Craft of Writing

Discussion in 'General Writing' started by Garball, Jun 19, 2013.

  1. pyroglyphian

    pyroglyphian Word Painter

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    As a beginner I find myself getting caught up in the rules. The same was true when starting out as a musician. In music it transpired that the 'rules' are merely conventions and that originality lies in toying with them or even breaking them outright. Though - like DIY electrical projects - convention-breaking is best done by people who understand why the convention exists in the first place. So getting caught up with the 'rules' as a beginner is probably a fair enough place to start.

    As to art & craft, I don't know what art is but it seems to me that craft is the process of bringing order to an otherwise inexplicable subjective chaos - so as to make it comprehensible to others. And so the rules of craft provide a commonly agreed framework within which to communicate. Which I guess is why if I adlkj asdlkh jjasdj klju sd kljdij dfsd uie khdsfkh then nobody has the faintest idea what I just said.
     
  2. SethLoki

    SethLoki Retired Autodidact Contributor

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    No, but I now know what you look like:

    [​IMG]

    :)
     
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  3. BayView

    BayView Huh. Interesting. Contributor

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    I agree with this, but I think you're underestimating how much craft it takes to write a story that is capable of reaching out and touching people. I'm not looking for glimmering prose and I'm not a big fan of "the rules", but I care about interesting, consistent characterization, good pacing, a satisfying story arc, etc. And I absolutely care about all the little tics that can distract me from the story and the emotional connection I want.

    I think the problem with comparing writing to other art forms is that reading, compared to most other forms of consumption, is pretty difficult and unnatural. We're already asking our readers to look at a series of little squiggles on a page/screen and transform those squiggles into sounds, recognize and adapt those sounds into words, turn those words into sentences that create and convey meaning, use those sentences to create images and ideas and characters, and then find some imagination left over to allow the readers to care about what we're trying to convey... it's a lot of work. Good craft can make it at least a little easier, and I think that's an important goal.
     
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  4. pyroglyphian

    pyroglyphian Word Painter

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    Haha! Bad hair day. You were kind enough to catch my good side at least.
     
  5. Drinkingcrane

    Drinkingcrane Active Member

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    Excellent wisdom that I sound very helpful
     
  6. Drinkingcrane

    Drinkingcrane Active Member

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    As a beginner I’m very concerned with the craft. With the rules. When I write I’m not asking myself how to build a story arch or how to develop an emotional connection. All that is over my head. When I write I’m asking myself how do I construct a sentence? How do I build a paragraph?
     
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  7. deadrats

    deadrats Contributor Contributor

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    I believe it's possible to elevate your writing to the point where your work is what you want it to be and still sells. I do consider myself an artist, but I do have an MFA so you could say I'm formally trained. But what I'm saying is there really doesn't have to be a comprise. Art often has appeal. That's the way it's always been in writing and other arenas.
     
  8. Alan Aspie

    Alan Aspie Banned Contributor

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    I want to point out that maybe difference is not more or less emotional but what kind of emotions.

    High art rises tension and catharsis comes after that. Big emotions first and the process of balancing them next. Tension rising is often multidimensional.

    Low art focuses in one dimension. Often it does not give catharsis but leaves tension to stay.

    It is not "more emotion in low art and less in high art" but "multidimensional and processual in high and less dimensional and more stationary in low art".

    (This is personal opinion, not knowledge.)


    (Multidimendionals emotions: 1 + 2 + 1 + 3 + 2 + 6
    Single dimensional emotions: 9
    Is 9 more than 1 + 2 + 1 + 3 + 2 + 6?)
     
    Last edited: Aug 18, 2018
  9. Harmonices

    Harmonices Senior Member

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    What are your habits? The ones that work for you.

    I'd like to get into a pattern, a flow, for my writing. But haven't figured out a useful way to work yet. I kind of just go in and start writing, usually from where I left off (sometimes anywhere).

    Do you allocate different days of the week to different projects?
    Do you start your writing session by reviewing what you wrote yesterday?
    Do you set the alarm an hour earlier and go straight to it on your lap desk, before washing or breakfast?
    Do you have workbooks you work through on the craft, following the exercises?

    My goal is to improve my craft, get a grip of the basics, while also writing a story.
    Sometimes I don't know if I should just knock out the words and review it later. Or should I spend half an hour on exercises in a book. Or should I review as I go. Or do all three.

    What habits work for you. How do you organise your time effectively? Or if you're an experienced writer, what worked for you when you began?
     
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  10. Tenderiser

    Tenderiser Not a man or BayView

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    I haven't found anything that works so far. I've been struggling for a while so at the moment I'm forcing myself to write 1k a day no matter how hard it is. I haven't been doing it long and so far it isn't making things any easier, but I'm out of ideas!
     
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  11. Hammer

    Hammer Moderator Staff Supporter Contributor

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    the question kinda reminds me of a quote from W.Somerset Maugham -
    Personally I don't subscribe to the "write every day" thing as such, although I'm sure it works for some people and even if I don't write "creatively", barely a day goes past without at least half a dozen emails to friends and family so I am at least exercising my fingers!

    I suppose if I were to suggest good habits - read extensively, read as a writer, write extensively, critique the work of others, and be more brutal when critiquing your own work than you would with anyone else's!
     
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  12. nastyjman

    nastyjman Senior Member

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    I let my husband know that I'm writing for the next hour or two. That way, he knows not to bother me.

    First thing I do is clean up what I wrote the previous day.

    Next, I set a timer for four minutes and then freewrite on a notebook, just scribbling whatever comes to my mind. This process helps lubricate my wordsmithing.

    After that's done, I work on my manuscript. I usually have notes on the beats I need to write from the previous writing session. They're mostly guides, and I can veer off course if there's a better way to present the scene. When working on my manuscript, I set a timer for twenty-seven minutes. Once that goes off, I take a four minute break and then repeat the cycle until I call it a day.

    Finally, before I close all my files, I write down the next seven beats from where I left off. I do it in this manner:
    • Jman looking at the moon (describe the scene)
    • Bear running out of the woods
    • Jman running for his life
    • Jman reaching the cliff
    • Bear snarling, approaching
    • Jman thinking whether he should fight the bear or jump off the cliff
    • Bear getting attacked by a wolverine
    That's my routine, which are becoming like habits.

    I agree what W.Somerset Maugham said, no one knows what the rule of writing are. That's because we make our own rules, our own process, our own habits. To some, my routine would sap the creativity and joy of the process; to others, it might help them, but might tweak some steps to accommodate their taste.

    I am still refining my process, so what you read up there might change down the line. As we grow as writers, so too does our process.

    Hope you find your habits and routines!
     
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  13. Harmonices

    Harmonices Senior Member

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    Yeah, I'm aiming for around the same. If possible I like to complete an entire scene. But 1k is my min to aim for.
     
  14. Harmonices

    Harmonices Senior Member

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    I don't write everyday. I aim to write most days, preferably six days a week. Though I may start just rewriting one day a week or something. I'm liking the critique section of the forum so far. Especially the threads that have a lot of replies because they have multiple different views, so I can sift through them and see which click for me. I still don't know what reading as a writer means exactly, but I've bought a book on it. Which is generally my answer to most things!
     
  15. Harmonices

    Harmonices Senior Member

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    This is fandabidozi, very helpful. Exactly the kind of thing I was looking for. I especially like the last suggestion re: the next key points to follow through with. And the few mins at the start to scribble and get going with. Cheers! Love your article on copying too. I'll give that a go.
     
  16. J. J. Wilding

    J. J. Wilding Member

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    Most useful advice I can give is to embrace all media and discover what sets your imagination on fire. For me it's Dark Souls, Ghost in the Shell (1995), the music of Porcupine Tree and ISIS, the books of Stephen Hunt and Trudi Canavan. I write every day because I know when I hit a wall, I have these and more to fall back on and use them to propel me into the next part of the book unhindered.

    Then you have the obvious tips; carry a notepad wherever you go for whenever inspiration strikes, challenge yourself to write beyond your comfort zone as often as possible (such as a weekend project you work on for an hour or two, in a genre and voice totally alien to what you've read) and embrace other mediums as often as possible. Understanding terrible writing in music, in film and in video games will enable you to identify it in your own work and believe me, not enough people can self-identify with their own failings. I didn't for a long time and boy does it help to focus your efforts! Hope this helps, happy writing!
     
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  17. Hollowly

    Hollowly Member

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    Trial and error. You've got to find what works for you. So for instance if you want to know your best time to work, try writing at different times of day. Write one week in the mornings, the next in the evenings and record each week whether you found it easier or not. It is the same with any other parts of writing. But the best way to learn is by doing, so writing a story like you are is great. Maybe fit in exercises between drafts, or each story. Also, setting a routine saves time and energy so a pattern is the way to go. I'd also recommend writing everyday, even if just a little, especially if you're working on something like a novel. You don't want to lose the thread. I personally set a daily word count and don't review until after I'm done a project and have let it cool. When I go work on something the next day I just read the last couple sentences to remember where I am and then see my outline for where to go next. I wish you great success with your writing! :)
     
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  18. Seven Crowns

    Seven Crowns Moderator Staff Supporter Contributor Contest Winner 2022

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    The old style of learning was through imitation. Then the 20th century came along and writing was taught through rules, mostly grammar and rhetoric. What's funny is that on this board you'll often get the old advice. It's disguised as "read a lot!" rather than "copy until you absorb technique," but it's basically the same old trick. I'm not complaining. The classic approach does work. You can improve through reading, with one caveat: you're not just reading for story. You have to focus on details. But, the rule-based approach works too. So I try to combine the two.
    • I have a tremendous number of books on writing/language/grammar/rhetoric/linguistics/theory and other subjects. I'd be surprised if anyone here has more.
      • Right now I'm reading about active and passive phrase kernels used in contrast. Stuff you'll never see on a message board, or even hear in a college class for that matter. I can't stress enough the importance of good books!
    • I read experts from my genre. I know exactly how I wished I sounded. I seek out writers who have the voice I want.
      • This involves more than just reading. As mentioned above, you have to break down the stories. You're looking at phrases and imagery and arcs and transitions and so much more. You break the best sections down into components, like an animal dissection. People will say that's too clinical and you can't pull art from science, but they're wrong. You absolutely can. Writing isn't magic and if you master the fundamentals, you can tell the story you want.
    • I read what I'll call "lesser efforts." Amazon's self-pub stuff is my favorite for this. I OCR the pages off their site and then rewrite them.
    • I keep a notebook of ideas for future stories, so I always have a "next story" to move on to. I never have downtime.
      • I get lots of ideas when reading other people's stories. Not rip-off's of their ideas, but strange tangents I wish they would have taken. I make a new intro and then record my idea for later. In the end, it's impossible to tell where the idea came from.
    • I read lots of old masters. Their themes are timeless and worth knowing. Old myths and folklore are helpful too. Even historical books if you're writing period pieces. (Which I do sometimes.) Sometimes I read strange things. Colloquial dictionaries and old medical journals are fantastic. I could pull a lifetime's worth of material from those.
    • When I'm really moving, I can put in 1500 words a day. 1000 is okay though. Even 500's all right if I'm busy editing other parts. I've done 5000, but that was crazy.
    • I do massive numbers of rewrites. Let me rephrase that . . . I do a sickening number of rewrites. When I'm just nudging words at the end, I call myself done.
      • I'm hoping to get more efficient at that, because sometimes it's not about working hard, but working effectively.
    • I write all day long. I have a phone with a stylus, and if I'm ever bored standing around, I start scribbling.

    Is that it? I guess I'll stop.
     
  19. Harmonices

    Harmonices Senior Member

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    Ghost in the Shell is amazeballs! What an intro too. That Japanese song is powerfully evocative. I may have a think about musical soundtracks that set the mood for writing projects. Interesting..

    Notepad - yes, must do this. I carry one for sketching so I may try using one side for sketches and the reverse for notes. It's those funny fragments of conversation that I want to capture.

    Thanks for your suggestions :)
     
    Last edited: Jan 31, 2019
  20. Harmonices

    Harmonices Senior Member

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    I could try completing the first draft of a project, then once it's done work through a book on say, action or dialogue - something specific. And as I'm doing so, create a fresh draft incorporating what I've learned / am learning. Definitely want to build a routine. Structure really helps me to focus and learn, and prevents me from floating around with no idea of what I'm doing. Thanks for the suggestions :)
     
  21. ChickenFreak

    ChickenFreak Contributor Contributor

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    I’m only allowing myself one project—and I shut down several non-writing hobbies, too. Multitasking is not a productive approach to writing, for me.

    That depends on where I am—“in” a scene or between scenes. If I’m writing a new scene or doing an extensive rewrite of an existing scene, I’ll start by rereading it. Then I might edit what I’ve written so far, adding to the end, tearing the whole thing apart—it depends. But I generally stay inside that scene until it’s written and polished.

    If I’m between scenes I read bits and pieces here and there in my WIP until I find a new scene to start.

    No; weekday mornings I’m usually dreading work and distracted. I should really try on weekends to see if I could be a morning writer.

    I read a lot of books about writing, but I rarely actually do any exercises.

    I recommend doing what you enjoy most, as long as you’re making some perceptible progress. More enjoyment likely means more writing time, which likely is more valuable than getting maximum efficiency from a smaller amount of less enjoyable writing time.
     
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  22. EdFromNY

    EdFromNY Hope to improve with age Supporter Contributor

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    I generally only have one project going at a time. Right now, I am revising the work I've been pitching based on feedback from agents. That book is planned as the first in a series. When I was actively pitching it, I was working on Book II, but that is now on hold while I revise.
    I review what I've recently written about once per week, unless outside factors have forced me to skip more than a day, in which case I go back and review. When I'm working on a first draft, I reread from the beginning about once every two weeks.
    My wife and I are both retired. I am by nature an early riser, she is by nature a late-riser. Unless outside factors interfere, I'm usually up 2 1/2 to 3 hours before she is, and, yes, I get right to work before washing and breakfast (but not before my morning OJ, with pulp). Those early morning hours are priceless for writing.
    I have a few books on craft:
    Beginnings - Paula Munier
    Plot Perfect - Paula Munier
    Save the Cat! Writes a Novel - Jessica Brody
    Story Trumps Structure - Steven James
    Elmore Leonard's Ten Rules of Writing - Elmore Leonard
    James A. Michener's Writer's Handbook - James A. Michener

    Of these, only the two by Paula Munier and the one by Jessica Brody have actual exercises, and I did the ones that I felt would be most helpful. My own view about books on craft (which has changed over time) is that one is best served by having a fairly wide range of books already read (and studied) so as to develop a basis of appreciation of what makes good writing before tucking into books of craft. Reading widely feeds the wolf of the creative mind. Books on the craft help you to lay it out in a way it can be shared with others.

    If you're just starting out, I recommend doing lots of reading (and observing what makes the writing you like to read and what turns you off). I would then make some efforts at writing the kind of story you want to write (and would like to read). They say the first million words you write are practice. In my view, that is an underestimate. But YMMV. I would hold off on too many craft books until you have a story that you think might really be worthwhile. Write a first draft, then consult the craft books.

    Good luck.
     
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  23. Harmonices

    Harmonices Senior Member

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    I've been debating on whether or not it would be useful for me to get something on grammar and linguistics. I think I will.

    This interests me a lot. And I agree, I'm sure it's possible to understand 'how it works' by vivisecting prose. Understanding a more about grammar and language structure would no doubt be necessary here though. I'm very much in the dark at the mo'.

    Strange things are the best things. I wish I'd kept my dictionary of profanity. Etymology is also fun. I love the fact that rector and rectum have the same root.

    I think I'm going to be joining you there. At least until I'm able to figure out what works and why.

    Thank you for your suggestions :)
     
    Last edited: Feb 1, 2019
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  24. Harmonices

    Harmonices Senior Member

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    I'm not sure I enjoy doing things poorly. And I'm impatient. That's probably the trouble. Though yesterday I went into my files and took a peek at scenes I wrote for another story that I started before the current one I'm working on, and some of it sounds better composed now, than I thought it was at the time.

    You make a good point though. So it's probably time for me to review what I did for NaNo last year. It'll be mostly bad, but there may be something useful I can glean from it, especially where it's bad in fact. Thanks for your thoughts.
     
  25. Harmonices

    Harmonices Senior Member

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    I have a book kicking around here somewhere called Reading as a Writer, or somesuch. I keep meaning to dig it out - I'll look for it this weekend.

    I also like the look of the copywork article by @nastyjman - reading a book, highlighting a passage and then working through it. I must start doing that with my reading. Especially books that drag me along. I might pull out GoT again and use that to study.

    I will do what you suggest, complete my first draft then go in for the craft.

    Cheers.
     
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