Read the Genre You Write | Writing Tip Of The Day

Read the Genre You Write

 

Research isn't only for nonfiction, my friend. If you want to know what readers are expecting from your genre, you need to read that genre. You need to have a good understanding of the tropes that work and the tropes that don't work. You need to know what's been done to death a thousand times and what's new and fresh. You need to love that genre and have respect for it. I don't care if you're writing books about seven-foot-tall blue aliens who are obsessed with finding their soulmates (hello there!) or if you're writing a thriller about a gritty navy seal who has to stop a military coup. 

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16 Fiction Writing Tips by MasterClass

16 Fiction Writing Tips

 

by MasterClass

 

Great fiction writing takes dedication and hard work, but there are methods to make the process easier. Here are 16 tips for writing fiction:

1. Love your story. You might have a list of story ideas waiting to be fleshed out, but there’s likely one you’re most passionate about. Start with that story. Many authors do their best writing when they’re deeply invested in their characters and plot.
2. Withhold information from your readers. When writing fiction, only give readers the information they need to know in the moment. Ernest Hemingway’s iceberg theory in writing is to show your readers just the tip of the iceberg. The supporting details—like backstory—should remain unseen, just like the mass of an iceberg under the water’s surface. This prevents readers from getting overwhelmed with information and lets them use their imagination to fill in the blanks.
   
3. Write simple sentences. Think of Shakespeare’s line, “To be or not to be?” famous for its brevity and the way it quickly describes a character’s toiling over their own life. There is a time and place for bigger words and denser text, but you can get story points across in simple sentences and language. Try using succinct language when writing, so that every word and sentence has a clear purpose.
4. Mix up your writing. To become a better writer, try different types of writing. If you’re a novelist, take a stab at a short story. If you’re writing fiction, try writing nonfiction. Try a more casual writing style by blogging. Each piece of writing has a different point of view and different style rules that will help your overall writing skills.
5. Write every day. Great writers have a regular writing habit. That means dedicating time every day to the craft of writing. Some writers assign themselves a daily word count; Stephen King writes 2,000 words a day. You might also join a writing group; being accountable to other people is a great motivator. Don’t worry if what you jot down is technically bad writing or you struggle to get something onto a blank page. Some days will be more productive than others. The more you write the easier it gets.
6. Set milestones. The average word count for a book is 75,000 words. That can make novel writing intimidating. If you’re working on your first novel, stay motivated by setting milestones. This will help you break the book down mentally so it is easier to manage and easier to stick with.
7. Understand basic story structure. Professional writers are well-versed in the framework most stories follow, from exposition and rising action through to the climax and falling action. Create an outline to map your main plot and subplots on paper before you get started.
8. Learn strong character development techniques. There are effective ways to create a character arc in literature. Learn what character information to reveal to increase tension in your story. Your main characters should have a backstory that informs their actions, motivations, and goals. Determine what point of view (POV)—first person or third person—complements the character’s interpretation of events.
9. Use the active voice. Your goal as an author is to write a page-turner—a book that keeps readers engaged from start to finish. Use the active voice in your stories. Sentences should generally follow the basic structure of noun-verb-object. While passive voice isn’t always a bad thing, limit it in your fiction writing.
10. Take breaks when you need them. Writer's block gets the best of every writer. Step away from your desk and get some exercise. Getting your blood flowing and being in a different environment can ignite ideas. Continue writing later that day or even the next.
11. Kill your darlings. An important piece of advice for writers is to know when words, paragraphs, chapters, or even characters, are unnecessary to the story. Being a good writer means having the ability to edit out excess information. If the material you cut is still a great piece of writing, see if you can build a short story around it.
12. Read other writers. Reading great writing can help you find your own voice and hone your writing skills. Read a variety of genres. It also helps to read the same genre as your novel. If you’re writing a thriller, then read other thrillers that show how to build tension, create plot points, and how to do the big reveal at the climax of the story.
13. Write to sell. To make a living doing what they love, fiction writers need to think like editors and publishers. In other words, approach your story with a marketing sensibility as well as a creative one to sell your book.
14. Write now, edit later. Young writers and aspiring writers might be tempted to spend a lot of time editing and rewriting as they type. Resist that temptation. Practice freewriting—a creative writing technique that encourages writers to let their ideas flow uninterrupted. Set a specific time to edit.
15. Get feedback. It can be hard to critique your own writing. When you have finished a piece of writing or a first draft, give it to someone to read. Ask for honest and specific feedback. This is a good way to learn what works and what doesn’t.
16. Think about publishing. Few authors write just for themselves. Envision where you want your story to be published. If you have a short story, think about submitting it to literary magazines. If you have a novel, you can send it to literary agents and publishing houses. You might also consider self-publishing if you really want to see your book in print.

 

Writing Subtext in Dialogue (Video)

Writing Subtext in Dialogue

“It’s not what you say; it’s what you don’t say.”

Subtext involves the hidden feelings beneath spoken words—anger, love, mistrust—all the emotions characters don’t dare admit aloud. It can add sizzle to drab dialogue and make the speakers sound like real people. If you’ve ever been told your conversation scenes feel “too on the nose,” this video is for you.

What Is Subtext? (0:00)
Body Language (1:05)
Secondary Emotion (3:51)
Sugarcoating (5:37)
Implied Accusation (7:51)
Passive Agressiveness (9:27)
Why We Use Subtext (11:55)
Writing Exercise (13:16)

How to Show, Not Tell: The Complete Writing Guide (Video)

 How to Show, Not Tell: The Complete Writing Guide

 

“Don’t tell me the moon is shining. Show me the glint of light on broken glass.” – Anton Chekov

Writers often have different definitions of “showing” and “telling.” Diane Callahan define “telling” as any time in the story when an important moment lacks depth in terms of detail or narrative voice. However, telling can also be an excellent tool for controlling the story’s pacing and delivering important information.

In this video, she'll explore the origins of this advice and why “showing” appeals to audiences on an emotional level. Using examples from popular works and advice from published authors, she’ll outline six strategies you can employ to produce stronger writing:

1. Use evidence to support your claims.
2. Replace the abstract with the concrete.
3. Substitute vague descriptions with specific sensory details.
4. Avoid relying too much on body language.
5. Show emotion through dialogue.
6. Filter observations through the narrative voice.

 

Writing Fiction: Anatomy of a Scene (Video)

Writing Fiction: Anatomy of a Scene

 

Scenes are the building blocks of stories. Every scene in a novel contributes to the story in some way, whether through characterization, atmosphere, or plot progression. In examining the anatomy of a scene, we’ll start with the big-picture skeleton, then dive into the essential organs, and end with the skin—the outward appearance of the writing itself.

Introduction (0:00)
Skeleton (0:28)
Essential Organs (3:40)
Skin (6:57)
Overview & Writing Exercise (9:11)

 

 Writing Prompt: Alien Encounter

 

These exercises were written by IWW members and administrators to provide structured practice opportunities for its members. You are welcome to use them for practice as well. Please mention that you found them at the Internet Writers Workshop.

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 Exercise: In 400 words or less, create a scene where your character encounters something completely outside his or her frame of reference. The experience may force the character to reevaluate prior beliefs or assumptions.

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Imagine how your character might feel upon encountering a 10-foot Kodiak bear face-to-face. A young child meeting someone with a severe medical condition, or watching an unusual animal for the first time. Someone's response to an initial view of the Grand Canyon. A hunter's first kill. A soldier's first taste of battle. A mortician's assistant on the first day of employment.

Help us to feel the character's range of emotions in assimilating the new experience: wonder, awe, fear, amusement, disgust, what have you.

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Critique: In your critique, tell the author whether the description was such that you could visualize the scene and experience the character's emotions. If the scene fell short, be sure to tell the author what could be improved.

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 Some more writing prompts for you to try.

 Writing Prompt: The Other Side Of the Story (v. 2)

 

These exercises were written by IWW members and administrators to provide structured practice opportunities for its members. You are welcome to use them for practice as well. Please mention that you found them at the Internet Writers Workshop.

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 Exercise: In 400 words or less, rewrite a scene from a story familiar to most of us from the point of view ofsomeone other than the main character. Tell us the name of the story you have chosen and who your viewpoint character is, and then show us what is different about the way that character sees the action and personalities involved.

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Every character in a story, from the main character right down to the dog, has a reason for being included, a reason for his or her actions, a point of view. Yes, some characters are just part of the machinery of the plot--the butler announcing the arrival of the Duke. But once that butler gets back to his pantry and starts gossiping with the housekeeper, he becomes part of the story, and we get a different perspective on what's going on in the house.  The way all of the characters interact, the way each one views the action, deepens and enlivens the story.  In the best stories, the characters, good and bad, act for clear reasons, their  interactions providing the conflict and narrative tension that makes for a good read.

Some examples:

How might Rhett Butler or Melanie Wilkes see Scarlet O'Hara in Gone with the Wind?

See Stephen King's Cujo, where we watch the thoughts of a dog as he goes mad.

What would the wolf have to say about Little Red Riding Hood?

Some writers have already rewritten a known work from another point of view. Tom Stoppard, in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, showed us Hamlet through the eyes of two minor characters.

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When critiquing, consider whether we gain new insight into a familiar tale (the characters, their motivations, the twists of plot) by experiencing it through a different sensibility. Why does this  supporting character's point of view matter? Would this constitute a whole new telling of the story?

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 Some more writing prompts for you to try.