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General discussion (archive)How to write?(57 posts)(57 posts)
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This is my favourite topic
Posted February 27, 2012
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Detlik: Good day to each and every one of you,
I am trying to be better writer, because honestly...my writing sucks. Good friend of mine (Tantrix) recommended to me this book - http://www.amazon.de/Elements-Style-William-I-Strunk/dp/020530902X . And I plan on reading that whole book but I have question. After I will finish it, are there any more books out there I should read? Or do you have any tips for beginner writer?
Don't waste your money on that book. They break pretty much every rule in the book and it's very tied to specific dialects of English.

Not to mention that it's way out of date and isn't something that's of much practical use. I've gotten a lot more out of printing a copy of my writing and reading it aloud.
Posted February 27, 2012
No book is going to make you into a better writer. Like any skill, you need to practice, practice, and practice some more.

Your stuff will suck, but don't let that discourage you.

Also, read other people's work and incorporate their style until you can find your own.

In short, keep writing, even if what you wrote sucks. It will get better at some point. Trust me, there are no short cuts.
Posted February 27, 2012
I would also suggest you to give your absolute best shot at writing something and then have someone very, very good read through it. Don't just get any native speaker. Some of them can be dreadful with grammatical intricacies because they've never really studied the language from said perspective.
I have a couple of friends who help me proofread and correct. Even 5 minutes of their feedback can be invaluable in identifying where you're lacking.
Before you do that though, you should get the basics down.
Posted February 27, 2012
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bvngo: No book is going to make you into a better writer. Like any skill, you need to practice, practice, and practice some more.

Your stuff will suck, but don't let that discourage you.

Also, read other people's work and incorporate their style until you can find your own.

In short, keep writing, even if what you wrote sucks. It will get better at some point. Trust me, there are no short cuts.
He is right. Writing is the only way to get better at creative writing.
Posted February 28, 2012
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FraterPerdurabo: I would also suggest you to give your absolute best shot at writing something and then have someone very, very good read through it. Don't just get any native speaker. Some of them can be dreadful with grammatical intricacies because they've never really studied the language from said perspective.
I have a couple of friends who help me proofread and correct. Even 5 minutes of their feedback can be invaluable in identifying where you're lacking.
Before you do that though, you should get the basics down.
There's grammar and there's style, creative writing is mainly the domain of the latter. Although, if you botch the grammar enough in the wrong way, you'll have issues as well.
Posted February 28, 2012
Out of curiosity, are you thinking of fiction/creative writing or non-fiction/analytical writing? There's different tricks to each style.

I'd suggest trying both. I've always liked writing but was never great at fiction. Then I found out I'm pretty awesome at analysis/reviews/opinion columns.

But in general, practising as much as possible is the key. Editing is also really important. Probably the best advice I can give is pay close attention to word choice. After writing a review I tend to go over every sentence to see if I can find a more concise or interesting word to get a point across. I suppose a good vocabulary helps too.
Posted February 28, 2012
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Tizzysawr: If you want to learn to write, you must read. That's pretty much it. Sure, there are thousands of tips to be had but, to be honest, many of those you learn on the way. The most important part is to keep yourself reading and therefore in contact with what you want to do.

Though here's a small tip: When writing, strive to find your own voice rather than following somebody else's style.

And since I don't want to disappoint you, I will admit that I did find this very useful many years ago when I was starting to write (And I should actually read it again soon :P):

http://hollylisle.com/how-to-start-a-novel/

Not just that how-to, but all of them. That author also wrote a free ebook called Mugging the Muse: Writing Fiction for Love AND Money, which is sadly no longer on her website though it seems to be on other places and I have a copy of it on my PC still. If you want it, send me a PM and I'll upload it for you. It was (and still is meant to be) free, so it isn't really illegal :)
http://www.scribd.com/doc/8817199/Mugging-the-Muse-Writing-Fiction-for-Love-AND-Money

Have to login with ur facebook or create a Scribd account. Lets you download as a pdf or doc i think.
Posted February 28, 2012
The way I see it, language is quite akin to that of music and as such it follows a peculiar cadence wherein I use specific words so as to ensure that my written rhetoric is more impactful.

The only advice that I can give you is to read good poetry since it would help you understand the flow and ebb of language better so that you might be able to imbibe that in your written prose

There are various forms of writing such as stream of consciousness, expository and persuasive and the approach to each one is entirely different. Eventually you need to find out what would suit you best.I would also like to stress upon the exposure to good writing since that helps a lot.Follow a specific author's writing style(whomever you like) - do not imitate but observe how he would approach a specific situation (This assuming that you are attempting creative fiction).
Post edited February 28, 2012 by Lionel212008
Posted February 28, 2012
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spindown: How to Write Good

My several years in the word game have learnt me several rules:
Spindown.. are you having laugh? Good one. :D

EDIT.. cos I screwed up the name.
Post edited February 28, 2012 by Tormentfan
Posted February 28, 2012
I would like to recommend the book "Stein on Writing" by Sol Stein.
Posted February 28, 2012
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Tormentfan: Spinefarm.. are you having laugh? Good one. :D
Spinefarm? I have no idea what you're talking about.
Posted February 28, 2012
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Tormentfan: Spinefarm.. are you having laugh? Good one. :D
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spindown: Spinefarm? I have no idea what you're talking about.
My apologies Spindown. it's late and I bearly glanced at you name. Call it sleep induced dyslexia. :/..Got your name mixed up with another member.

It's still funny though.
Post edited February 28, 2012 by Tormentfan
Posted February 28, 2012
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Lionel212008: The way I see it, language is quite akin to that of music and as such it follows a peculiar cadence wherein I use specific words so as to ensure that my written rhetoric is more impactful.

The only advice that I can give you is to read good poetry since it would help you understand the flow and ebb of language better so that you might be able to imbibe that in your written prose

There are various forms of writing such as stream of consciousness, expository and persuasive and the approach to each one is entirely different. Eventually you need to find out what would suit you best.I would also like to stress upon the exposure to good writing since that helps a lot.Follow a specific author's writing style(whomever you like) - do not imitate but observe how he would approach a specific situation (This assuming that you are attempting creative fiction).
Reading poetry will help, however, I'd definitely recommend writing over reading it any day. Reading though is a good step in the right direction. While it doesn't have to take a decade to write a book, spending time looking for sharp corners and stilted language is a worthwhile endeavor.

Haiku is a great place to start because it's easy and has the added benefit of imparting a sense of how much one can convey in a few words.

Basically the rules are simple. 5-7-5 with a break before or after the second line. Write it about a season and using a natural theme and you're there.
Posted February 28, 2012
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hedwards: Not to mention that it's way out of date and isn't something that's of much practical use. I've gotten a lot more out of printing a copy of my writing and reading it aloud.
I've got two writing books on my shelf here at work. "Elements of Style" and "On Writing Well." People who have no love for either make me frowny-faced. For learning the basics of clear writing, they're both good guides. If you learn the basics in these guides, you'll write sentences that are mechanically sound. Only when you've got those basics nailed down will you have the skills to begin to master writing beyond clarity and communication.

That said, they're not something that you read and have an "ah-ha!" moment of "here's how to write better!"

My best recommendation for improving your writing? Read. Find an author whose style you love, and read one of his or her books a half dozen times. The first two or three times, you will be busy enjoying what you read, but then once you've gotten past that, you will start to break down the mechanics of the writing. Why use these words? How is the writer pacing a scene? A plot arc? Learn the tools in a writer's toolbox, and then you'll find yourself improving the craft.
Posted February 28, 2012
Just become a good reader and THEN start writing: if you've got the guts (...), you'll manage to put up something interesting/decent.....

Those "guides" on writing? Bullshit, as if Steven King would need something like this to write one of his books. Bullshit.....
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This is my favourite topic
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General discussion (archive)How to write?(57 posts)(57 posts)
(57 posts)