Today I actually feel like I have accomplished a lot in the past few days. I broke down bits of my FairyTailxHP story (with mini-essays) and ended up with a lot of questions that needed answering. The possibility of me finishing this story has gone up considerably.
As for my HpxKHR story- the newest manga chapter pushed me to keep the story on the shelf for a while. For now, I’ll consider it a good decision and leave it for another time.
Anyway, I also did something new. I read some articles that were written to help fiction-writers improve. There are tons of those online, obviously but I never really took the time to read them.
It's geared towards writers who are thinking of publishing and it gives good common-sense advise for fiction writing in general. The points- I'm pretty sure I'm guilty of a lot of those flaws, but at least now I'm a bit more aware.
This article made me re-read AtO's first chapter (It's really small, isn't it?). And suddenly I found myself editing/re-writing the entire chapter (which I will put online later it's on FFnet now.).
That in turn pumped me up to start writing a few snippets for chapter 13. (Don't celebrate- you should know by now, how agonizingly slow my writing process is.)
This list is actually one that encourages you to start writing and keep writing (The first tip is “write”). And I like it just for that. It doesn't make a big deal about grammar or anything like that.
As a writer, are there certain writer's blog/websites you follow to help you improve/motivate you to write more?
Polar
Writing sites? Well I don't have any writing sites that you couldn't find yourself. Mostly things like Dictionary.com and such. I did however copy and paste a couple news articles about a week and a half, back into a doc file that I found rather helpful. I don't think the origional stories are even up anymore.
ReplyDeleteOne was about how to tell when someone is lying. The other was about reading body language.
I thought they would be good refrence guides for when I'm describing a character's movements and actions.
Well, I actually just... try to do what I like in a book and not to do what annoys me.
ReplyDeleteOfficial spammy and annoyingly long delurking comment!
ReplyDeleteFun fact: think of the most beautifully crafted novel or fic you've read, something that uses language in an amazingly deft way. (Not necessarily the most quality work, just the most stylish one you can think of. It works best with humor.) Compare it to the creative flaws that out amateurs. The list is actually completely right, but isn't it cool how great writing can be built on the things that make bad writing?
Thanks for the links! I love the Neil Gaiman tip list, it is everything that a writer needs in the purest distilled form possible.
Something that is useful for me as a resource was one writer's NaNoWriMo prep list. It has a lot of useful tips for sorting out plots and writing more rounded-out stories, and also a lot of links. http://tamimoore.com/2010/the-official-nanowrimo-2010-preparation-list/
However, something that almost always motivates me for writing is reading this very blog! Partly because reading stuff on writing from commercial writers is more about preparing your writing for publishers and markets than refining the art for entertainment. Writing's my hobby. I'm not looking to sell it, I just want to get better so I feel more comfortable sharing it. So a lot of times what you post is more relevant to me than other writing resources. And I love AtO. It's the first time I've seen the particular crossover done in a way that make sense and is balanced in the approach to the characters and the two worlds. It also has a balanced approach to angst, and it doesn't bash either story.
If I need to write in short bursts to unblock myself I look over my notes (or sometimes not at all and do it from memory or on the fly) then use this site: ht tp:/ /writeordie dot com/ which is evil but gets the job done. More often than not though, I want to let it flow without irritating sound, a timelimit or the screen slowly turning an angry red when I don't type fast enough. U_U
ReplyDeleteI'm not a very disciplined writer, I'm a perfectionist but I like to get stuff right the first time, minor editing not withstanding. This means I have to open a new document and copy + paste snippets if I want to change a scene lots. This is always harder for me than to just keep going with what I had before, unless I've written myself into a corner. On the plus side, sometimes you can use bits from old drafts to make new chapters, though it does clutter the respective folder.
If I had five rules (thank you for the Gaiman link~) then they would be things I never do. Here's what the list really looks like:
1) Start a new story in a fit of literary passion because you've just read something very good or really, really bad. Conveniently forget that you have other stories to work on first.
2) Write at obscenely early hours in the morning because you haven't gone to bed yet and your brain won't let you sleep.
3) Never write when it is convenient, only when you have inspiration. Inspiration is divided among new stories and old ones you haven't even published yet.
4) Once you start to publish something, there is no more inspiration.
5) Still be convinced that you will finish all your story ideas before you die, despite the rate you come up with new ones and how little you write for them before they are abandoned. On that note, never plan short stories, only epics.
I am glad to hear that you've written even a little for AtO and it would rather hypocritical to ask for more. At least we have your snippets and progress reports to keep us going in the meantime. ;_;
Oh! I do end up saving tidbits of information that I come across- all because I think I can eventually use them in a story somewhere. This is especially when I find out things that seem so odd/controversial in real life.
ReplyDeleteDescribing character's movements...hmm, I think I better start paying more attention to things I watch on Tv- most of my stories/writing- people just frown/sigh and do other mundane things that doesn't really convey what I wanted to show.
That's a simple plan. But the books that I do like- I find it hard to replicate/write in that style. As for doing something that annoys me in regards to writing- hmm, editing has to be the bit that annoys me-having to read the same thing over and over again is just horrible.
ReplyDeleteOohh that NaNoWriMo list would have been trmendously helpful for my last year's Nanowrimo attempt. Either way I really like that list- lots of explanation on how to make good list and ask good questions that help with furthering the plot/writing. I'll definitely be going through that NaNo blog more carefully later.
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure you're being way too kind about AtO (there's still a long way to go with it), but thanks.
Writeordie looks super-evil (like an army of teachers who've merged into a super-villain character). I never knew stuff like that existed, but even if I did I doubt I'd ever use it- I'm too weak for stuff like that.
ReplyDeleteHmm, my first drafts of anything are always just bits of dialogue and scenes. I never seem to write out an entire continuous piece of writing as a first draft- but then again I've never really pushed myself to try something like that. I probably should- my method just leads to lot of incomplete pieces. The only thing my method is useful for is interesting dialogue.
I like your point no.2- I've done a lot of late-night writing - it produces quantity over quality sort of work but at least you're writing.
I know, right? Bookmarked it an eternity ago but only started going through it last week. It's a lot more descriptive, well-organized, and practical that a lot of writing resources-- probably because she seems to have been doing it as much for herself as anybody else.
ReplyDeleteWell, I don't judge fanfiction by the same criteria as published works. It's kind of like judging a homemade gifted item of clothing with something bought in a store. Sometimes I find cutting-edge stylish or very professionally made stories, but more often it's something fluffy and comfortable. Sadly some pieces try too hard to be trendy but have shoddy construction. You're knitting a warm, comfortable, practical story and are working hard to do it well. So what if some of the rows are uneven or there's a dropped stitch or two? It's still enjoyable, even as an early work. And something I love about fanfiction is that it has a lot of heart, which can be really hard to find in a bookstore full of overpolished mass-produced works.
Er, sorry, meant to just mention what I like about AtO instead of overextending a gushy metaphor about fanfiction, but the point stands?
OMG writeordie is EVIL.... and I'm addicted to it now.... *twitch twitch*
ReplyDeleteI don't know if I should thank you our not for posting the suggestion...
I've been using it at least once a day. I don't get anything really postable at first but with some minor adjustments it comes out right... It ends up being pretty funny and coherant writing.
OKay .... thank you for posting the link...*twitch* I still think you're evil though for doing it.
CAN HAZ SNIPPETS PLZ?!!?!
ReplyDelete:D Just finished re-reading the story (again. Sorry, I must play havoc with your statistics) and am foaming at the mouth for the next installment. As usual.
I did notice several tweaks! I also noticed that not all chapters had been 'refreshed'? My only pitiful advice for moving forward in a story is to sit down from the start of the new chapter and just write rubbish. Seriously. Take the viewpoint of someone unexpected - Kotetsu or something - and just go nuts. THEN, go have a nice hot (long) shower and zen out. Daydream. Once the flow hits, dash naked from the shower and start typing. I also advise a wireless keyboard, to minimise terminal electrocution incidents.
*grin of an evil sort*
ReplyDeleteGlad you, heh, liked. I should use WoD more often myself, it's just really hard to find the time in which absolutely NOTHING can disturb me for 30 mins or so (my non-stop limit for forced writing). Something always makes me hit the pause button, whether it be the phone, the room temperature or just anyone foolish enough to disturb me and face my wrath. >:(
At least it's working for you- it's terrible for editing but sometimes you just need to churn something out without being held up by squiggly red and blue lines.
I doubt you'd be able to make sense of any of the snippets that I wrote. Plus it wouldn't be as fun if people read bits of chapter 13 early- in fact it'll probably make people more prone to nagging me to write more. Such a scary thought!
ReplyDeleteRefreshed chapters? Errr... well, I just edited the first chapter completely cos I was in an editing mood and it was small- other than that I've tweaked bits when people have pointed out plot-holes. Nothing too major, yet. Maybe later, I'll change up the remaining chapters.
Your advise... is rather unconventional but I appreciate the sentiment. When I do get started with the proper writing for chapter 13, I'll be sure to keep the idea in mind.