope I helped!!!