Tips for writers?

Question

Hi, i'm fifteen, and have wanted to be published since I was eight. I'd love some writing tips from those out there who have some experience; i love figurative language, but can't think of an original enough topic to write a book about! help please!!

Answer 1

TEN BASIC WRITING TIPS

The following may be useful for the beginning writer and reminders for those who have written for years:

1. Avoid pretentious words, clichés, and trite expressions in the narrative. Do not put quotation marks around a slang word or a figure of speech that is not being pointed to or emphasized as a word or figure of speech. When in doubt, omit the quotation marks. A careful writer will spare the reader such annoyances.

2. Start a new paragraph for each character’s dialogue. Great Britain and Canada use modified rules, but the American writer should place the closing quotation marks after all punctuation marks except for the semi-colon and colon. The dash is another exception to this rule.

3. Dialogue should be identifiable to each character in the story, but use appropriate tags to let the reader know who is talking. Tags may be omitted if using an action line, such as: Mark glared at Joe; his menacing figure only inches away. “No, man! It’s your doing!”

4. Write the narrative using English in its perfect compositional form, avoiding foreign words unless they are of prime importance. Never use quotation marks for emphasis, but rather, use italics. The dialogue should fit the narrative if included in the same paragraph.

5. It is not necessary to write the character’s written thoughts in italics, but be consistent in whichever form you use. Using italics to denote the inner thoughts of a character is easier to discern.

6. End your chapters or parts with a cliffhanger or something to make the reader turn the page. Build suspense and tension throughout the story and don’t hesitate to write your character in a situational corner. To have everything work out coincidentally nice and conveniently smooth for the characters is laziness on the part of the writer and his imagination. Keep the readers wondering if the protagonist will work himself out of a precarious dilemma.

7. Keep your story within the style you began—either first, second, or third person narrative.

8. Write a good wrap at the ending by serving justice to the antagonists and rewards to the protagonists. There are exceptions to this guideline, however, and it depends on the plot.

9. Keep a grammar reference book and a dictionary nearby. Employ a computer spell check freely as you write. Watch for words such as, their, they’re, whose, who’s, it’s, its. Know their differences.

10. Have your work edited for grammar, punctuation, and flow before submission. Thicken your writing skin; as a writer, you can ill-afford hurt feelings when your manuscript needs improvement.

Answer 2

first off, keep writing. secondly, don't worry about being original. write what you know. write about whatever inspires you. if you feel it, people will respond. 3rd - keep reading.

other things - not as important. i'd keep a journal and maybe carry it around. write everyday, at the same time, for the same time, even if its not coming. some days will be better than others. read autobiographies of writers. you'll get insight as to how a writer develops, both creatively and professionally (like getting published).

Answer 3

I'd recommend writing short stories. Short stories are a great way to work on your craft and build publishing credits. Also, read some books about writing. I'd recommend Stephen King's ON WRITING and Rennie Browne's SELF-EDITING FOR FICTION WRITERS. Plus there are a ton of writer's digest books that are worthwhile. Your library might have some of them.

Answer 4

Don't try thinking about an original topic. A topic will come to you when you least expect it. You could try writing your own personal thoughts, feelings, and impressions; they may provide an interesting topic.

Answer 5

Stay at it! You really sound like that should be your career. I have not been published yet but I won't give up. Just write and I'm sure it will all come to you!

Answer 6

Write, write, and write more. A good practice is to write something everyday. It doesn't have to have any connection to a previous writing just as long as you're writing something. Write more.