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Sharing some more Writing Tips
Sharing some more Writing Tips (based on interviews with some famous American writers) by Craig Lock This article was based on some interviews with famous American writers and is written in point form, from notes that I've taken from some excellent books (see Author's Note at end)... I believe that anyone with a little talent can become a writer, look at what Judith Krantz has achieved. It's not so hard to write, the trick is staying a writer, day after day, month after month, year after year. A single book doesn't make a writer - but the totality of one's work does. NB: Always write to please yourself. I have to write - write from the heart, the gut. James Michener only started writing at the age of 40. He thinks as he walks. Think about the next days writing in advance. In fiction, SHOW rather than tell. The way you learn to write is to write. Practice makes "purrfect"...and that's how good writers perfect their craft. Read a lot: novels, fiction - that's how you learn to write well. Rewrite and re-write, which is "fine tuning" your story. It's like polishing a fine gem from a rough stone. Ernest Hemingway: "There is no sense in writing anything that has been written before...unless you can beat it." "Work every day - no matter what has happened the day or night before. Stop when you're writing well. Then you'll never get stuck." - Ernest Hemingway The human mind works subconsciously, while you are relaxing. If you worry, your brain gets tired. Concentration and focus, I believe, is the key to writing success. "If you write a hundred short stories, and they are all bad, that doesn't mean you've failed. You fail only if you stop writing." - Ray Bradbury Erica Jong: The theme running through all of her books is the quest for self knowledge. Van Goch only sold one picture in his lifetime - to his brother! Hope for me then! * THE NOVEL: PACE, PLOT (getting from point A to point B) and THEME are important here; but the key element in fiction is CHARACTER. It makes the people come alive; so that THEY tell the story. So write visually. Joseph Wambaugh (author of The Onion Field) said: "There are writers around with more talent than I; but there are none more DISCIPLINED than I." Wambaugh sets a goal of writing at least 1000 words a day. If an emergency stops him, he writes 2000 words the next day. Irving Stone on how to write: 1. Dramatize 2. Use plenty of dialogue 3. Bring your characters to life 4. Use anecdotes and humour. * In summary... Writing for me is a mixture of TALENT and DISCIPLINE. Perservere and stick with it - no matter what. I don't believe one can be taught to write; but you can be taught to communicate. If you can't take the criticism, you're not a writer. The "crit" may read a book in 2 or 3 days and not get into it; because critiquing is so subjective. * PUSH yourself daily. Develop good writing habits. * STICK WITH IT - DISCIPLINE is the key here. Then, * TRUST in your ability. Finally... Just be the very best you can be... and live your writing, as well as your life dreams. Happy writing and enjoy the journey. Craig Lock http://www.craiglockbooks.com Author's Note: This article was based on a number of excellent books on writing: 'Write and Be Published' by Anna Rogers, 'The New Zealand Writer's Handbook' by John Parsons, and 'On being a writer', edited by Bill Strickland. These three excellent books were a great help to me early in my writing career. I'm sharing this piece in the spirit of helping aspiring* writers. I hope the above information may be helpful to you in writing creatively. * What's the definition of an aspiring writer? A waiter! The "original" Online Creative Writing Course http://www.craiglock.com/writer/index.html Craig's FREE e-book Steps to Success is now available at: http://www.bridgeniche.com/stepstosuccess/ P.S: Don't worry about the world ending today... it's already tomorrow in "little" scenic and tranquil New Zealand
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