Learn Writing with Uncle Jim, Volume 1

More writing tips for beginners.

And advice on how to write killer short stories.

James D. Macdonald said:

More writing tips for beginners.

And advice on how to write killer short stories.

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Should have carried a language warning.

James D. Macdonald said:

Good luck!

Make sure the front end of your book matches the back end.

And start writing your next book.

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Could you please elaborate on front end matching back end.

On writing a new novel; I have this inability to multi task on two novels at the same time. I have tried doing it, but it seems that I do this at the detriment of one MS over the other.

Sailor Kenshin said:

Should have carried a language warning.

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Warning! These thoughts are expressed through language.

HConn said:

Warning! These thoughts are expressed through language.

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Very funny---the links contain profanity, and not all of us wish to be bombarded with same.

Raphee said:

Could you please elaborate on front end matching back end.

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Make sure that everything you planted at the beginning sprouted and bore fruit by the end. Make sure everything you harvest at the end was properly planted at the beginning.

Chekhov's gun and all that.

On writing a new novel; I have this inability to multi task on two novels at the same time. I have tried doing it, but it seems that I do this at the detriment of one MS over the other.

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You might surprise yourself.

You aren't writing the old novel any more -- you're editing it.

Try to write a page a day of Something New and Different.

James D. Macdonald said:

Try to write a page a day of Something New and Different.

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If that was the criterion, I'd never have written anything.

I have begun rereading the messterpiece. I think now the capture boxes were violently clumsy but have an idea about what I can do instead.

Happy Easter, y'all.

OddButInteresting said:

I'm against all this "How-to" material, personally.

(...)

I’m an arts student.

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I've never understood this kind of thinking. Why is it perfectly acceptable to study art, but god forbid one should study writing?

There's a time to study how-to, and a time to go-and-do.

Yes, Happy Easter. It's time to start fresh, all. Make tomorrow your new beginning.

Be well,
Ken

James D. Macdonald said:

There's a time to study how-to, and a time to go-and-do.

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Oh, I'm not disputing that. I'm simply flabbergasted by people who want to be writers, yet won't read books nor learn from others.

Manderley said:

Oh, I'm not disputing that. I'm simply flabbergasted by people who want to be writers, yet won't read books nor learn from others.

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Everyone has their own approach to getting from point A to point B. And, what you discribe above may be what the majority of people do, or what some believe and recommend to be gospel. Though I wouldn't deem it the only road to a successful writing career.

I mean, how many folks have done just what flabbergasts you, and have failed anyway?

What works for some doesn't for others. Pick your best route and travel it to the best of your abilities. Writing is all about trial and error, isn't it.

Ken Schneider said:

Though I wouldn't deem it the only road to a successful writing career.

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I think that reading books is absolutely essential to having a successful writing career. I really don't think there's any other way you can do it. I have never encountered a successful professional writer who did not read.

IceCreamEmpress said:

I have never encountered a successful professional writer who did not read.

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Reading in general, yes. Reading how-to-write books? Maybe not so much.

James D. Macdonald said:

Reading in general, yes. Reading how-to-write books? Maybe not so much.

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They can help with the technical aspect, get you thinking about how you write -- and that's a good thing. Past a certain point, though, it's up to you.

Like a cookbook - they teach you the basics, and then after a certain point, your recipes are your own invention. Knowing the basic technical stuff gives you a nice base to leap from.

The positive side of reading other literary works is, seeing how someone who was successful, did it. How they made the reader care about the character, painted scenes with words that put you there, etc.

The negative, You also can become, and most do, a copycat. Sometimes it's good to be a copycat, and sometimes it isn't.

Take for instance JRR Tollkiens works. They didn't become popular until after his death. His fantasy world was a new realm that hadn't been uncovered previously, and the lord of the rings was not popular in the least, if you can believe that. Brilliant imagination.

Terry Brooks as much as admitted that after reading Tolkiens works he wrote the Sword of Shannara. The parallels are unmistakeable.
From Brook's Alanon/Tollkien Gandolf, to Shea Omhsford/Bilbo Baggins. And it doesn't stop there! The Shire/Shady vale, The unwillingness to go on an adventure, and the longing to return to what once was and knowing it never will be the same again. It's like watching a re-run evertime you pick up a book. Did it work for him, sure it did. Had we seen it before, yes. Are we still seeing it, yes. And we'll continue to see it. Tollkien imagined a whole new genre and he's still copied today from cranium to toenail.

I wish we had a new master imaginator in our world, instead of copycats on different colored horses.

So it's good to read as a writer,agreed. What we learn and employ....

Good luck in whatever you have in the works.
Ken

Ken Schneider said:

The positive side of reading other literary works is, seeing how someone who was successful, did it. How they made the reader care about the character, painted scenes with words that put you there, etc.

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I've also found there is some benefit in reading other literary works to see how someone was unsuccessful.

I find after reading bad fiction, you can highlight what was wrong and be sure to avoid it in your own writing.

bsolah said:

I've also found there is some benefit in reading other literary works to see how someone was unsuccessful.

I find after reading bad fiction, you can highlight what was wrong and be sure to avoid it in your own writing.

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If you bought and read it, the book was successful.

To me, anything that gets published by a reputable publishing house and is sold in bookshops has merit. Therefore isn't bad writing, just not the readers cup of tea if rejected as such.

Publisher's editors know what they're looking at when they read a script and wouldn't publish slush. They're in it to make money, and publishing bad writing doesn't further their cause.

I will begin this with IMHO.
Writing is a craft as much as it is an art. As a craft, there are skills that must be learned. How-to books are one source for learning those skills. Just sitting in front of a keyboard and writing will not help you acquire skills that you do not have. Once you learn the skill, writing will help you hone the skill.
I played golf for several years, never breaking 100. In one game I played with a scratch golfer, who watched my swing and showed me how to swing properly. My game improved considerably because I learned a new skill.
Since I don't have someone like Uncle Jim looking over my shoulder as I write, I need to look elsewhere to learn the skills. I look to the How-to books among other places. I also read them with the full knowledge that the author's way is not the ONLY way. I should also note that I have learned as much from this forum, as I have from the books, but I don't think I would have had the level of understanding of the topics discussed here, had I not done my homework with the How-to books.
With all that said, I will agree with Uncle Jim, You must write to become a writer.

Hi,

I am new around here, but I have finished the first draft of my first novel. I have also written a large number of small stories.

This thread (I am up to page 6, but couldn't stand not giving kudo's), is absolutely amazing.

Thanks for your effort, thanks for helping me in my writing career even though you have never met me.

Bob

James D. Macdonald said:

Reading in general, yes. Reading how-to-write books? Maybe not so much.

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Oh, yes. I couldn't agree more.

I thought the poster meant reading in general. I'm not such a fan of most how-to-write books (though you'll pry my copy of Patricia Highsmith's Plotting and Writing Suspense Fiction out of my cold, dead hands--and there's a Highsmith image right there!)

Ken Schneider said:

Take for instance JRR Tollkiens works. They didn't become popular until after his death.

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Say what? The Lord of the Rings was incredibly popular in the mid-sixties, and hasn't stopped since. (Do you recall the text on the back of the Ballantine edition, "Those who approve of courtesy, at least, to living authors...."?) Do you remember the Ace Books pirate edition?

Yes, The Sword of Shanara was as close to plagiarism of The Lord of the Rings as copyright law would allow. Lester Del Rey knew it, but figured (correctly) that he'd make a ton of money by publishing it.