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How to Start and Stay Writing by illuminara, literature
Literature
How to Start and Stay Writing
I recently solicited my watchers to ask me writing questions that I would then attempt to answer in a writing guide such as this. This article is my first response, and there will be many more to come.I've been asked to give advice on ways a writer can begin to put words on a page. The bottom line is as simple as this: sit your butt down and write.Duh, right? It's the only way I know to actually write.Sure, sitting your butt in a chair is easy, but getting your fingers to move and stay moving is a challenge. Here are three things that have helped me.1) Have a goal.Your goal can be as simple as "describe the person in this picture" or as am...
7 Steps to Creating a Great Protagonist by DesdemonaDeBlake, literature
Literature
7 Steps to Creating a Great Protagonist
PLEASE NOTE THAT WHILE THIS PAGE WILL REMAIN ACTIVE FOR PURPOSES OF EDUCATION AND RECORDS, IT IS OUTDATED. CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE NEWEST VERSION.7 Steps to Creating a Great Protagonist Anybody Can Write a Novel Chapter 3 “Characters” – Section 3 “The Protagonist” With Links to Supplementary Material So I've talked about a couple types of protagonists, and how to create them: Heroes and Antiheroes . As well as what types of Character to Use or to Avoid . But not every Protagonist will be a hero or antihero. Today, I'm going to discuss what universal attributes make a great protagonist, that will drive your story forward. Remem...
Anybody Can Write a Novel - Outline by DesdemonaDeBlake, literature
Literature
Anybody Can Write a Novel - Outline
Anybody Can Write A Novel - Outline A Step-by-step Guide for Anyone to Learn How to Write a Novel This is an Outline of all my current articles, and a look at what is to come. I will try to update it, at least once every two weeks. Also note that just because something is absent from the Outline does not mean I don't plan to write it. This is a compilation of only chapters that have already been written. (You'll notice that I have neglected some points and chapters within this Outline. This this is simply a result of realizing that there is so much to learn, when it comes to writing. Don't worry, I'll be sure to come back and fill in the...
Character Flaws - Fatal by WritersArchives, literature
Literature
Character Flaws - Fatal
We all know by now that character flaws are very important to maintaining an identifiable hero in any story you create.But we don’t just have protagonists to write about in our stories. Our heroes and heroines need an arch nemesis to fight against, the antagonist of the storyline, the bad guy who reaps fiery infernos of vengeance upon the good guy.The bad guys need flaws as well—but not just any flaw; they need flaws that will make them hateable, flaws that are absolutely unforgiveable. These bad guys must have the reader so angry at them that they identify even more with the hero or heroine. These flaws can’t be just any old flaw or your ...
10 Requirements for Writing a Publishable Novel by DesdemonaDeBlake, literature
Literature
10 Requirements for Writing a Publishable Novel
PLEASE NOTE THAT WHILE THIS PAGE WILL REMAIN ACTIVE FOR PURPOSES OF EDUCATION AND RECORDS, IT IS OUTDATED. CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE NEWEST VERSION. 10 Requirements for Writing a Publishable Novel Today, I would like to announce a project that I hope all of you will be as excited to be a part of as I am. As you all know, my writing guides and tutorials have been rather random, as I was still testing the waters of the internet. I wanted to know if anyone could possibly be interested in what I had to say about the craft of writing, and I was overjoyed to see all of your enthusiasm. And so, I would like to announce that I will be shiftin...
Writing Chapters Tutorial v.2 by TahBayEss, literature
Literature
Writing Chapters Tutorial v.2
DaGrblz's Process to Writing Chapters version 2 Step 1 : Plot Planning
Make a sort of timeline for your whole story.
-Draw a line across a paper
-Start the first entry at the very beginning, but write tiny and sideways, so there is room for every event on your timeline.
-This timeline gives general ideas of what will happen in the story.
-Now go back and mark the events of bigger importance and/or indicates a time skip/flashback in the story.
-This organizes my thoughts of where to begin and end a chapter. Step 2 : Chapter Planning
Write out the specific events of the chapter you are about to write.
-Get a piece of notebook paper and writ...
Knowing Your Character by WarriorLoverInc, literature
Literature
Knowing Your Character
In a storywhether it be told on stage, on screen, or in printknowing your main characters inside and out helps create a well rounded and interesting plot. It also makes writing them easier too. In this guide, a companion to To Create a Character , I'll attempt to help put skin and flesh on the bare bones of a character, to create "character," and to discover things about them that youthe creatornever knew. Exercise 1: Interviews One of my favorite ways to get to know my character is to interview them as one would a celebrity. The interview can be general, just asking about their life, likes, pet peeves, etc. or it can be prior to or ...
Describing an Action by dark-sheikah, literature
Literature
Describing an Action
Ways to Say It "He opened the door." He burst into the room.
He felt the door give way.
He watched his own hands struggle against the door as they pushed it open.
He saw a group of people pan into view as the door eased open.
He couldn't remember pushing his way through the door after he had stumbled into the room.
He was barely aware of himself opening the door.
He couldn't stop himself from nudging the door open.
He might as well wear a friendly countenance now that he was opening the door.
The door opened.
The door swung open.
The door was opening.
The door was being opened.
The door creaked when he pushed it open.
The door led him into...
Character Creation Tips by illuminara, literature
Literature
Character Creation Tips
Note: I wrote this after reading a similar article in The Writer magazine about a year ago. Hope it's helpful!Not all characters are created equal. Here are some steps to make yours superior.1) DesireFigure out what your character wants, needs, desires . A closer relationship with God? A place to belong? Just to survive? Figure it out. You cant move on to number 2 until you have.2) FearNow that you know what your character most desires, you should be able to figure out what he/she most fears. Doing the wrong thing, being alone, death? They are the polar opposites of your characters desires.3) HistoryGo back in time to before ...
Story Writing for BEGINNERS by OokamiKasumi, literature
Literature
Story Writing for BEGINNERS
-----Original Message-----
I want to write a story. I have a couple of ideas, but no idea what to do with them, or even how to begin! Help?! -- Newbie WriterSo when you wanna write a story, where do you begin? With your PASSION! Write what you KNOW & LOVE What do you KNOW, really? What do you love to Do, to Study, to Think About, to Talk About...? Whether it's cave-diving, model trains, skate-boarding, sewing, horses, mythology, ghost legends, or particle physics your passion is where you will find your most unique and powerful work.Make a list of all the things you know well and all the things you've done -- seriously! Mythology, histo...
How to Introduce a Character by Princess-Kay, literature
Literature
How to Introduce a Character
The classical Movie Introduction Sometimes, you get a hero. Not over time, but right at the start this is your hero. He's confident, he's suave, and he always packs his shaving cream. Somehow he always manages to get that beard just right, despite the fact that you've never seen him trim. Everything about him is admirable, and you just wanna follow him like a little puppy dog because that's how AWESOME he is.
it might work, but you still shouldn't do it. It's one thing for movies, where you can simply follow someone's action across the screens. In books, you want the closeness that only seeing the character fall on their face time time...
