How do you write a good story?

Question

I need some tips on how to make my wrting more intresting and what I should do to expand my vocabulary?

Answer 1

Read a lot - observe how other writers construct their stories. We take it all for granted when we read.

Answer 2

Think about the great stories that have been written in the past. What is the common factor that makes all of those stories great?

Memorable characters...Long after people have forgotten the events in a story or the progression of the plots, they remember characters such as Scarlett O'Hara, Tom Sawyer, Harry Potter and Anne of Green Gables. If you create a character that is special, it is easy to imagine the situations in which that character will find himself or herself. How that character faces obsticles and overcomes the difficulties he or she encounters will establish the foundation for your story. You can make that person come alive for your readers.

Do not dwell on vocabulary. When you are writing, consider how your characters would speak, and what is a comfortable use of language for you and your readers. If you are unsure of the meaning of a word or do not know if it was in use at the time your characters lived, look it up.

Good luck!

Answer 3

One of the most important things that makes writing interesting is making your writing as real as possible. You don't want to over-flower your vocabulary with far too big words. Look at the characters that you're trying to portray and have them speak the way people like them would talk normally. Create a speaker who is not too distant from the characters so the voice isn't too far from the characters.

If you're interested in naturally improving your vocabulary, you could subscribe to an online dictionary word of the day. As a writer, you could then take that word and write a short blurb/story that features that word so your understanding of it becomes natural and associative.

Most of all, read read read! Everything you can get your hands on, read it. Reading in several different genres will not only improve your vocabulary, but it helps to develop your style as a writer.

Good luck!

Answer 4

Everyone has mentioned reading a LOT, and that is the number one thing. It will help with your creativity and vocabulary. Read in the genres that you like to write in, so that you can learn how those stories work and what kinds of thing have been done already.

If you're interested in writing, there's a few books I'd recommend you take a look at:
1) "Writing Down the Bones" by Natalie Goldberg
2) "Bird By Bird" by Anne Lamott
3) "On Writing Well" by William Zinsser

The first two are focused more on creative writing, and the third is a techincal manual to help improve your style. They are my absolute favorite references to anything having to do with writing!

And keep practicing! Like any other skill, the more you do it the better you will get.

Answer 5

To write a good story, stick to something you know a lot about, or the same genre as you read yourself. Expand your vocabulary by reading lots of books, and maybe pick up a dictionary every now and again and just pick up a random word and then try to drop it into conversation in the next week.

Answer 6

The extent of your vocabulary is less important than your ability to sructure it.

Do not worry so much about the vocabulary than ensuring that each paragraph of your piece has a definate narrative purpose.

The masters of the short story structure are Maupassant and Chekhov, who are excellent at creating suspense, usually by witholding pieces of information. You should study their work.

Another point is that the short story is a very concise form: never use two words where one will do.

And always ask yourself the question, why would anyone want to read this.

Happy writing!

Answer 7

Yes, a good story needs to be interesting, therefore you have to expand your vocabulary.
There are 2 alternatives:
1. you read adventure and classic stories from your literature, it works for sure, but it's time-effective;
2. take a sinonime vocabulary book and think how can those be incorporated in the actual text you want write, to be more interesting.

Answer 8

First you need to determine the targeted age for your story! Or targeted gender... Meaning, do you want to write books for children or for women...etc.

Start with short story as they are the perfect medium! I think just about most people can create, start, and finish up a short story! I am not implying they are easy to do...

Anyway.. the best way to start writing is to read a lot of stories! Pick the authors that you enjoy the most and start reading... read all kinds, classics, crimes, romance..etc to see where you are most interested in (Genre)

Also, by reading different stories you get to realize how authors develope and create.. or even introduce characters... how they plot is structured too! You must be prepared! Create a profile and the background of your characters in advance... its better this way.

When writing your own, brain storm and get ideas... you dont need a muse or do you? inspirations can kick in anytime you know!! You may be even inspired by recent news or events around you! Sometimes this process take lots of your time and effort, other times the story will reveal itself to you in a matter of minutes. Start with a piece of paper and write whatever is it on your mind, nonstop... write everything that passes your mind and formulate something out of it all... Start writing and let the story write itself. Do some editing and revisions...

You may wanna share an idea with your trusted ones and get opinions too.

You can also join a writing group! They can be more honest than the close people to you who may avoid wanting to hurt your feelings - you must avoid subjective views!

Develope a style of yours! One that is unique and describes you best!

Dont work your mind way too hard, and dont stretch yourself too thin! You can leave work and come back when you are ready to give more..

Give time and effort on grammer and vocab! Make your readers enjoy your work at it best! Be ready to spend time and money on this.. I am sure there are writing centers that will do grammer/vocab check on your work :)

Let it sit a week and then read it again because you always wanna find areas of improvements

I do judge a book by its cover, so be creative in picking up your title and cover! ITS IMPORTANT

You then need to look for a publisher to publish your book and a good respectful journalist to write about it...

Best of all, dont let it get into you!

Best of luck to you ;-)

PS: Send me a copy when you are done heehee

Answer 9

Combine experience with imagination. Create something unique, truly original, try not to borrow bits from other books like Dan Brown, unless you want to make a quick buck. Expand your vocab by learning 3 new words a day from the dictionary.

Answer 10

well, the tips on how to make your writing more interesting I can do. Anthony Horowitz (he's a writer) said that you should go outside and do stuff, because if you sit in a room infront of a computer then all you will be able to write about is a person sitting in a room infront of a computer :) Good Luck with whatever you're writing :D

Answer 11

The best way is to start reading classic novels. You need to establish some sort of foundational base for what you are writing about.