Monday, March 28, 2011
What You Need to Do
If you are very very serious about writing, then you need to read. This might be a duh thing to some of you. But as you read, you really learn how to write at the same time. Take one of your favorite authors and take the first chapter and mock their writing style with something from your mind. It will really help you get away from your own writing styles and work toward something new. Then, you melt different styles together and come up with something greater.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Friday, March 25, 2011
They're Trying to Figure Their Differnce There and There
There
They're
Their
There is a difference between these three words.
There- A place
Example: We went there to see the Justin Bieber concert.
OR: We went to the mall to see the Justin Bieber concert.
They're- contraction for they are (the a gets replaced with an apostrophe)
Example: They're going to watch Glee later tonight.
OR: They are going to watch Glee later tonight.
Their- possession of a group of people
Example: The family cat is all of their responsibility.
OR: The family cat is all of the family's responsiblity.
They're
Their
There is a difference between these three words.
There- A place
Example: We went there to see the Justin Bieber concert.
OR: We went to the mall to see the Justin Bieber concert.
They're- contraction for they are (the a gets replaced with an apostrophe)
Example: They're going to watch Glee later tonight.
OR: They are going to watch Glee later tonight.
Their- possession of a group of people
Example: The family cat is all of their responsibility.
OR: The family cat is all of the family's responsiblity.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Dialogue
When it comes to dialogue (what your characters are saying), people tend to think it is the easiest part of writing creatively. However, it is probably one of the most difficult elements of writing. No one wants to have to spend extra time reading frivolous dialogue. So, really think if what your characters are saying is important or not. If it isn't important, leave it out.
Likewise, dialogue should move the plot along. Every time someone is saying something, it needs to have some relevance to the plot. If you just put in a random conversation, say about pigs, and it has nothing to do with the rest of the plot, then your reader won't understand why it is there at all. Now, if there is a reason to be talking about pigs, say because someone is vegetarian or they live on a farm, then it would make sense.
Also, dialogue can help characterization move along as well. The way people talk, or the words people say tell a lot about them. Such as, if a person is witty or saractastic, that can easily come through in your dialogue.
Most times people write dialogue that just isn't realistic. In talking, we don't say things like "Do not do that, Johnny." Instead, we say, "Don't do that, Johnny!" The do not is too jolted and would not work when we would be yelling at Johnny to not do something. In most all cases, we use contractions when we talk. In the same fashion, reread what you make people say and see if you could actually see someone saying that. Then, go further and see if that's how your character would actually say that.
Likewise, dialogue should move the plot along. Every time someone is saying something, it needs to have some relevance to the plot. If you just put in a random conversation, say about pigs, and it has nothing to do with the rest of the plot, then your reader won't understand why it is there at all. Now, if there is a reason to be talking about pigs, say because someone is vegetarian or they live on a farm, then it would make sense.
Also, dialogue can help characterization move along as well. The way people talk, or the words people say tell a lot about them. Such as, if a person is witty or saractastic, that can easily come through in your dialogue.
Most times people write dialogue that just isn't realistic. In talking, we don't say things like "Do not do that, Johnny." Instead, we say, "Don't do that, Johnny!" The do not is too jolted and would not work when we would be yelling at Johnny to not do something. In most all cases, we use contractions when we talk. In the same fashion, reread what you make people say and see if you could actually see someone saying that. Then, go further and see if that's how your character would actually say that.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Titles
A very important element of writing that people often forget about is the title. The more you can get your title to make your reader think and wonder what your work is about, the more likely they are going to read it. For instance, if you write an essay about Once and Future King and you title it "King Author's Fall" people won't be as interested in reading it as if you make the title "Love Brings Down the Castle Walls."
In fiction, a lot of books tend to have a character's name as the title. For things like Harry Potter this is perfectly fine because there is the addition of and the... Other titles that grab my attention in the book store have strange words in them, such as Geek, Chill, or Dangerous Pie.
Lastly, chapter names are something to look at as well. If you choose to label your chapters, be creative about it. Something like "That Time Again" isn't going to pull attention as much as "We Visit the Garden Gnome Emporium." However, Rick Riordan is master of creating chapter names that do what they should do, which is, make the reader want to move onto the next chapter ASAP.
In fiction, a lot of books tend to have a character's name as the title. For things like Harry Potter this is perfectly fine because there is the addition of and the... Other titles that grab my attention in the book store have strange words in them, such as Geek, Chill, or Dangerous Pie.
Lastly, chapter names are something to look at as well. If you choose to label your chapters, be creative about it. Something like "That Time Again" isn't going to pull attention as much as "We Visit the Garden Gnome Emporium." However, Rick Riordan is master of creating chapter names that do what they should do, which is, make the reader want to move onto the next chapter ASAP.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Show and Tell
The most important thing in creative writing is showing the story instead of telling it. If you get to the point that you are just telling what's going on without any scenes in the story/novel, then you have a problem. Telling is much like telling a story to someone, you leave out a lot of details because the person doesn't need them all. In a creative work, though, you need to show us all those details. We need to get to know who the characters are and what is going on. Think about your senses as well.
Example of telling:
We went to the mall, picked up some clothes. Then, we went home and washed the clothes. Tommorrow I hope that everyone likes the clothing that I got. I'm afraid they won't.
Example of showing:
The mall was crazy. People were bustling everywhere. All we needed to do was get some new clothing for my first day of school. The Hollister smelled deeply of their toxic perfumes. Yet, the smell intoxicated me enough to spend two hundred dollars in there. Coming out with only three shirts and a hoodie and spending that much makes a person quite sad. So, as we went home, I frowned deeply but still dreamed that everyone would love my new clothing.
Example of telling:
We went to the mall, picked up some clothes. Then, we went home and washed the clothes. Tommorrow I hope that everyone likes the clothing that I got. I'm afraid they won't.
Example of showing:
The mall was crazy. People were bustling everywhere. All we needed to do was get some new clothing for my first day of school. The Hollister smelled deeply of their toxic perfumes. Yet, the smell intoxicated me enough to spend two hundred dollars in there. Coming out with only three shirts and a hoodie and spending that much makes a person quite sad. So, as we went home, I frowned deeply but still dreamed that everyone would love my new clothing.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Setting
To me, the setting is not a very important part of creative writing. However, there are a lot of people that really like to know exactly where the characters are at and when. I like for things to be open and timeless. If, though, you wish to create a setting, make sure you are completely aware of it.
Place:
If you have not been to the place you are writing about (which is the best way to write about a place) then you need to research the place extensively. Make yourself familiar with it completely. The place is weather, things to do, the people, the food, culture, etc. You need to know about all of that stuff.
Personally, when I do decide that I'm going to give some kind of setting, I tend to make up a fake town or city. It is much easier to deal with, so that I don't mess up with what is in the real town.
Time:
Time is a little more difficult. If you go into the past, there are a lot of things that you could easily mess up on. Such as, you might be too far back in time before there were even numbers on houses. Check technology advances of the time. Your editor will know some of these things better, but you have to have the credit of knowing the time.
Honestly, setting is mostly about researching so you get it right!
Place:
If you have not been to the place you are writing about (which is the best way to write about a place) then you need to research the place extensively. Make yourself familiar with it completely. The place is weather, things to do, the people, the food, culture, etc. You need to know about all of that stuff.
Personally, when I do decide that I'm going to give some kind of setting, I tend to make up a fake town or city. It is much easier to deal with, so that I don't mess up with what is in the real town.
Time:
Time is a little more difficult. If you go into the past, there are a lot of things that you could easily mess up on. Such as, you might be too far back in time before there were even numbers on houses. Check technology advances of the time. Your editor will know some of these things better, but you have to have the credit of knowing the time.
Honestly, setting is mostly about researching so you get it right!
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Thesis Statements
The thesis statement is the most important part of an essay (or technical paper). While some people argue that a thesis statement should be put last in the opening paragraph and some kind of magical, amazing attention-grabber statement should be placed first, in the real world, people want to know what they are reading about. An attention-grabber is just a distraction. You should always start your essays with the thesis. The reader will then know right away what the paper will be about as well as know your stance on the topic.
Your thesis should always be an arguement. Your thesis should state what you believe to be true, but it should have an open end where someone could agrue against it. All papers are somewhat a work of your own beliefs. Then the person could gain new information about the topic you are discussing.
Always be careful of looking out for your actual thesis statement. Many times, in wrapping up your paper, in your conclusion, you might find a better thesis statement that argues your point even better than the first one you came up with.
Be careful of being too vegue.
Bad: Aladdin is the best Disney movie ever.
While this is an arguement that others can disagree with, it tells no reason for what your belief is in the movie.
Good: The addition of the Genie's desire to be set free in Walt Disney's Aladdin, only allowing Aladdin two wishes instead of three, builds the plot more cleverly than any other Disney movie in time because it tramples the cliche of the typical two lovers' and the villain's desires.
This, again, is something that can be argued in more ways that one and lets the reader know why Aladdin is the best Disney movie in the writers opinion.
Your thesis should always be an arguement. Your thesis should state what you believe to be true, but it should have an open end where someone could agrue against it. All papers are somewhat a work of your own beliefs. Then the person could gain new information about the topic you are discussing.
Always be careful of looking out for your actual thesis statement. Many times, in wrapping up your paper, in your conclusion, you might find a better thesis statement that argues your point even better than the first one you came up with.
Be careful of being too vegue.
Bad: Aladdin is the best Disney movie ever.
While this is an arguement that others can disagree with, it tells no reason for what your belief is in the movie.
Good: The addition of the Genie's desire to be set free in Walt Disney's Aladdin, only allowing Aladdin two wishes instead of three, builds the plot more cleverly than any other Disney movie in time because it tramples the cliche of the typical two lovers' and the villain's desires.
This, again, is something that can be argued in more ways that one and lets the reader know why Aladdin is the best Disney movie in the writers opinion.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Point-of-View
Point-of-View is a very important aspect of characterization. Picking the point-of-view is a very important part of writing. You have the choice between first, second, and third. There are good and bad things about all.
First person:
The first person is the "I" person. This is the character that is telling his/her/its own story. There are pros and cons to using first person.
The good things about first person are:
1. You are inside the character at all times.
2. You can look into the character's thoughts, needs, and desires.
3. The reader gets a more personal experience with the character.
4. The first person narrator is very unreliable.
The bad things about first person are:
1. You cannot go into any other character's thoughts or actions.
2. You have to be careful with your verbs because you have to make sure other characters are not taking the point-of-view from the first person. Such as, other characters can not think, notice, or do anything that isn't told by the first-person-narrator.
3. The reader is limited to the "I" point of view.
4. The first person narrator is very unreliable.
You are probably thinking, what is meant by saying "The first person narrator is very unreliable" as pros and cons of using first person. However, the unreliability can work to your favor when you are writing something like Shutter Island where the character might or might not be crazy. It can also work as a disadvantage because the character doesn't actually know anyone else's thoughts. Also, there are times when one might wonder if a first person narrator is always telling the truth or not. I suggest playing around with a very honest first person as well as a liar first person.
Second Person:
I suggest never trying to do second person at all. The second person is the "you" person. In this type of writing, you are trying to tell the reader they are doing something. It rarely works, but if you are very skilled, you can figure out a way. Not something I want to get into anytime soon.
Third Person:
The "he, she, it" person. This is the one where the narrator is telling the story about a person or group of people. Like first person, there is pros and cons to third person.
Good things about third person:
1. You are open to looking into more than one character at a time.
2. If you need background on a different character, it doesn't have to be as needed to be known by the character you are following.
3. You can go into the thoughts of any of the characters you are following.
4. You can be as close or as far away from the character as you wish to be.
Bad things about third person:
1. The reader doesn't get the close experience as they get with the first person. The emotional is slightly less emotional. The beliefs aren't as visible. And so on.
2. You have to be careful not to just jump into any character you want to. Follow only the ones you are following. Meaning, if you have Susie, Jill, and Tom that are following. You can't suddenly add Frank in and let him be alone without them. Everything must be set up from the beginning.
3. Everything you show about the character needs to be absolutely true. If they are crazy, in the setting, you need to show how crazy they are. You can't just spring that up later like you would in a first person.
4. It is easier to forget important characterization items about your characters.
No matter what you pick, you need to make sure you stick to that point-of-view. If it's a short story, do not change point-of-view at all. If it is a longer work, you cannot go from Tom's thoughts to Jill's thoughts back and forth. Also, you cannot change point-of-view without a break. Whether that be a blank line or chapter change. It is a very amature mistake to shift point-of-views too much. The longer you stick with a character, the more we get to know him, her, or it.
First person:
The first person is the "I" person. This is the character that is telling his/her/its own story. There are pros and cons to using first person.
The good things about first person are:
1. You are inside the character at all times.
2. You can look into the character's thoughts, needs, and desires.
3. The reader gets a more personal experience with the character.
4. The first person narrator is very unreliable.
The bad things about first person are:
1. You cannot go into any other character's thoughts or actions.
2. You have to be careful with your verbs because you have to make sure other characters are not taking the point-of-view from the first person. Such as, other characters can not think, notice, or do anything that isn't told by the first-person-narrator.
3. The reader is limited to the "I" point of view.
4. The first person narrator is very unreliable.
You are probably thinking, what is meant by saying "The first person narrator is very unreliable" as pros and cons of using first person. However, the unreliability can work to your favor when you are writing something like Shutter Island where the character might or might not be crazy. It can also work as a disadvantage because the character doesn't actually know anyone else's thoughts. Also, there are times when one might wonder if a first person narrator is always telling the truth or not. I suggest playing around with a very honest first person as well as a liar first person.
Second Person:
I suggest never trying to do second person at all. The second person is the "you" person. In this type of writing, you are trying to tell the reader they are doing something. It rarely works, but if you are very skilled, you can figure out a way. Not something I want to get into anytime soon.
Third Person:
The "he, she, it" person. This is the one where the narrator is telling the story about a person or group of people. Like first person, there is pros and cons to third person.
Good things about third person:
1. You are open to looking into more than one character at a time.
2. If you need background on a different character, it doesn't have to be as needed to be known by the character you are following.
3. You can go into the thoughts of any of the characters you are following.
4. You can be as close or as far away from the character as you wish to be.
Bad things about third person:
1. The reader doesn't get the close experience as they get with the first person. The emotional is slightly less emotional. The beliefs aren't as visible. And so on.
2. You have to be careful not to just jump into any character you want to. Follow only the ones you are following. Meaning, if you have Susie, Jill, and Tom that are following. You can't suddenly add Frank in and let him be alone without them. Everything must be set up from the beginning.
3. Everything you show about the character needs to be absolutely true. If they are crazy, in the setting, you need to show how crazy they are. You can't just spring that up later like you would in a first person.
4. It is easier to forget important characterization items about your characters.
No matter what you pick, you need to make sure you stick to that point-of-view. If it's a short story, do not change point-of-view at all. If it is a longer work, you cannot go from Tom's thoughts to Jill's thoughts back and forth. Also, you cannot change point-of-view without a break. Whether that be a blank line or chapter change. It is a very amature mistake to shift point-of-views too much. The longer you stick with a character, the more we get to know him, her, or it.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Characters
The most important element in creative writing (both fiction and non-fiction) is characters. While it is easy to create a plot (completely or incompletely), it is in creating the characters that will help your work ring out. Your main character should have a strong personality to bring he, she, or it alive. Also known as a round character. In thinking about this character, think of a few of these things to bring them more alive.
1. What does the character look like?
2. What belief system does that character have? Not only spiritually or religiously, but about people and things around him, her, or it.
3. Where is the maturity level and intelligence of the character?
4. What things make the character special?
5. What gestures does the character use?
6. What position does the character hold in life? Rich or poor? Stable job? Lost child in the woods? Etc.
7. What morals does the character bring to the table?
8. Who or what are the influences on the character?
9. How does the character talk?
Think about yourself. What makes you different from other people? You can make characters and make them the most boring people on the planet, but if you develop them well, the reader will develop an interest in them.
As well as the main character, if other characters are open for the type of creative writing you are doing, make sure that friends, family members, love interests, etc. are also rounded out. Give each one a different personality. Also, be careful of using names with the first letter being the same. Best friends John and Jacob could become quickly turned around in the reader's head and they will think there is an inconstancy in the writing, when there isn't. The reader simply cannot keep the two characters straight. In the same light, be careful of the same endings on character names.
I find it easiest to get a complete blank page and write the characters name on the top, then open up the field of everything they like.
Example:
Spencer Worthington
Light brown, curly hair, green eyes that are covered with expensive-looking glasses, an awkward smile, somewhat too big of ears, tan skin, 6'3 and lanky, lightly muscled body, clumsy feet that he trips over often.
Comes from a rich family. Dad works with the government. Family owns a local coffee shop.
Spencer likes to skateboard, listen to loud music, and socialize with the "bad crowd" which upsets his father because he doesn't want any bad press.
Then, I'd just keep working with Spencer. It's like molding him with a piece of clay. This story could be about how his father oppresses him. It could be about how he breaks free of his father's control. It might have little to do about his father. He might be really good at skateboarding and help people because he gets more rich off of it.
It is also important to make sure you don't round every character out. There are also flat characters. These are characters that might pass your main character in the hall. Kind of like a credit on a movie. She might just be girl-with-braids. Flat characters can have names, but be careful of naming all your characters as well.
Review:
Round Characters: A character that is well-developed and come to life on the page.
Flat Characters: A less important character that doesn't need much description.
1. What does the character look like?
2. What belief system does that character have? Not only spiritually or religiously, but about people and things around him, her, or it.
3. Where is the maturity level and intelligence of the character?
4. What things make the character special?
5. What gestures does the character use?
6. What position does the character hold in life? Rich or poor? Stable job? Lost child in the woods? Etc.
7. What morals does the character bring to the table?
8. Who or what are the influences on the character?
9. How does the character talk?
Think about yourself. What makes you different from other people? You can make characters and make them the most boring people on the planet, but if you develop them well, the reader will develop an interest in them.
As well as the main character, if other characters are open for the type of creative writing you are doing, make sure that friends, family members, love interests, etc. are also rounded out. Give each one a different personality. Also, be careful of using names with the first letter being the same. Best friends John and Jacob could become quickly turned around in the reader's head and they will think there is an inconstancy in the writing, when there isn't. The reader simply cannot keep the two characters straight. In the same light, be careful of the same endings on character names.
I find it easiest to get a complete blank page and write the characters name on the top, then open up the field of everything they like.
Example:
Spencer Worthington
Light brown, curly hair, green eyes that are covered with expensive-looking glasses, an awkward smile, somewhat too big of ears, tan skin, 6'3 and lanky, lightly muscled body, clumsy feet that he trips over often.
Comes from a rich family. Dad works with the government. Family owns a local coffee shop.
Spencer likes to skateboard, listen to loud music, and socialize with the "bad crowd" which upsets his father because he doesn't want any bad press.
Then, I'd just keep working with Spencer. It's like molding him with a piece of clay. This story could be about how his father oppresses him. It could be about how he breaks free of his father's control. It might have little to do about his father. He might be really good at skateboarding and help people because he gets more rich off of it.
It is also important to make sure you don't round every character out. There are also flat characters. These are characters that might pass your main character in the hall. Kind of like a credit on a movie. She might just be girl-with-braids. Flat characters can have names, but be careful of naming all your characters as well.
Review:
Round Characters: A character that is well-developed and come to life on the page.
Flat Characters: A less important character that doesn't need much description.
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