| Writing Advice |
| Warning: Disclaimer These tips and bits of advice are not guaranteed to to improve your writing skills or get you published. So don't blame me if your work still sucks even after you've followed any and all advice found here. It just might be a sign that you should give it up and buy a Sony Playstation to fill all those empty hours. Or if you just have to be creative, a nice relaxing basket weaving course might be perfect for you. I've never taken a creative writing course (and it shows in spades) so in my quest to become a skilled writer I've read, thus far, eight books and several dozen articles on various themes of How To Write Fiction. As a favor to my fellow struggling scribblers I've gone through these and pulled out what I've found to be the most helpful advice on many aspects of fiction writing. I'll also include some books, magazine and web links that I think have value. The first thing I'd like to say is that all aspiring writers should keep a notebook with them whenever possible. I can't stress enough the importance of this. I carry a small, pocket sized one with me everywhere, even to work. You just never know when an idea for a current or future project will come to you. Dozens of things happen to us every day that can be used in fiction; people we meet, traits we see, snatches of conversation overheard, locations seen, etc. Having a way to record these items and impressions while they are fresh and flowing will pay off in the long run. Trust me on this one at the least, I've lost several great ideas when I've been out without my notebook. Something else I would like to suggest is to buy, and then subscribe to, Writer's Digest magazine. It's the best magazine I've read for direct, hands on tips for fiction writers. As an extension of this, the Writer's Digest Book Club is a great way to acquire some fantastic books on the how to's of fiction at a discount price. I highly recommend the book club. Books to Aid Fiction Writing and Writers Here are some books I have read and found to be extremely helpful. Some were suggested by people I know, some plucked from store shelves and some from the Writer's Digest Book Club. The Art of Fiction by John Gardner: Aimed mostly at those seeking to write "literature" but very good at explaining what writers should be striving for. Fiction Writer's Workshopby Josip Novakovich: Many great examples from literature used to illustrate the author's points on elements of fiction writing. Also many great writing exercises. Telling Lies for Fun and Profit by Lawrence Block: Both instructional and inspirational. The Elements of Fiction Writing series: A series of instructional books written by currently published authors on varied topis of interest, i.e. character and viewpoint, scene structure. VERY helpful books available through the WD book club. Writer's Digest Guide to Manuscript Formats: Takes you through the entire process of submission of your work. Building Better Plots by Robert Kernen. Writer's Market: A huge volume listing literally thousands of places to shop your submissions around to. Includes editorial needs and submission guidelines for each editor, magazine, publishing house, etc. Handbook of Novel Writing: A collection of articles from Writer's Digest magazine on varied topics on the writing and submission process. The Elements of Style by Strunk & White: Always make sure your grammar and usage are correct. Buy a large dictionary...also a Thesaurus is a handy beast to have at hand. I work for a major publishing firm and have picked up stories from editors over my time there on why they chose to go with certain first time authors. It's amazing what you can learn about the business just from listening to people talk. I'd like to lay out a few things I've overheard... Do your Research before submission!! Know the person who receives submissions and their title. This is very, very important. Look up the info on the web or in Writer's Market. |