Writing Research

Hello and welcome back to a very very VERY late post. I am sooooooo late I have no excuses. Except for the fact that I forgot about it because I was... *sheepishly smiles* writing. Yes, writing. I've been working on some big projects for writing, and they have taken precedence. My greatest apologies, but now on to this post's topic!

As you can probably see from the title, we are discussing research today! Yay! *throws confetti* okay, so you probably are thinking, what's so exciting about it? Well.... 

Nothing. For myself, I find I have mixed feelings about research for my writing. Sometimes I'm pumped to learn more about a topic, and other times I wonder if I can just use the limited knowledge I have and get away with that.

So it's basically a love-hate relationship I've got going on with research. But nonetheless, research is very important to writing. Our characters experience things we could only dream of, and therefore we often don't know some things about the topic. 

For example, if you are like me, your characters get into a lot of trouble in which they are mentally and physically scarred. And because of that, often times I have to go to my trusty medical guide (WebMD is a great website with ACCURATE medical information) to research a particular ailment or treatment. I don't always want to do this, but if I didn't' then I might make a grave writing mistake.

Another example of such a mistake might be that my character gets poisoned, and instead of researching the effects of this particular poison (or any poison for that matter) I write as I imagine it. Now, you might be able to get away with it, but more likely than not you will lose credibility in your story, and it will appear a lot less realistic. Therefore, because you didn't take the few minutes' time to research that topic, you've written a lot on stuff you don't really understand. 

Okay, so putting those examples aside, I hope you are starting to see my point.

So whatever the topic may be, if you aren't well versed in it already, it would be wise to research as much as you can on it, especially if it is a big topic that will take a huge part of whatever you are writing. 

And the biggest reason is: your readers. They are merciless. And I am being completely honest.

Okay, not merciless in that if you make a mistake they'll hunt you down (that would be scary...), but they notice most all mistakes that you think you've hidden well. They notice a LOT of things. Trust me on that. 

Alright, well that is pretty much all I have on this topic. Basically, my whole point is that research is essential to the writing process. It is important for viability, being realistic, and being accurate. It shapes your writing and moves you from a novice to a professional, no matter what your age. Know what you write about. 

Aaaaannnd these cartoons have nothing to do with this topic, but I thought they were too funny not to share. Enjoy :) 

Aaaaaannnnnnnddddddd.............

Alright, that's it for this post! Enjoy your week! And I'll see you soon (metaphorically, that is).

Adverbs Are Excuses

Okay, so you might be wondering, just what exactly do I mean by the title of this post. I'm sure it sounds a little strange, but let me explain what I mean by the title.

Adverbs = excuses.

To start off, what are adverbs? Well, here's the dictionary definition:

"A word or phrase that modifies or qualifies an adjective, verb, or other adverb or a word group, expressing a relation of place, time, circumstance, manner, cause, degree, etc. (e.g., gently, quite, then, there)."

And here it is used in several sentences:

I quickly picked up the stick.

She fell to the ground, faintly hearing his voice.

"Don't do it!" She said loudly.

Now, you might be thinking, "What's wrong with those sentences? They sound perfectly fine to me!" And they aren't necessarily wrong, but there is a better way to write them. Look at the same sentences now, rewritten:

I grabbed the stick.

She fell to the ground, hearing his voice in the distance.

"Don't do it!" She shouted.

Do you see what I mean? Which sentences sound more powerful? Yeah, the second ones. (At least, I hope you said the second set, otherwise you can just stop reading, because I'm probably not gonna be able to get through to you. JK) And in the second set of sentences, I removed the ly adverbs and replaced them with more powerful verbs.

In writing, ly adverbs usually are excuses, or "fluff" in your writing. They tend to keep the writer from really considering their diction, and serve as excuses to write emotion.

However, sometimes adverbs are necessary. And with practice, you will learn to decipher between the adverbs that should stay, and the ones that have a better alternative to them.

For example this sentence:

"I quickly picked up the stick" sounds much better when you rewrite it to this: "I grabbed the stick."

But this sentence: "She fell to the ground, faintly hearing his voice," could really be written both ways.

And that is something, like I said, that comes with practice. But for now, there's an easy way to look out for those pesky adverbs in your writing. When editing, use the search bar (if you have one) and search for LY words. Then, go through the sentences one by one, seeing if you can come up with a way to get rid of the adverb and keep the meaning the same.

Believe me, when I write, I use adverbs also. And it is so easy to use them a lot, almost like a figurative "writer's crutch." But just remember that keeping them to a minimum will improve the professional quality of your writing, and the readability.

So, that's all I have for you today! I'll see you guys next time :)

Showing, Not Telling

This is critical. Let me repeat: critical.

Probably one of the most aspects in writing that is so easy to achieve successfully and remember to always do is the art of showing and not telling. This is important and does so much to improve your writing, yet people always seem to let this fall by the wayside.

And I'm not just saying this of other people. I struggle with this as well and only recently realized what it even was. But now that I know, I can see a considerable improvement in even my own writing.

In the following paragraphs I am going to discuss and explain types of showing versus telling.

First comes perhaps the biggest type of mistake that can be made. Showing emotion and not telling the emotion. In the character sense, it is easy to tell how a character is feeling instead of showing the feelings through action. This is especially easy to do when writing in first person. Consider the following example:

     He was dead. I could hardly believe it. I was so sad and felt like crying forever. I didn't want to eat. I didn't want to sleep. I was barely living.

That passage is littered with telling instead of feeling. He was dead. I was so sad and felt like crying forever. Those are just some of the examples that tell instead of show. They don't immerse the reader in the story and fail to provoke much sympathy from the reader. Now, consider that same passage edited to tell not show:

     His lifeless body, cold and still, laid motionless in the casket. I averted my wet eyes and drew in a shaky breath. My knees were weak and my stomach protested from its emptiness. I slowly made my way back to my chair where the tears burst forth once again.

Yes, they aren't exactly the same, but isn't the second one so much more meaningful? Can't you feel the character's pain and hopelessness so much more?

That, my friends, is what you are missing out on when you fail to show instead of tell.

Next comes another method of showing versus telling. Word choice. Yes, you could write that Sara smiled. But it is so much better so be more specific and say that she grinned. You could write that John walked up to the door, or you could write that he skipped up to the door.

The word choices are very important and also make the difference in meaningful and concrete writing.

Using specific, concrete words are always preferred in writing when you are trying to show and not tell.

For example:

Verbs: use sprint instead of run, grasp instead of get, collapse instead of fall, tear instead of open, gather instead of grab, etc.

Nouns: use apple instead of fruit, lipstick instead of makeup, mother instead of person, use dog instead of animal, pasta instead of food, etc.

Those are just some of the many examples that there are for switching out abstract words for concrete ones. And if you do that, then you are a step in the right direction towards showing in your writing and not telling.

Now go have fun with it! Have fun adding details and adding emotion and empathy to your characters and plot. Also, if you Google concrete words list, I'm sure you will find plenty of lists to help you get started.

Read Because You Write

Why is it so important to read if you are a writer?

The same reason it is important to ride that bike even when you fall, or to play that piano even when you make a sour note. It is like practice for anything; practice improves you. And reading is one of the keys to practice as a writer.

"Read a thousand books and your words will flow like a river." — Virginia Woolf

I once read a short essay by Virginia Woolf in a writing class I was taking for college. And let me tell you, this quote above is the honest to goodness truth. Her essay was like a river of words, and was excellently written. So, I would have to say that she knew what she was talking about when she made that statement.

As a writer, we may think that the only way to practice is by writing. Well, that makes sense! A person learning to play the violin has to actually PLAY it to practice. And a person learning to swim has to actually get in the pool and swim to practice.


But with writing, it's not all that cut and dry. Yes, it is just as important (if not more) to write as a writer (duh), but it is also critical to read. Read lots of books, as many as you can. But especially read the type of books that you write. Because that will help you the most.


However, don't just read them to read, read to understand and improve. Read with the knowledge of a writer and use everything that author does to improve yourself.


I read a really helpful tip on another writing blog a little while ago that I would like to share with you all. If you come across something in a book you are reading that just makes you stop say wow, or that you wish to you could do in your own writing, then write it down! Pause in your reading, and identify how the writer did whatever it was that made you stop. Then, make a note of it! The next time you are writing and are stuck on something like that, refer to the notes and make use of them.


Here's a plus to this whole idea of reading to improve your writing: if you enjoy reading (like me) then it gives you an excuse to buy lots of books and read, read, read! Because, why not? It is research and practice after all!


So go forth and read to improve your writing!

“I cannot live without books.” — Thomas Jefferson

The Importance of Outlines

Welcome back to my blog! Read on as I talk on about the wonders of writing and how to improve yourself! Thanks for reading!

This week I'm going to share what I've learned on a specific part of the writing process, thus named: the outline. 

Wait! Don't be scared off by the title, because, yes, outlines can be scary and intimidating. I have felt the same way as you might be feeling right now. But I'm here to tell you that outlines don't have to be scary. And when used correctly, they can make the writing and editing process so much easier.

Now, I agree that there can be things about using an outline that make the writing process less... exciting, maybe. And that can be true when you take the time to completely map out your story details and plot, but we can't forget the good that outlines do. Yes, it takes any spontaneousness (wow, what a word) out of the writing, but let's be real, is spontaneousness always good? 

Now take this flower. It is intricate and delicate and there are so many components that make it up to be like it is (those of you who read my last blog post will remember some of this analogy). This flower represents a finished story. Imagine it as your story all finished and completed. It is beautiful, for certain, but it didn't always look like this. At one point, it probably didn't look like anything special at all, and let's face it, most of us who write have probably felt this way about some part of our writing at one time or another. Just... be honest with yourself. :)

Now, back to my point. This flower is beautiful now, but how did it get this way? It had to grow! And what does a flower need to grow? Let's see... if I remember correctly it needs soil (earth), sunlight, and water. It cannot grow into such a beautiful flower without ALL of those components.

So an outline is like the soil or earth for the flower to grow in. It is the foundation for the flower. And it is what keeps the flower centered and firm while it grows. That is just what an outline does for a story. 

An outline keeps the story on track when it is so easy to follow those many rabbit trails that are always calling to us writers! The outline reminds us to keep on point with our story so we may share something meaningful with the world.

Plus, the outline also makes the editing process go easier (and I'm sure we all want that). When we don't follow as many rabbit trails, then there is less to cut out and rewrite once we reach the dreaded stage of writing called: revision. 

I'm sure I've probably convinced you that outlines are important by now (at least I hope so) and you are probably thinking, "so what? I can see they are important, but does that matter? It doesn't change the fact that I hate writing and using them!" And yes, I get your point. And I was just going there.

Perhaps you are like me in that you don't always use an outline when you write. Yes, I confess I am a bit of a hypocrite at times when I write, but sometimes it's just nice to not write so seriously, and just do it with more freedom. As a result, I have had some experience in writing stories using both an outline and writing without one.

When I prepare and outline, and use one, there are several tricks I use that I have gleaned from several writing classes I have taken throughout my life. And I hope that by sharing them with you, it will make your outline easier to write :)

First: don't even start the outline unless you have a lot of ideas and information written down or in your head for your story (this stuff is usually called brainstorming).

Second: start the outline somewhat vague (this may seem weird, but from experience, I've found that it does help to not go into so much detail right away). By keeping it more open, you can improvise and adjust when you come across things that need to be changed, whether plot holes or just a small mistake.

Third: loosely map out the ENTIRE story on paper (it helps to have it either printed or handwritten instead of just on the computer. That way, changes can easily be made). Trust me, there is something about holding the outline in your hand and being able to make notes that helps. I don't know why, but it helps me.

Fourth: once you have the outline printed and kept to be vague, as in not too much detail per chapter, then go through it. Make changes as needed and add more detail (still keep it loose though).

That is mostly the tips I follow when outlining. But I do have some other, more critical tips (as in format) that I use when writing it as well. These tips were given to me by a wonderful writing teacher who really helped me to grow in my love of writing and I wouldn't be the writer I am today without her.

Here is the format I generally use for writing an outline: (keep in mind that this is loose and would be changed somewhat depending on the story you write)

__________________________________________

Title

Author

Chapter One

First line of story (generally keep to short spurts. Don't give a lot of information and make it easy to read)

Keep it to just an overview

Not detailed

Small bits of information to keep you on track

Chapter Two

Make sure to keep chapters separate

Sometimes use abbreviations such as @ or slang to keep it short as well

Have double spacing between lines to allow for correction or edits

_________________________________________

So there you have it! That is generally the format I use, and the one I have found to be the most useful. Currently, I am using this format in my outline for the novel I am writing :)

Here is another flower picture for you, just because ;)

"The more work you put in on your outline and getting the skeleton of your story right, the easier the process is later." 

Drew Goddard

The Beauty of Character Creation

Hi there and welcome to my first blog post. Read on as I talk on about the wonders of writing and how to improve yourself! Thanks for reading!

Writing is such a unique thing that has so many layers upon layers. Writing can be as intricate as a flower with each petal being some form of it. Writing allows for so much creativity. Writing takes the wonderful thing called imagination and turns it into something amazing to be shared with others.

It is so wide and vast, that for this discussion we are just going to focus on one aspect of writing: character creation. That, in itself, is a huge section of writing. Without characters, you have no story. Characters are the centerpiece of storytelling and it is vital to create memorable and insightful characters.

When creating a character, it can seem overwhelming. There is so much that goes into just person. Personality, looks, attributes, wishes, weaknesses, strengths, feelings thoughts, etc. It certainly can be overwhelming to just think about. You want to make the character memorable, for certain, but not so memorable that they aren't realistic. The characters need to be down to earth as well and relatable. The perfect character doesn't always do what is right. They don't always make the best choices. And they most certainly don't always succeed. They need to fail, they need to make mistakes.

One thing I have noticed in my own short writing experience, is that when you have created a successful character, then they begin to tell the story for themselves. It is almost as if you are just the scribe for them. When making choices, they come alive in your mind and you know exactly what they would do.

But too many times in stories, characters are made sloppily and placed into the story as not as important. As a result, they drag the story down and push people away. People unconsciously connect to the story as they read (I know this from experience) and when you have a person who is unbelievable or perfect in some way, then what is there to connect to?

For example, picture an intricate flower in your mind, any flower. (you will see I like to use nature as examples a lot) Now, picture each petal uniquely and by itself. Feel the texture of the flower in your hand. Smell its fragrance. It's beautiful and unlike any other flower; different even to a flower that is of the same kind.

That intricate flower is a character. Each petal is a part of the person and put together, it makes them who they are. The character is beautiful. It isn't perfect, but it most certainly is amazing. The petals, the pollen, the stem, etc. Every part of the 'flower' or 'character' makes it who it is. It needs all the pieces to be complete.

So the next time you are creating a new character, whether the protagonist or just someone in the background, consider these things. Consider how important they all are to the story.

"Let’s face it, characters are the bedrock of your fiction. Plot is just a series of actions that happen in a sequence, and without someone to either perpetrate or suffer the consequences of those actions, you have no one for your reader to root for, or wish bad things on." 

-Icy Sedgwick