WRITING TIP EIGHTY-THREE - A TOP TEN LIST OF DOS AND DONTS - Man, been a long time since I have done one of these...I am sorry; been busy. This is a regurg, but I think worth repeating: A top ten list of DOs and DONTS when writing. I wrote down what I felt keeps me sane and motivated to write. If theres anything useful for you in there, so much the better. MY PERSONAL LIST OF DOS AND DONTS ON WRITING: 1- DO write everyday. You can go back and edit crappy work; you cant edit no work. 2. DO remember that if your writing is boring to you, it will probably be boring to the reader as well. 3. DO be honest when you critique your work. Good enough is a good euphemism for this sucks. 4. DO read. Read a lot. Read everything. Read every genre. If its in English and you didnt write it, chances are you will learn something from it. 5. DO be involved with your stories and love your characters, even the hated ones. The moment you dont care about them or give them attention, neither will anyone else. 6. DO support your fellow authors. In all of history, not one successful person has made it on their own, but surrounded themselves with like-minded people. 7. DO be kind to your editors. They are not there to destroy your novel, but help you make it better. 8. DO your research! Even in a fiction novel, nothing will punch through the fabric of believability faster than being too lazy to learn about what you dont know about. Others will know it though, believe that. 9. DO finish what you start. As people, we get habitualized by repetition. Quitting once can easily turn into quitting most of the time and never finishing a manuscript. Finishing it, even if it sucks eggs and will never see the light of day teaches us we CAN do it...and will get better at it. 10. DO be patient and steadfast. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1. DONT ignore critique. Both the good and the bad are equal gifts that tell you someone took the time to let you know their thoughts. 2. DONT write from your mind all the time, as no one else knows what you are thinking and can make for a confusing story. Write from your heart as well. 3. DONT over-explain every scene, person, situation and backdrop. Let the reader use their imagination as well. As artists we paint with words, so best to keep it abstract at times so the reader is also a participant. 4. DONT rush words to get to a conclusion...ever. Writing is mechanical; learn how to slow the reader down when needed and speed them up when the story calls for it. It is not a matter of word-count, but word-usage. 5. DONT send your work to a potential publisher or agent until you have shined up your manuscript to a mirror gloss. Remember this: If you dont by now hate the f****** thing, you probably havent re-read and edited it enough. 6. DONT be unrealistic about being successful. If every writer turned into a zombie overnight, we would be quite a formidable force to be reckoned with. Finishing a manuscript and even selling it is the first of many, many more steps. 7. DONT compromise your work on the basis of a word count. Stories should tell themselves; you are along for the ride recording what you see. When it ends, it ends. 8. DONT share an un-finished manuscript to anyone except only very close friends or family. Eighty percent of the time, you will change many things as you edit and will confuse people with preemie work. 9. DONT be argumentative with your editor. With a good rapport they may actually give in on some of their mad ideas. 10. DONT let anyone tell you that you are not good enough; no one is until they get better. Peace~
Posted on: Mon, 29 Dec 2014 11:47:17 +0000