Category: Writers Block
We all claim to like to write here, or I hope since we are on a writing site, since we do post our works for the general public to see.1
but... what is a good piece of writing? What is a bad piece of writing? What makes our world happy? What's the most awful and attrocious story to ever exist on earth?2
So, your task for this contest is to write me a nonfiction piece that will help other writers become better. Explore some part of writing and inform us about the best way to do it. Please be detailed and explain to me why.3
rules:4
1. first of all no stories! Nonfiction only!5
2. make it interesting! I want to read it and want to learn from it, so show me!6
3. It must not laugh at or tease the bad story. We want to be constructive here, but criticalness is okay, just don't step over the line.7
4. don't name stories! How would you feel if I randomly picked your story and talked about how bad it was in my what not to do section? Yes, it doesn't turn out good, so please don't do it!8
5. No rants! I don't want to hear it! I want both sides of the coin!9
6. UsE yOuR Caps rIgHT. If you claim to be able to write then you shouldn't do this. If you do then maybe you shouldn't give advice and go back and fix your stories first.10
7. Grammar and Spelling errors should be minor and I shouldn't have to stop to interpret your stories because it's so riddled with errors that are so blatant.11
8. No TXt, Leet, chat speak, net speak or writing as if it was myspace. First off, this is a writing site and stuff with that kind of quality has absolutely no place here. secondly: You are advising people here, please give them a good idea of what real writing is like.12
9. Keep your smilies, happy faces, and extra editorial out! We don't need those either, thank you!13
Since a non-fiction story is unacceptable, I've decided to stick with what's written below. It's not pretty, but it's the truth as I and others who have been drilling into me see it.
Writing is like excersizing. If you don't constantly work at it, you're likely going to find it harder to pick up again after long stretches of inactivity. A writer writes, no matter what they're writing. Write, even if all you're writing is something simple.
This said, a good writer also reads. One can not understand the ins and outs of writing without first having experience in the finished product. So, read anything from your favorite type of stories to research material on the subject you're writing about.
Write about what you know. If you don't know something and want to write about it anyway, research it. I recently began writing a novel in which a woman was having a rather severe birthing experience. Imagine trying to make something like that seem realistic without at least some foreknowledge. You don't have to be an expert, but always make sure it's believable, even when it's far-fetched. There will always be a reader who knows more about a subject than you do, and there's nothing worse than having someone correct your writing by explaining the facts.
Try and be at least somewhat original. We live in a day in which most basic plots have been done to death, but the reasons so many of the same plots get published is because they both appeal to a certain audience, or they stand out with at least some originality. it's okay to write about a hero on a grand quest saving the world, or a teen love triangle, but do try not to blatently rip off the source material which inspired you. The world only needs so many twilight knock-offs.
Try not to re-write what you've already written as you write it. If you've written a paragraph and you go over it again and again changing fine little details, you'll never finish. Trust me on this, there's nothing more unpleasant than dwelling on a chapter over and over. If you have to make changes for plot consistancy or to add more information, go for it, but try and wait until the second draft to really start picking it apart.
That said, if you are going to show it to people, please make sure there aren't any glaring errors. There's nothing more annoying than reading over a piece only to have to stop every second sentense.
Write down every idea you have, no matter how insignifigent, and never throw any stories away. You never know when you might want them.
Learn to take critisism. If you're going to show your writing to people, you're going to get mixed reactions. You can't please everyone, so don't try. No writer is admired by everyone. Learn to take critisism and use it to better your writing. Just because someone makes suggestions, doesn't mean they hate your work. If they couldn't stand reading it, they wouldn't bother taking the time to make suggestions.
Learn to accept prai. But if you want to get your work published you're going to have to keep your readers in mind too.
conversationse. If people enjoy your writing, take it seriously. It's true people say "I liked it" and don't really mean it, but more often than not, they wouldn't even say that unless they meant it. Of course, the praise that comes with reasons why they liked it is priceless. Don't put yourself down when it comes to your writing, because if you feel bad about it, you won't do it.
Writing is an art, and a business. Write for yourself first and foremost. Remember, you can't please everyone
Please learn when and when not to go off on tangents. Whether for anicdotal or informational purposes, nothing is more annoying to readers (and moreso to publishers) than a block of text which takes them right out of the story. If your characters are having a discussion, and all of a sudden you put in two paragraphs about the weather, that'll just ruin the moment. That said, we've all read books which have these blocks of information. It's difficult to determine when it's appropriate and when it isn't.
Learn the distinction between showing and telling. I've read a lot of stories on here which read like story summaries. Keep your stories in the moment, and when you're describing a scene, show us the characters, have some real dialog instead of saying "so and so told me this and that". That having been said, sometimes simply telling is necessary. If your protagonist is interviewing or interrogating a group of people, it's probably not necessary to dramatize every single interrogation. One are two scenes would work just fine, and telling the results of the rest would work.
Enjoy what you're writing. Nothing brings a piece of writing down more than an author who could care less about writing it.
And thus ends my words of wisdom for today.
Prompt:1
Many today live in this world and share air, space, and other things with one another. People all over this great planet of all cultures mix, match, and must deal with one another. Some speak one language and some another. 2
Now write a well written piece explaining to me exactly why we must live and suffer through life when our final destination is deth? What's the meaning of life and why is that?
Author notes
Yes, I may make this an actual contest of my own someday but this is for a contest, so... You are welcome to write something, though.
Please forgive me for this, but I can't help noticing you've posted a ton and a half of writing stuff over the past two days, and I was wondering what purpose you had in doing this. It's a little overwhelming if you've doing it for others' enjoyment. I'm not condemning you by any means, but the fact that you posted this new "challenge" on the same topic as the old has me curious.
Me too.