In this post, I hope to cover some topics on being a good writer. These topics can either help you overcome something, or simply improve your vernacular( ).



I. Your style of writing

-I read many novels and articles that are absolutely horrific. The reason? The writer doesn't understand that he or she is not meant for that kind of writing. By "style" I am referring to genre and word usage.

Many writers these days figure they can write any genre of a novel as long as they have great appreciation for the subject, but that just isn't the case. I am horrified by fantasy novels(my own opinion), but I find myself able to write fantasy with exquisite word usage and story background. I am able to conjure up amazing stories and tell them with an almost possessing use of words. Why? Because fantasy is easy to write. Fantasy doesn't have to make sense.

This doesn't put me down in any way. "I can only write well because any idiot could do it." Most idiots wouldn't understand my choice of words. I prefer to speak formally in real life, thus speak with a sense of pride and arrogance. I like to sound pompous because it makes me sound intelligent.

Lets get down to it...how do you find out your genre? The genres are fundamentally listed as: Mystery, Fantasy, Adventure, Drama, Poetry. Each of those can be broken down even further, such as Mystery broken down to crime. Or Drama broken down into tragedy.

How do you find yours though? First...find your favorite books. These books can be children books, or they can be erotic books...just find them. Try to gather hundreds..or at least 20. Now, with them gathered onto a table, look at each of them, remember the story behind it, and rethink your likeness for the book. You don't need a masters degree in literature to write a novel, but it would be nice to have an understanding of other works. Throw out books that don't TRULY interest you, and leave 5.

Now find the genre of each of the books. If the books are all Mystery...you might do well writing a Crime novel. If they're all Fantasy, you might do well writing Fantasy novels, etc, etc.




II. Fundamentals of Writing

-I said before that you don't need a masters degree to write a novel. However, it would help to have, at least, an advanced understanding of grammar. Grammar is the backbone of writing...right before everything else.

Another fundamental of writing is your use of words. Based on the books you write, you will attract a certain age group. Children books are best written with simple words such as big instead of gargantuan. Even gigantic is good to use.

As a mystery writer, you will attract teenagers and up. Everyone likes a good mystery novel at the right age. Even some children like mystery novels. Your word usage is what will attract readers...unless of course you have an amazing story to tell.




III. Starting a piece of literature

-Before you start a piece of literature(Novel, Poem, Short Story, etc.) you should think about it. Do you plan on getting rich off of it? Do you plan on simply teaching a moral lesson to the world?

The grasp of literature and its effects stretch farther than expected..so expect it to stretch.

All great literature has a story to it. In fact, most great literature has a hidden aspect inside of the writing. C.S. Lewis's The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is a great example. What it literally speaks of does not mean it isn't figuratively speaking. Someone that reads it can actually put the events together and compare them to the bible. Such as the lion coming back to life being compared to Jesus.

This didn't happen in mere seconds, C.S. Lewis had to think about it. Some people find it's good to write your ideas onto paper...even create the story before you write it. I find it's great to create my characters before I begin any novel or poem. It makes it easier to write later on.




IV. Writer's Block

-Ack! That is the only word this terrible ailment can be given. Writer's block befalls many writers, often when they have a stroke of genius. Writer's block is when you can no longer churn ideas out of your head. When, instead of sounding like a beautiful symphony, your writing begins to sound like a 2 year old banging a spook onto a metal trashcan.

I find it's easy to get rid of this by listening to music that I like, or simply taking a walk. I can take my dog out on a walk and the ideas begin to flow again. If you want to try the walk..try walking out at different times of the day. I hate doing this when the sun is shining outside. I find it much easier to get rid of writer's block when it's windy, stuffy, and dark.

Another way to get rid of the bug is to simply stop writing for a day, a week, a month. This can be terrible for a writer, but would you rather your work be published when it sounds like...well...I mentioned the 2 year old earlier correct?

V. POST MORE TOPICS



I want to post more topics, but it would seem writer's block has hit me.

Ask me questions, send me topics, give me help. I want to help you through my opinions and advice.


Hopefully this can be stickied one day to help others that may come aboard.






EDIT: Apparently writer's black effects many writers...hmmm.

You might want to recheck that first sentence. A quick correction: "I prefer to speak formally in real life; thus I speak with a sense of pride and arrogance." However, I would suggest: "In real life I prefer to speak in a formal tone. It gives me a sense of pride and arrogance."

Next:



Are you implying that all great writers use proper grammar? If you are, then I take issue with this. Many respected writers do not use proper grammar. James Joyce and his novel Finnegan's Wake come immediatly to mind. As well, a lot of early nineteenth centuary British lit contains really bizarre comma use (I'm thinking of Jane Austin). And Henry James was a master of grammar, though to unintiated his writing appears to be one run-on sentence after another.

If you are speaking merely of more recent times, then obviously you aware of the many modernist writers that did away with quotations when it came to delivering dialogue in a story (Joyce, again, the most immediate). Check out Brautigan and his "1/3, 1/3, 1/3," along with Joyce, for a look at how great writers alter conventional writing mechanics. Why do they do it? Because to stick to proper grammar usage forces a story to become too formal and stale; a more free-flowing narrative is more realistic. People don't use proper punctuation and grammar when thinking, from what I know and have heard...

Now, if that was not what you were implying, then my apologies.

While your intenetions are good, some of your information is questionable. For example, you state that "fantasy doesn't have to make sense." That is simply false. If a story does not make sense, no one will understand or enjoy it. The fact that one invents a world, creatures, characters, etc. in the fantasy genre does not mean they do not make sense.

I also agree with OurMoonlitSun that many, many great writers do NOT use proper grammar. You should not use sloppy, uneducated grammar, but improper is just fine if the story, setting or characters call for it. You, yourself, use a fragment or two.

I'd love to know where you are published or what education you have in this subject.

I enjoyed reading your tips.

I find during periods of writer's block...that one just needs to write and worry about the grammar, punctuation ect. later when it gets cleaned up. Then I'll go back and circle the best parts of the jumble and use those thoughts to propel me into different avenues.

Hi Aztec Warrior, Happy New Year.

I had no idea you were a writer. What kind of writing do you do? and/or what are you working on right now?

http://ashiana.conforums.com/index.cgi

~ Isis

It is interesting to read others view points on the subject of writing and grammar. I have always struggled with writing, and grammar isn't my strongest subject. I do a lot of reading and yet when I go to put down the written word, the majority of the time I can't write a complete sentence. I tend to have a terrible time with run-on sentences .. bad grammar. I would never pass as a proofreader, it's a struggle, but I try.

Odd interpretation of what I said. And my grammatical error is acceptable, as are your 4 spelling errors.

I didn't say grammar is what you have to use and profess in your writing. However, you need to have an understanding of modern grammar to write a good book. 19th century(1800's) writing ISN'T modern grammar. A lot of British literature still grasps the old use of grammar. Again..I didn't say you had to use proper grammar, I simple said it would be ideal to have an understanding, if not basic..then advanced, of grammar. Otherwise you shouldn't be writing at all. And if Henry James was a master of grammar, and his writing seemed to be one run-on sentence after another, I fail to see the point you wanted to make. The key word being "seemed" in that sentence.


Otherwise, apology accepted

I did this early in the morning because I couldn't sleep, and because I stumbled upon this section. Unusual section to have in this forum.

name='nativechick1989' date='Jan 6 2007, 04:46 AM' post='1489487']
It is interesting to read others view points on the subject of writing and grammar. I do a lot of reading and yet when I go to put down the written word, the majority of the time I can't write a complete sentence. I tend to have a terrible time with run-on sentences .. bad grammar. I would never pass as a proofreader, it's a struggle, but I try.


Hi Nativechick

I used to have trouble with runon sentences, wordiness, and incorrect grammar until I had to take Business English and Business Correspondence. I'll tell you my English greatly improved and my runon sentences got run out of town. Lol Have you ever thought of taking one of those classes just for fun?



Well, we all have our strengths and weaknesses. I always did poorly in upper level Math: Algebra, Geometry and Calculus. Nativechick, what you may think you lack in writing skills, you make up for in being a great basketball player.

http://ashiana.conforums.com/index.cgi

~ Isis @-\-----

My 4 spelling errors, huh? Funny, I thought all my research papers were finished and I could be done with spellcheck.

I pointed out your sentence simply because it was comical in light of your professed opinion on the importance of grammar. But, as you pointed out, I did have spelling errors, so I really shouldn't have been pointing the finger...seeing as how I was exclaiming the importance of spelling, and all.



I don't agree with this, but that's okay. I just got finished with an English degree and many of the "modern" works I read did not use what would be considered proper grammar.



I never said it was. My point was that "modern" grammar is not the only acceptable form.



This is why I brought up Joyce.



You have read James, I'm assuming.

To clarify, my point was that James is considered by many to be a master of the english language; however, by today's "modern" approach to grammar, his sentences run-on for a very long time, yet are still grammatically correct. A "modern" interpretation of his work would attempt to cut down the sentence length, even though there is actually nothing grammatically wrong.



Much appreciated.



I was simply poking fun at your admittance to sounding "pompous." And I disagree that one needs to have masterful understanding of "modern" grammar in order to write something "good." It helps, sure, but isn't absolutely necessary, in my opinion.

And back to your first post once more, I don't think GOOD fantasy is easy to write. There is a difference between you believing your fantasy story is amazing and someone else thinking the same. Now, if others are claiming your fantasy stories are interesting and amazing, I'm not sure why you wouldn't consider such work an example of "good" writing. Seems kind of self-defeating to me.

And sound pompous you do.
But not to worry, it's the good kind.

Lets also add on to the original topic these factors to.

1} the human language has a masculine form and from that derives the feminine form.
2} language has been slowly been evolving and growing in numbers when new words and synomons, prepositions, ancroymons, so does there placement in the words meaning and or conjunction in the new word. slowly for example, The word Genesis from the hebrew bible means
generations or genetic. beging formation . I think you know where Im going with this.
3} bio- is another form of add on , {some oe correct me here }, biogenisusoligy, is the study of the frist kinds of life. referring to the words orrgin ans how it iswritten,

it would take hundreds of yours to change from one form or anthker {kanguage} all of its own.
thus far, hebrew, greek and modern day english .

C'mon ppl, things r getting outta hand. Stop shouting at each other.

Okay, see what I did there. Due to the internet, the basic laws of language and writing are getting sloppy. As a writer, I have to use the best and worse of both worlds to get a project done. Proper grammer is not always essential in a story. If the story stands on its own, grammer is not an issue.

Simplistic word use has been the hallmark of some of the greatest stories ever told, all according to the times in which they were written. Sometimes if your story is too wordy no one will read it, if it's too simple the same result will happen. The first three paragraphs to any story is suppose to grab the reader so he/her will continue further on like the thesis of an essay. Stephen King is an exception to that rule.

I've written hundreds of stories, some of which I thought were crap. But never give up, never surrender.

I totally agree. Perfect example = Where The Wild Things Are.

Tower, have you posted anything on UM? I'd love to read it.

Yes, I have. But months back. However you can check my profile and click on my url link. It's a link to fanfiction.net and my posted stories.