Hi everyone, I realise that my posts so far have been questions, I apologise. I have been reading through all of the threads with great interest but I haven’t yet worked up enough confidence to post replies yet. So, please bear with me. I would like to know what, if anything, you do to improve your writing? Aside from the obvious – reading and writing. Do you do any additional study? While reading my current book, I noticed there were many words I didn’t know the meaning or if I did have some idea of the meaning, I didn’t know how to use them in a sentence. So I am now making a note of all the words that I’m unsure about and then writing them up in a word doc with their meaning and examples of how to use them. So between studying new vocabulary, reading a current novel and attempting to write mine…. It keeps me well and truly busy. Too busy. Obviously there are lots of words, which are unfamiliar to me…… LOTS. Just wondering if you guys do something similar? Any particular author or text you study? Sigh. So much to learn. Oh and before anyone suggests, I have been reading in the review room. Like I said.... not confident enough to post opinions/suggestions just yet but I'm looking forward to getting involved.
I never thought about how to improve really, I just noticed that I always did improve. I read the stories I wrote years ago or even barely a year ago and I notice there is a quite a difference in quality. I think what causes this is honestly plain old writing and reading. I don't think studying will help you improve, aside from your grammar and word placing and ability to mimick styles. I think the best way is simply to keep writing and reviewing/editing your own work and see what you did wrong and what you did right.
One of the obvious you mentioned is reading, but it's not just reading, but how you read. Pay attention to how an author wrote the novel. Characterization--how was it accomplished? Basically paying attention to how for: pacing, dialogue, action scenes, and so on. The second obvious--Writing...includes editing, attempting different POVs and techniques, modeling some other writers and then adding your own style, voice, listening to input from those whose views and knowledge and intergrity you trust. Not just putting words down, doing the same process over and over without working to change and improve. Terry
I agree with the reading and writing bit, the reading in particular. I think it's too easy to get bogged down in technicalities though, I picked up most of mine by reading novels in genres I enjoy.
Reading and writing are the only way I know of to improve. Keep reading and I think its fabulous that you pick on words that you are unsure of and keep track of them - this a good way for you to grow your vocabulary and mix it up at times. Good luck and I look foward to seeing some of your stuff.
I actually try to read novels objectively, and compare the style of writing from one author to the next. I read a few novels from the 'teen' reading section in Borders, then I pick out a Michael Crichton book my Mom was reading and there is a big difference in the style/quality. I've also bought a few books on the basics of writing/fiction writing. I find them helpful, and go to them for reference when quizzical about something, grammar wise or not.
Reading isn't as important as writing when you want to improve your writing. I know plenty of people that read all the time yet can't write at all, but it does help. You can try reading material specifically related to what you're currently writing and go from there if you need to, but lots of writing and reviewing is enough to improve. Find a way you're most comfortable with, however. The only thing I do to improve my writing is to keep writing. Honestly, I think I only read one book during the years I spent writing. >.> I don't study any authors or texts other than occasionally looking up words. Using a thesaurus and dictionary can greatly improve your vocabulary.
Most of my writing ability comes from reading. I also made lists of vocabulary when I was a kid, when so many words were strange to me... There are still quite a few odd words that pop up from time to time, and occasionally I look them up. I'm not sure how practical it is, though. I now find myself editing out those strange words, as they only seem to hamper the flow of things. I find that I much prefer clear communication over the purple prose style that I started with. I've been visiting the forums almost every day since I began writing seriously. I've picked up a lot of useful tips from general topics, as well as reviews - of my own work, and others. The best learning technique I've found, so far, is to simply analyse and edit what I have written. I look for any possible issue - anything that reads funny or seems out of place. When I'm reasonably satisfied with a piece I might put it up for review. I've had some excellent feedback and my list of do-nots is ever growing I don't make the same mistake twice, so there is no better method. Aside from that, and all of the obvious stuff you already know, there really isn't much to say. I would recommend focusing on quality while disregarding quantity, but there are others who would disagree. The way I see it - the more you perfect your past or current writing, the better your future writing will be.
Two real time writing/critique groups -- one general creative writing and one just for novels. They do several things. First, in-depth, comprehensive crits are required for the pieces submitted. Looking at other people's work analytically increases my ability to look at my own with the same discerning eye. Second, getting feedback from others about my own work lets me know how the piece reads to the person who has no idea of the character's backstory, the future direction of the piece, etc. Third, it helps to thicken the skin, since in the groups we have a "fly on the wall" rule. While your work is being discussed, you are a fly on a wall. No defending your work, no explaining what you were trying to get across -- just sit there and listen and either cringe with the shame or melt with relief.
I bought this book called The Making of a Story and it's really good for beginning writers I think. It is definitely more helpful than any creative writing class I've taken, and I've taken three in three different universities. It gives examples from great authors and asks you to identify how an author writes the story, and then after that there are exercises that honestly jog the brain. But besides studying, you can read tons of books. Pay attention to the way the author structures a sentence, how often that type of sentence is used, when it is used. Beginning with something small like that will definitely help. For instance, short sentences work well when you want to give off the impression that something is happening very quickly. Stuff like that. But don't analyze every sentence or you'll probably get bored and tired and burnt out. I know I find myself even critiquing movies now and it's not so fun, but it's awesome that I'm able to see things. It's like being able to play your favorite song on guitar for the first time and can see that all the emotions created by the notes are just a series of up and down strums or arpeggios. It's kinda sad actually lol. For me that's the price of wanting to really learn a skill, but maybe other people can get away without having the luster go away.
Thanks for your replies, I will certainly take what you have suggested on board. Aeroflot - Thanks for the book suggestion. I assume this is the one by Alice La Plante? In any case, I looked it up this afternoon and purchased it online. Unfortunately with international posting it'll be a month away. Ok, so off to the review room I go.....
Aside from reading (with intent for improvement) and writing (with a similar intent), I find that studying the English language in general helps. It allows me to tighten my grasp on the technicalities and mechanics of things. It's sometimes surprising how the smallest change in the structure of a sentence can improve it greatly.
Since you don't want to know the obvious, I'll not talk about them. One thing that has taught me a lot about, not writing necessarily but story-telling, is watching a lot of movies and even listening to the writer/director comentaries on the DVDs. Along with all the good language stuff, most good books are also great story-telling. Paying attention to how people talk in the real world is great for authentic dialogue. Listening to the dialogue in films will help you create realistic dialogue that moves plot forward. You can hear how real people say the words, learn what sounds authentic and what doesn't, and when you can get away with something not to realistic.
I'll go with what some others have said (even though you aren't interested in hearing it) and say that writing--a LOT (one of my storylines is over a million words so far, and that's just one of them)--has helped me improve. Improvement in my writing is something that happens so gradually I don't even notice it until I look back on writing from several years ago and see how I've changed. So if you're expecting your writing to get better really fast, you might be setting yourself up for disappointment. (Plus, your post seems pretty coherent and well written. What kind of book are you reading that is so full of words you don't understand? Maybe they're words that most writers have no NEED to use in their work. It's good to learn new things, but don't think that just because you don't know what a word means, you must learn how to use it. Maybe the writer you're reading is just really pretentious.) I learned the basics of grammar and sentence construction way back in junior high school. Then I forgot the WHY of the rules, and what they were called (I can't tell you the names of grammatical rules and parts of speech to save my life), but I remembered HOW they work, and that's what matters. English class didn't teach me how to write, though, it just taught me how to write a sentence and spell words and use punctuation. I read books, and that helps, but mainly that tells me how OTHERS write and what's considered publishable. I took creative writing classes, but that just taught me that writing teachers are very biased in favor of particular things and you have to learn to judge for yourself. I took literature classes, but again, that just taught me what the teachers themselves like, and what might be considered publishable, but might not be along the lines of what I myself would like to write. I've been critiqued and have critiqued others, and that too can help, but it mainly taught me that writing is very subjective and what somebody will loathe, another person will love. I've learned that just because somebody says something is great, or something is lousy, doesn't necessarily make it so. Again, a lot of it is a judgement call. The most improvement and learning I've gotten has come from just writing, and writing, and writing some more, for years and years and years. I don't even consciously set out to improve (if I did, I'd probably be disappointed since it's so gradual)--I just write, and improvement happens as I go along. It's practice, and I'm still learning.
What I often do is read parts of a best selling and award winning novel. First I just read the damn thing, then I study parts of it. I like to see how they handles certain aspects. This also motivates me to write. I have been studying Borne Identity lately and Lilith's Brood by Octavia Butler. I study everything I can in the book. The opening, the middle, the ending, how they develop characters, etc. I also pay attention to how they transition and how they construct sentences. What emotions they convey. The balance they use between narration, action, dialog, and introspection.
I like looking at the first chapters, particulary of an author's breakout novel. Something got it out of the slush pile.
First you read your work as a reader would. And then, you edit as if it weren't your own. If you do this, you won't just improve--you'll excel.
Improvement Hello, I'm new to this forum and decided to join because I have a general question about writing and no one in particular to ask. I am currently a sophomore in college (still 19 years old but almost 20), and I have quite a few ideas for novels that I would really like to write. As of now, I have developed my first novel quite thoroughly and actually wrote twelve chapters of it before getting stuck on certain details I had previously overlooked. Those details have been cleared up, but here's my big problem: Reading over the draft of my first twelve chapters, I have found that my prose has changed and improved substantially over the time I have spent writing those chapters, and because I am a perfectionist and like a sense of consistency in quality, I'm afraid of reworking or continuing my draft. I guess I'm wondering if there is a certain point in a writer's development when the quality of their work/prose becomes consistent? And should I wait a couple more years before attempting something as long as a novel because of how rapidly I have been improving? And just for a little extra information (if it helps you out at all), I've been keeping personal and creative journals since 2007 and have always written well in high school and college. And my improvements, as I have noticed, are primarily in the fluency and word choice (but mostly fluency). I appreciate any ideas!
Welcome to the forum! As you go along and start reading and responding to posts here you'll quickly realize there is no "appropriate" age to either begin or start writing. If you're a good writer, you're a good writer. I write novels as well and am in the publishing process. As a novelist I cringe at the idea of stopping a well thought out story, especially with 12 finished chapters! There's so much work and creativity involved that I'd hate for the work to cease. There is a good chance that the prose seems vastly different to you, but to others may be virtually unnoticeable. Now, if you're changing tenses left and right or changing the way you voice description and dialogue, then you may run into a problem. At this point I'd still advise finishing the story. Unfortunately you will learn quite quickly, especially when you have a few novels under your belt, that the editing process is tedious and can take almost as long as actually writing the story. Also, you yourself will always be your biggest critic. Keep writing!! Don't stop! Developing your creative voice takes time, countless hours, and many, many drafts. The first thing you whip out will never be the manuscript that hits the publishers desk. Best of luck! And remember, we're all here for you!
Don't wait until your writing is improved before you write novels. It's a catch-22. If you wait til you're better, you won't write, and if you don't write, you don't get better. Simple, yet pain-in-the-rear solution: edit the first few chapters so the writing quality is up to par.
I can't think of a single writer (or artist, or musician) whose style has stayed the same throughout their whole career, with the exception of formula writers like James Patterson (though even his style developed before he became a franchise instead of a writer). So no, I don't think you should wait until later to work on a novel; the quality may be exceeded by your next work, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't write the first one. You have to start somewhere right?
This is why I like short stories. It's a great way to learn craft techniques and experiment with style and find one's 'voice' and imo most importantly learn how to design and complete story arcs. And, if one is lucky, you get a story that can be published somewhere which can start building a reputation (and all genres have opportunities to publish short stories). I'm not saying it's exactly the same writing a short story and novel, but everything learned writing short stories can help a novelist and many/most of the skills translate over directly. Many of my favorite novelists wrote short stories, and you can see the positive influences (particularly with tight language and solid sub-arcs to complement the over arching novel's arc). The other benefit, besides just starting to get one's name out there with shorts, is those short stories can still be from the same overall work. I know a guy who had a handful of stories published (5, I think, maybe 6) each in very nice journals (in terms of pay and prestige) and then tweaked them so they worked as chapters and published the novel. Double the bang for one's buck. I see a lot of people that don't 'want' to write short stories, though, but I don't understand why, exactly. The worst reasoning I've seen being that short stories are too 'hard' which imo is exactly why one should practice with them, heh. But yeah, don't discount using short stories to hone craft, especially when those stories can use characters, events and scenes from the bigger novel-length lore one has envisioned, so it doesn't even have to be 'extra' writing and can still build toward a completed novel.
You'll always find that your writing style improves - it's a curve without limits. No novel, script, screenplay or anything else was ever written from beginning to end in one shot and if it was, I'm sure it's terrible. As your story and skills develop, it's only natural that you'll look back and find discrepancies in tone and flow, but don't worry about it: Right now you're just working on the first draft. Get the narrative sorted out first - beginning, middle and end - THEN go back and make the thing work. You ARE going to have to do some serious editing if the difference in writing style is significant, but this should be taken as a good sign because it means that you're getting that much better that much faster. Step 1: Rough (read: ROUGH) draft. Step 2: Edit Step 3: Repeat Step 2 a bajillion times, or however long it takes to get the thing right. Step 4: Obligatory South Park Reference Step 5: Profit!
