Simon Baker-Mongelli
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Helpful Writing Tips
Helpful creative writing tips
Speaking from experience, I can understand that writing can be challenging. Writing is like an obstacle course; there's writer’s block, plotholes, organizational issues, punctuation mistakes: unintentional tpyos, and run-on sentences that go on and on and on and on and…. (get it?) These are some of the hurdles that you must hop over.
Getting Started
A common problem, one that even I struggle with, is simply getting started. Do not wait for your entire story to be complete in your head. Just start, soon you won't be able to stop yourself. A great story can unfold just by writing a few paragraphs.
Criticism
Listen to criticism, that is how you learn. Criticism will teach you how to avoid the obstacles better. However, you must be vigilant on who you ask to critique your work. There are three types of critics out there and only one is trustworthy.
(It doesn't take a genius to figure out who you should listen to.)
Not listening to criticism is like tripping over the hurdles and falling on your face. In the end you might declare yourself an illiterate moron and have nobody to blame but yourself.
.Synonyms
Using the same word over and over again to describe something can be boring. Time to dust off your old thesaurus you have been kicking around (or google it). Try to not be too repetitive with your descriptions. Branch out and get creative with your words.
Character Development
My favorite part of writing is developing characters and dialogue. It's easy and fun for the whole family.
Readers want to know how your character thinks and feels. It's not all about what they say and do.
Setting and Plot
Every story needs a setting and plot (Unless you want to be the first to write about an empty void).
Real Life Experiences
Don't be afraid to incorporate your own real life experiences into your writing. This gives your story a nice authentic feel to it.
Speaking from experience, I can understand that writing can be challenging. Writing is like an obstacle course; there's writer’s block, plotholes, organizational issues, punctuation mistakes: unintentional tpyos, and run-on sentences that go on and on and on and on and…. (get it?) These are some of the hurdles that you must hop over.
Getting Started
A common problem, one that even I struggle with, is simply getting started. Do not wait for your entire story to be complete in your head. Just start, soon you won't be able to stop yourself. A great story can unfold just by writing a few paragraphs.
Criticism
Listen to criticism, that is how you learn. Criticism will teach you how to avoid the obstacles better. However, you must be vigilant on who you ask to critique your work. There are three types of critics out there and only one is trustworthy.
- The Good: “I can see this going somewhere. However, you need to fix problems here, here, and here.”
- The Bad: “You are like a monkey on a typewriter, you know that?”
- The Ugly: “I didn’t read what you wrote, but I still think it’s good.”
(It doesn't take a genius to figure out who you should listen to.)
Not listening to criticism is like tripping over the hurdles and falling on your face. In the end you might declare yourself an illiterate moron and have nobody to blame but yourself.
.Synonyms
Using the same word over and over again to describe something can be boring. Time to dust off your old thesaurus you have been kicking around (or google it). Try to not be too repetitive with your descriptions. Branch out and get creative with your words.
Character Development
My favorite part of writing is developing characters and dialogue. It's easy and fun for the whole family.
- Who or what is your character? (Your character can be a lifeless rock if you want)
- What is your character’s gender?
- What is your character background? (backstory, home, etc.)
- Why does the universe HATE your character? (Conflict and tragedy shape the best characters)
Readers want to know how your character thinks and feels. It's not all about what they say and do.
Setting and Plot
Every story needs a setting and plot (Unless you want to be the first to write about an empty void).
- Is this set in a fantasy world or in reality?
- What is the genre?
- Is there a conflict between factions?
- Who died and where?
Real Life Experiences
Don't be afraid to incorporate your own real life experiences into your writing. This gives your story a nice authentic feel to it.