1. Adam Dooley

    Adam Dooley New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 1, 2016
    Messages:
    2
    Likes Received:
    0

    Hello folks

    Discussion in 'New Member Introductions' started by Adam Dooley, Feb 1, 2016.

    I have had writing on my mind for some time now, and decided to tackle it full time(good timing too, since I decided to tell corporate america to go ... itself). After a bunch of research, I gathered books I thought would help me in this endeavor.

    Among these books, I have the 5 book "Write Great Fiction" series, which include the following topics:

    Characters, Emotion & Viewpoint
    Dialogue
    Plot & Structure
    Description & Setting
    Revision & Self-Editing

    What should I start with? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

    Thank you!
     
  2. Lifeline

    Lifeline South. Supporter Contributor

    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2015
    Messages:
    4,282
    Likes Received:
    5,805
    Location:
    On the Road.
    Disclaimer, this is only my personal opinion!

    That said.... start writing not reading! Just start, and get comfortable with it. It would have been impossible for me to start with theory and then move to practice. There would have been far too much information to make sense of at once. It would have felt like building a power plant with tools of the stone age. If you have written a scene or two, or even a full chapter, you can always look at these books and compare. But not before.

    So... just start!
     
    nastyjman likes this.
  3. nastyjman

    nastyjman Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2010
    Messages:
    485
    Likes Received:
    364
    Location:
    NYC
    I agree with Lifeline: start writing! And once you're finished with your piece, you can pore over it and take notes from the theory books you have. Deconstruction is best when you have something to work on.

    Along with your piece, you can also deconstruct other writer's works. Personally, I copy by hand a chapter from a book that I just finished reading. I would make notes and comments on how a particular scene was paced, how it turned, what the motives are, what could be improved, etc.

    I also recommend Anne Lamott's book Bird by Bird and/or Stephen King's On Writing. Both books are not detailed how-to guides, but they give a glimpse of the writer's life.
     
    Lifeline likes this.

Share This Page

  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
    Dismiss Notice