Tips for an aspiring author!

[Rekkin]

Swear its a coincidence that I'm posting this as I just read one of our writers is taking leave to work on her own book. I have been throwing around some ideas for a few months now for starting a novel. I really don't have any plans to get it published or anything my main goal is just to see if I can finish it. The story would be centered around three characters and would largely be a "slice of life" tale about second generation immigrants - something I'm pretty familiar with. I bring this all up for it just occurred to me that I now belong to a site of some phenomenal writers, so are any of you all working on something? Do you have any tips for someone like me who is just getting started?

 

[TWD26]

Working on a graphic novel myself.

 

[Deviant]

Aha, a novelist! I'm actually aspiring to be one myself, and after much searching and droning through other sites (e.g. actual tips from actual writers, editors, and publishers), I actually have a little list of my own. Surprisingly, writing a successful (or at least, adequate publisher-worthy) novel is rather tedious. For example, as I've found most other peeps saying:

• Avoid arbitrary wordiness, like: "She nodded her head in agreement." When it should really be, "She nodded."
• Avoid using the words "up" and "down" unless necessary, like: "She jumped down from the roof." When it should probably be: "She jumped from the roof."
• Try avoiding using "that" unless also necessary. I'll use my own writing too, because I still do it: "He turned to his newfound companion, recognizing that they too could feel the unease that seethed from behind the isolated door." When it should be: "He turned to his newfound companion, recognizing that they too could feel the unease that seething from behind the isolated door."
• Avoid hedging too many verbs, like: "smiled very slightly," or "almost punched a bit of his face."
• In general, just avoid using too many superfluous stuff. Apparently, publishers and editors hate that stuff. You just gotta cut the fat. Leave all the muscle. Get straight to the point. Whatnot.

Regrettably, I have yet to do ANY of that myself. But this is a role-play site, not author-publishing grad-school. So I'll do as I please until I actually have the motivation to start a novel. <.<"

 

[Marf]

Just committed to writing my first book. I've been writing for years, but never a full novel. The planning alone has been really challenging and stressful and I keep chopping and changing my mind over which scenes and arcs to include. Just decided to scrap what I've done and start over, lol.

So yeah, planning in advance is definitely a good idea.

 

[saam]

• Have a good plot... which isn't really helpful to say, but I suppose just don't rush into a generic story. Do some mind maps and set up an engaging read. Hell, mind fuck some people.
• Kind of going off what Deviant was saying up there^, with being superfluous, when it comes to action or a fast-paced scene, don't overdo the writing. If your fighting someone you don't notice every single detail, it's quite primitive, the brain process things in simple chunks, so be simple and concise. If you really want to note a particular detail, then do it with simplicity. example;

"The heavy set man threw his whole body into the hook, the sun gleaming off his bright, bald scalp, his eyes in a wild frenzy of anger. Janson ducked beneath the punch just in time to feel a gust of air pass over his head, before lunging up with an uppercut to the mans jaw sending him toppling to the floor in a heaped mess of limbs."

"The heavy-set man threw a wild hook, the sun gleaming off his bald scalp. Janson ducked just in time, feeling air pass overhead before lunging upwards with an uppercut. He met the mans jaw and his body went limp."

See how the pace is better, makes more sense feels more alive.

• Don't write and re-write and re-write over again, you won't get anywhere. So just smash through it and go with the flow, there will always be time to go back...afterwards. Get it down first, I'm the worst for going back and forth to revisit things and you don't get very far long term.
• Don't be too hard on yourself. You're new to the business and at least you've tried, keep going and working on the craft.
• Read a lot, especially renowned authors and see what they do. This also helps with vocabulary, characters, plot, everything really.

Hope I helped in some way :)

 

[Jinan B]

Combine the writing skill of Tolkien/Martin/Lewis/Rowling/etc with the writing speed of Isaac Asimov and you shall become the greatest author ever

And yeah I know that didn't help at all, sorry.

Only tip I have is make sure everything you write actually contributes to the story. If you have a chapter where you can ask yourself "Does this actually move the book further along in some way" and you can't give an easy answer than you'll likely be better off cutting it out, or editing it so something does happen.

 

[Mistress]

Think there are a good deal of us longer term members who have written novels, and those who partake in some form of business on screen. Six pots of coffee per day should get you through it in ten weeks. However, have a plan. I like to start with what the promo might be, then run from there. Had some great ideas with corroborators, but nothing ever took. I would love that route, because it would keep me dedicated.

 

[Thor]

Just remember you don't always have to start off at the beginning of the story. Especially if you have a hard time figuring out what that is lol (like me)... Also Eff planning just swing with it :D lol jk... but seriously though you don't need a plan to write a good story... sure it helps, but just write. It can be just jargon and nonsense but once you get into the flow of things, it'll feel like it you're actually in the story and stuff.