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A Writer's Guide to StyleBefore we get into any of this writing business, before we even think about characters or setting or plot, we as writers must learn the rules of our language in order to deliver a coherent and understandable piece of literature. The following are some elementary rules on English style. Remember, you must know the rules before you can break them, so you can know why it works when you do.A Writer's Guide to Style
1. Begin a new paragraph when you change topics. Likewise, start a new paragraph for every new speaker. When a different character speaks, it's time to change paragraphs.
2. Introduce your topic in the first sentence of
by =bekkia
Adverbs and Word HierarchyAdverbs and the Hierarchy of WordsAdverbs and Word Hierarchy
You don’t have to write for too long to be verbally bludgeoned to death for using adverbs. It’s becoming an adage akin to “show, don’t tell” to completely eschew adverbs. A year ago, I would have joined in the bludgeoning, but now I know better. Sometimes adverbs are necessary. Many times, they are not. How do you tell? It’s all about being succinct and hierarchy of words.
The first and easiest way to tell if your adverb belongs is if it tells information not readily available in the rest of the description. In other words, that it’s not redundant
by =bekkia
Crafting a First SentenceI am the ficklest of readers. It's possible to bore me on the first line of your book. I'm not the only one. There are scores of people who don't even like reading. Your task, if you choose to accept it, is to make them care. Make them want to read. Make them fall in love with your characters. When your protagonist dies at the end, they better cry their little reader eyes out.Crafting a First Sentence
But how do you get the fickle modern reader to do that?
It all starts with your first sentence.
To get an idea of what we're doing, let's look at some famous first sentences and what they accomplish (or don't). &nbs
by =bekkia
Laymans Guide to StorytellingLayman’s Guide to StorytellingLaymans Guide to Storytelling
To many up and coming writers, getting serious crit seems impossible, and asking a more experienced writer for advice can be daunting. In lieu of tracking down every single person who may need help, I’ve compiled a hopefully all-inclusive guide to writing better prose. I’m assuming you have a deep knowledge of grammar and syntax, but I may make another guide completely devoted to higher level syntactic devices. Keep in mind, these are my opinions, and as such, should be taken with a grain of salt.
Beginnings A beginning of a piece of prose can do tw
by =bekkia
Creating Dynamic CharactersWe've all read it, and we've all written it: a character who simply falls flat on the page. Sure, they're your baby, but after a while, you realize what everyone is saying is true. They're a cardboard cut out, a description of flowing tresses without a soul. And no matter how beautiful your leading lady or how dashing your hero, no one will care if they fall off a cliff and die unless they built a connection with them. Sure, you can pity a paper doll, but you empathize with a character because of what's inside them that makes them human (or dragon or space alien). You have to give them a soul. I know this sounds crazy, and all you skeptics ouCreating Dynamic Characters
by =bekkia
Why I Hate the Letter YWhy I Hate the Letter Y and Other Character Naming PitfallsWhy I Hate the Letter Y
It seems a bit cantankerous of me to hate an innocent letter like Y, doesn't it? I don't hate it everywhere. I like it in the sky or or in the city, but when that pernicious little letter sneaks into a name where it shouldn't be, I find myself doubting the writer's literacy.
All joking aside, this is a problem that needs to be addressed , especially for fledgling writers. So, without further ado, I present some expanded do's and don'ts of character naming.
Instead of beginning with all the names that should never grace your dialo
by =bekkia
Write better Dialogue"Write Better Dialogue!" she shouted, losing her patience.Write better Dialogue
So, you want to write better dialogue, eh? Well, I'm going to give you a few pointers on how to make your dialogue come to life. Together, we're going to create a dialogue scene. Our character goes by Anderson and he's stuck at a filling station in Florida. The year is 1949.
Attributing Dialogue
First off, forget adverbs exist. Do it now. I don't want to see them in your dialogue tags ever. Not ever stealthily.
Attributing dialogue can be and usually is done with the standard dialogue tag:
"Hey, uh, have
by =bekkia
The Story of Your CharacterThe Story Behind Your Character: Writing a Believable Back-storyThe Story of Your Character
What makes you you?
It’s not your physical appearance. Undoubtedly, you look like someone, whether you inherited your parents’ high cheekbones or you find your long lost doppelganger on the bus. So it’s just as silly to describe your characters as “blonde and beautiful” as it would be to describe yourself as such when someone asks you to define yourself.
What really defines you and shapes your personality is the sum of all the cause and effect situations in your life, your personal history, your back-story.
by =bekkia
Talk Less, Say MoreTalk Less, Say More: A Guide on Saying What you Mean, and Knowing When to Shut UpTalk Less, Say More
Have you ever started reading a story or poem, only to skim through all the blathering to the “good part”? Or if you’re me, you stop reading it entirely. I am an example of the average person now-a-days. I don’t have time to waste on authors who find it necessary to tell me every little detail, three adjectives per noun, down to their grandmother’s dog’s flea’s flashback! (Though that could be pretty funny.) But now I’m the one blathering.
The thing about telling a story, is that you have to
by =bekkia
A Protist's Guide to TitlingBefore a reader even picks up your book, story, or poem, they read the title. To many, this is of little significance. Well, it shouldn’t be. A title is like a first impression, an introduction.A Protist's Guide to Titling
If you told someone your name was Cindy, they wouldn’t expect you to be a man, right? Likewise, the title should support what your piece is about, but not give everything away.
Good titles have special significance in the piece. Great titles have multiple levels of significance.
There are many types of titles, too.
Some titles are the name of an important character,
by =bekkia
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| I'm a little crazy. Welcome to National Novel Writing Month. You know you've stared at this for like five minutes. Admit it. Check out my text novel [link] which will be one of my NaNoWriMo stories. |
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just wanted to say I'm really impressed with your poetry. I only read a few poems (for now!) but it's only because I don't want to rush through them in my sleepy state. But sure as heck I don't want to miss any new ones!
+devwatch
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