Hello everyone. I saw this forum a while back and thought it would be a great opportunity to learn more about writing. Anyhow, here's my problem.. I'm an artist, so the majority of what I've written has been within non-sensical comics, scripts for skits, and short stories, not enough to gain any real writing experience, and certainly not enough to learn how to write stories that are grounded in reality. Which is a problem, because over the last two years I've come up with a number of ideas and concepts that I feel could be developed into great stories, but I don't think I have the level of skill required to pull them off yet. I need to learn more about writing realistic dialogue, describing visuals in finer detail, and just in general I need to learn to write in such a way that flows well within the context of a novel. I'd go as far as to say that I need to start with the absolute basics of storytelling and structure. Any suggestions as to where I should start here? Or exercises that could help?
Hello Kyriel, Welcome to the Writing Forums. Your best bet is probably to start by exploring some of the threads in Writing Issues -> Plot Development, starting with What is Plot Creation and Development?. Posting your own writing for people to comment on should not be among the very first things you do here. It is worth taking the time to see what other people have done to improve their writing, and see if some of it applies to your writing as well. That is part of why we require members to review other members' work before posting their own for review. On the other hand, there are no restrictions, other than content and copyright rules, on showcasing your work in your member blog. Also, be aware that posting a piece of writing on any public site, including this one, will greatly diminish your chances of selling it for publication. Removing the writing later does not alter that fact - once posted, it is irreversibly considered published. So do not post anything more than a small excerpt of any piece you are planning to submit for publication. If you haven't explored the site yet, you should probably do so soon. Newcomers often gravitate to the Lounge, the Word Games, or the Review Room, but there is much more to be discovered if you poke in the corners. Remember to check out our FAQ as well, and be sure to read through the forum rules, too, to avoid any misunderstandings or hurt feelings. Respect for one another is our principal mandate. As for the Review Room, new joiners often wonder why we do things a bit differently on this site than on other writing sites. We emphasize constructive critique as a vital writing skill. Training your eye by reviewing other people's work helps you improve your own writing even before you present it for others to see. Therefore, we ask members to review other people's writing before posting work of their own. The Review Room forums on this site, therefore, are true workshops, not just a bulletin board for displaying your work (and on that note, please only post each item for review in one Review Room forum). Also, please use the same thread for all revisions and additional excerpts from the same piece of writing. See this post, Why Write Reviews Before Posting My Work? for more information. And while you're looking around, don't forget to check out our Weekly Short Story Contest and Weekly Poetry Contest. They actually run more than one week apiece, but any member may enter, and all members are urged to vote for their favorites. Enjoy your stay here, and have fun!
the best way to start to learn how to write is to READ! read constantly... the best works of the best writers of whatever it is you want to write, for starters...
