Writing Tutorials and Help

thanks DE.
i am planning to read through it and improve discriptions and ill look out for those out of place things. thanks for the tips.

A quick couple of questions,
how long should a short story be?
and how can I stop everything from turning into comedy?

The second one I'm really having trouble with as I want to write about something a little on the serious side.

Originally posted by budski
A quick couple of questions,
how long should a short story be?
and how can I stop everything from turning into comedy?

The second one I'm really having trouble with as I want to write about something a little on the serious side.

Not sure about the length on this forum, but anywhere from 3 words to 5000 words i would think. Much more than that and your heading into novella territory.

As far as the second question, dont try to force your story in a particular direction, let it flow, sure stick to your concept, but let the muse take you where it will.
You should have a basic outline of what you would like to achieve but often anything creative will tend to take on a life of its own from my experience.
You might find that you have a natural aptitude for comedy, dont stifle it if thats what comes out.
Theres no reaon why a serious subject cant be treated with subtle humour and wit, in fact it may improve its interest to the readers.
Just my 2cents for what its worth, hope that helps, send us a u2u if you have any other questions.
Btw i enjoyed "The Road Less Travelled".

Good Luck Mojo.

I had real problems with A Road Less Travelled - I had to keep re-writing parts, because the comedy crept in. It's not that I don't like writing it, it's just that I wanted this story to be a bit more poignant and serious.
Actually took me 2 1/2 hours with the constant re-writes.

Still, the idea I have for the writing contest will have room for a bit of comedy, so hopefully, it will come through when I want it to.

Glad you enjoyed it

are there any rules to posting in this forum?....any threads that have such?....i have some old stuff i want to post....

I am embarking on a project consisting of 5 "books" which share a theme, but can be viewed as separate entities.

I have a couple of questions.

1. I am not sure of the best way to start the "writing" bit. I have written something similar to what you might find on the back of a book cover, but have no details or outline. Is it an acceptable technique just to write and see where it goes?
2. I am good at the description, but find it difficult to get characters talking. Any tips?
3. How do I get the reader to be interested in the main character?

Thanks for your help!

I really like the idea of a 'writing forum' where people don't post their work, but discuss the craft itself. I can see threads like:

1. A how to - Creating emotion
   
2. Character flaws, how do I do it?
   
3. Need help researching top secret aircraft
   
4. How much sex is too much?
   
5. How to end a story? HELP!
   
6. I've written myself into a corner, any ideas?
   
7. The 'Rambo' character love him or hate him
   
8. The everyman, techniques and tips
   
9. Suspending disbelief
   

I think the forum could be a great resource to fellow amateur writers. It could be very constructive and I'm sure moderately successful.

I like your ideas Enrikez.

Unfortunately writing is a very lonely business and a place to share frustrations and ideas, or just to unwind with some light entertaining banter is great.

You certainly have my vote.

I am currently in the final stages of completing my manuscript for publication. I have a publisher lined up, but because it's my first novel, I want to make a good impression for any subsequent novels I try to publish in the future. It's good to know that there are people willing to help make sure that a work is the best it can be before it gets put into a final form anywhere. I'm a readaholic, I love reading. Science fiction is my main reading genre, but I also love the works of Tolkien, Stephen King, and Tom Clancy so it's obvious that my work reflects these reads in many ways. If I get writer's block again (which in my final draft happens at least once every chapter) I'll be sure to stop in to get some much needed advice on how to attack my creative issues. My spelling and grammar are, for the most part, immaculate. I was called "The Human Dictionary" all through school so I know I'm good there. Most of my hang-ups are in trying to employ a good plot twist to keep the reader turning pages. So again, thanks a whole lot for putting this here, since us writers need all the help we can get when it comes to telling a good story.

Again I must express my most emphatic thanks for having this post...

Anyway, I need some ideas on how to thicken a plot without losing the reader. I'm currently working on the 6th chapter of my final draft, and I'm stuck in a massive case of writer's block.

In my novel, Earth is invaded by aliens (don't burn be on the fact that this premise is somewhat stale and cliche, I've worked out a basic storyline which keeps the topic from going in that direction) and now the humans who are left are fighting back against their evil overlords. At the point I'm stuck at, the humans have built a base and are accepting defected soldiers from the enemy; but, the alien base the defected soldiers are coming from is part of a ploy by the commanding general of all the alien forces to pretend to defect and then strike back against those they defected to during a major battle. I'd like to hint at the ploy even add in a little suspicion from the main characters that something is not right, but at the same time I want the tactic to be a suprise to the reader when they finally read the scene where the defectees turn.

I will gladly u2u or email any writers the scene in question for a look-over to help with figuring out my sticking point.

Thanks,
Cru

A few things I've learned over a few books and more than a few short stories.

When completed, let the work sit for a while.
Books, perhaps a month, short stories, a few days to a week.

For those who think they have bad grammar, it will be very obvious when you go back and read what you've written with fresh eyes.

Sentences will be inside out, similar sounding words - that you know how to use correctly - will be used (there for their for example) along with typo's.

Proof read everything you write and this includes short replies to subjects posted on the main board.

Save often.
Nuff said there.

Good grammar etc. in the descriptive areas are a given.
It's not completely necessary when doing dialogue although you don't want to get too carried away with mannerisms, accents etc.

It was enough to describe one female character in a book as being from the south and using y'all just twice in the book to reinforce it.
Trying to carry the accent all the way through the book or story is not necessary.
Readers are smart and won't forget.

One thing I see on a couple of writing boards is that people forget we're here to tell a story and that is the most important part.

Some writers are trying to tell their story by following teachings in a writing class or writing book and it seldom works well imo.

Do get a few reference books on grammar.
The Chicago Manual of Style is an excellent reference and answers questions that may or may not be touched upon in a grammar book.

Equally important, a good dictionary and thesaurus.

Get Stephen King's book titled, "On Writing."
An easy and entertaining read along with some of the best information and recommendations ever made for writing.

Hope I'm not overstepping my bounds and all that.

Just one guys opinion, but it works for me....

Plateau S- was my first attempt at a work. I do agree with you on the
scariness, of launching something like that on the net.
I can tell you I
had to close my eyes and turn my head, then hit launch. I absolutly
enjoyed writing Plateau S. I even did the research of the miles between towns, names of rivers, trails and roads as they were at that time. I couldn't see faking any of that. I believe I would love to hear all the criticism. I have a very hard time with grammar. Yes I would be
interested in anything ATS would offer. I think Jack Flap has the best entry.

ok, I'm asking please? when you have time, shread my thread.
Edit to correct the word grammar.

[edit on 18-9-2009 by randyvs]

I haven't posted much in this forum in a very long time. (and not much ever, actually) I'm trying to get back into writing some stuff, and I was wondering if it's appropriate to start a thread in this forum where I outline my basic ideas for my short story (actually, a series of them) and get some discussion and feedback. It would, of course, be followed eventually by the story itself, either in the same thread or in its own thread.

I just started it tonight, and I haven't got much done so far, since I keep going back to change things, since I'm trying to set up the initial characters. I've done some background notes for them already, and I've got a pretty good idea of how the two main characters will behave. As for the plot itself, my ideas are a bit more vague; my plan was mostly just to write it and see what happens. The initial event (the mysterious death of a Harvard professor) I've already got figured out and a few things like that, but I'm still not really sure how I'll end it; I'm just going to have fun and see where it goes :p

It's appropriate as far as I'm concerned. I mean, what else are we good for if not helping eachother?

Post em up and I'll try to help you.

Hi! I have posted my first story here called city of nightmares.

Ostensibly there is a lot I need to work on to be a good writer. The narrative contains absolutely no dialogue(I suck at dialogue). If someone could check it out and help me improve on it then that would be splendid!....thank you.

Here is the link:www.abovetopsecret.com...



[edit on 29-7-2010 by Leonardo01]

reply to post by Leonardo01


i posted some suggestions for you, already!

i haven't been to this lovely place in oh, so long, but imma thinkin' itsa where i might need to be.

right now.

thanks Leonardo!


i'm a poet, by nature, and i'm more into the flow of words and the impression they weave while telling the story.

to me, it is a two-fold process that creates any good can't-put-it-down story or book: it has to have a magnetic storyline, no doubt about that, but also it has to flow and somehow seduce the reader into a captivating mental dance that just never quite gives enough lull to allow withdrawal, yet doesn't overtire the mind to the point of having to withdraw (or put the book down, as it were).

i'm not sure, but that might be the underlying beauty of prose.

i'm not good at plots. i just don't think of them, although the handful of ideas with which i've inspired myself enough to put pen to paper have been satisfying, at least on a personal level. it is kind of like they are still poem ideas, but with just little more room to breathe in.

anyway, i'll help and be helped quite willingly!

reply to post by queenannie38


Thank you for your splendid comments Annie and I am glad that my write-up did that for you. Frankly though I think I still have a long to way to go as a writer and I don't like my story very much...

i like this idea, my spelling has always been average, sometimes poor, though I can read fine. Strange, but when spelling i just go blank at times, even with simple everyday words, which can be very embarrassing (theres one lol, spelt it with two R's, deleted one, still didnt look right and had to look it up in the dictionary). But I would like to write and where better to have a go, even for fun, than here

So basically if our grammar is less then stellar, and we have stories to post what do you suggest?

I need help. I am supposed to have my 2nd draft on a first person perspective in a dystopian world with details tommorow! We've read 1984, Brave New World, A Handmaids Tale, Oryx and Crake & The Year of The FloodI feel like all the ideas have been covered. I haven't even started and am blocked. What should I do?