Your Personal Beta Writer

She/Her, 18 - I’m a creative writing student that has been working on my own style and technique for a couple years now. Writing is my passion, and I will be posting all the tips I’ve learned/figured out over the years here. Feel free to message me samples of writing if you want me to edit anything or just give feedback. I’m here to help y’all!

[editingmadness]

Writing Tip:

This is something that I’ve been doing for myself lately, and I find it incredibly helpful...

Create a list of words not to use.

Not curse words, not slurs, not words that are just generally unpleasant, no- Go through your own works and see if you can spot words that jump out as overused in your writing. 

The curse of redundancy befalls the best of us, especially those who have grown up with a thesaurus by our side and the hubris of being considered a young writer. Fancy, eye-catching words are excellent, but if you use the same ones too much in your writing they become just as flat as any kindergarten adjective. 

Of course, most articles, prepositions, and conjunctions can generally be dismissed here, but everything else is fair game. Comb through your writing and find the words that you like a little too much. Then, make a list of them.

Here’s mine:

Elicited Flashes Haze Soak Looms Streaks Shards Jarring Engulfs Familiar Sheer

These are words that I am more likely to overuse, so to keep it simple I have decided to avoid them 99% of the time. 

Everyone’s list will be different, and of course this does not at all mean you can no longer use these words. But I find it helps to know the habits you’re likely to slip into. Mixing up word choice is crucial for any piece of writing, and hopefully having a list of words to replace will help boost the overall aesthetic of your writing. 

Until next time...

Go forth and write, my darlings!!

[editingmadness]

Writing Tip:

Learn. Your. Working. Cycles.

While you write, and while you explore the artistic side of yourself, always be sure to keep an eye on when (and under what conditions) you work best. Everyone is different, and there’s really nothing online or in a book that can dictate how and when you will create best. Do you notice that you write better on a full stomach? With specific music? Late at night after everyone is asleep? Acknowledge all of these and take advantage of them. The great thing about being a writer is that you get to make your own schedule, so don’t be afraid to mess around with it until you find what suits you best.

Additionally, if you are just getting into writing and need suggestions on how to improve your process and concentration, here are some practices that tend to work for most people:

- Writing in the morning (your brain is more alert, you feel less exhaustion, and you are not consumed by other thoughts and distractions)

- Listening to familiar, wordless, or foreign songs (music with lyrics that you don’t have memorized can make it really difficult to write, so listening to music that you already know, can’t understand, or don’t need to think about can be an immense help.)

- If you like to write by hand, have a specific pencil that is only for writing (this creates an almost-pavlov’s-dog-like effect in your brain that signals it’s time to write every time you pick up said pencil.)

I hope this helps! Until next time...

Go forth and write, my darlings!!

[editingmadness]

Writing Tip:

(Honestly this is true for any art)

If you are working on a project and you are about to finish it, always wait before submitting. If possible, leave the finished work overnight and come back fresh in the morning, just to make sure you didn’t miss anything in the haze of creation. If you don’t have overnight, give it an hour. 20 minutes even. Let your brain rest between completing the bulk of the final draft and submission. This way you are more likely to catch tiny mistakes and walk away more satisfied with your work.

[editingmadness]

Ranking Y/A Series in Order of How Much I Love the Writing (Part 1)

(This ranking is just in my opinion and in terms of young writers gaining inspiration! I love all of these series and believe all of the authors are talented people. This is just to rank how much the writing stands out as so much more than just a dynamic story.)

10. Twilight - Yeah... this is the only series I on this list that I actually don’t like. There’s nothing inherently wrong with it, and I actually have no problem with the romance/angst aspect, the writing just doesn’t do it for me. The books are filled with cliches, repetition, questionable messages, and some honestly disturbing imagery. It’s a fun series if you’re into that sort of thing but I just can’t get on board. 

9. Divergent - I LOVE the divergent series. I know the trilogy gets a lot of shade for being so similar to the Hunger Games, but I honestly don’t see it. When you look at the grand scheme of Dystopian Literature, with books like The Giver, Fahrenheit 451, and The Maze Runner, it’s pretty easy to see that all books in that genre have a lot of similar elements, and play off each other as humanity’s views of the future grow and change. I don’t believe that The Hunger Games and Divergent both utilizing a faction system (something that is really a play on the divisions that already face society today), is a mark against either book. However, the writing in Divergent simply doesn’t stand out, and I think the grand reveal in Allegiant could have been handled way better. The characters are great, though sometimes underutilized, and I like the world-building up until book 3, when it sort of caves in on itself as the result of a convoluted plot twist. Overall, a great series, but far from remarkable writing-wise.

8. The Heroes of Olympus - I decided to separate HoO from PJO because I feel the writing is dramatically different in each, mainly due to the shift from first-person to third. And admittedly, I like the 3rd person less. I think it relents some of the humor that the original series contained and puts more emphasis on the setting and character interactions, which is fine, just personally I found it less entertaining. However, this is still a great series that I read and reread to this day, and the personalities of the characters remain as stellar as always and the highlight of the series.

7. A Wrinkle In Time - This series is truly something special. It contains a poetry that’s can be hard to find in Y/A novels, and everything from the word choice to the dialogue to the message are just flawless. I remember being so entranced by the series the first time I read it, and scenes appeared so vivid in my mind that I still think of them almost every day years later. Now, it reminds me of something written by Tom Robbins. The only reason the series is not higher on this list is that I found it to be, in certain parts, a bit convoluted (especially for a Y/A series), and I also was simply less entertained by it than almost every other mention on this list. Whether that was due to it’s lack of humor, satirical nature that I didn’t appreciate when I read it as a child, or the fact that it doesn’t have a major fandom to get invested in, I'm not sure. However, it’s still a great series that I highly recommend everyone to read. 

6. Percy Jackson - And now, we reach the OG. Percy Jackson remains my favorite (Y/A) series to this day and I could not be more excited for the release of the Disney+ TV show. The humor, the characters, the greek references, the easy-to-understand history lessons, the relatability of Percy as a main character... all just magnificent to read and hold up even more with each reread. I love Percy’s sarcastic inner dialogue, which is so familiar if you are reading the series for the first time as a quirky 10-12 year old with a big imagination, as most of us probably did. I ranked PJO in 6th not because there is anything wrong with the writing, but because compared to the series in the top 5, it’s simply less poetic and mesmerizing in prose. The books, while entertaining, do not contain the same understated genius as a couple others and I don’t find them particularly inspiring, in terms of making me want to write while reading. Still, I absolutely adore Percy Jackson and will forever applaud Rick Riordan for the masterpiece that he has given us.

Part 2 Coming Soon!

[editingmadness]

Writing Reminder

Rules: There are none.

I didn't feel like this qualified as a tip since most writers already know this, but it remains a valid subject to rememer - there are no rules you have to follow in creative writing! Prose comes in many forms, there's no reason to use the same format on a story, a poem, a piece of writing that's completely yours and completely free, that you would on an MLA essay. This includes everything...

- If you want, go!!! nuts!!! on!!! the!!! punctuation!!!! Definitely not in a manner that is disctracting to the reader, but if you feel like making the worlds longest sentence, held together by a million commas and sheer willpower? Go for it!

- Make up words! (a personal favorite of mine). Is the word Yeckter in the dictionary? Heck no, but I bet you already have an idea what it could maybe represent in your head.

- Make words in a paragraph rhyme! Combining poetry and speech? Why not? It can add a nice beat to the scene and elicit feelings the reader didn't expect.

- Mess around with the page format. Include chapter titles, paragraph titles, times of the day, asterics, anything you want! Utilizing anything you desire to inject background and structure into a scene/setting can not only help a reader's understanding, but be pretty hilarious to read!

- Sentence. Fragments. Are. Okay. Make a sentence as short as you want. Even shorter. As humans, we don't talk or think in complete sentences, so why should we, as writers, be forced to write in them? Mix it up a little!

There are so many more ways to break the rules, to test the boundaries of what you can and can't do as a writer (spoiler alert: anything you want), but these are just a couple ideas to help get you started. And until next time...

Go forth and write, my darlings!

[editingmadness]

Stages of Writing and What Advice You Most Need

Beginning Writer (Started writing recently, learning the ropes, writing for fun):

- Stop describing each character’s exact looks and outfit in one paragraph. At the very least, break it up a bit. The best method is to include that information A) when it’s relevant to the plot in a specific way, or B) another character is taking specific notice of it. I know it’s fun, but trust me, it comes off as super unnecessary to the reader.

- Start a new paragraph every time a character speaks. This is non-debatable. 

- Triple check your work for changes in tense. This is extremely common among beginning writers, but not only is it structurally incorrect, its EXTREMELY jarring to a reader. 

- Decide on a perspective when you start out and Stick. To. It. I know this seems like a given, but it even includes things like writing in a third person perspective and using the work “you” in a non-dialogue sentence. 

Experienced Writer (Been writing for a while, probably a lot of fanfiction/short stories, needs polishing):

- Take extra care to not use the same word/name too much in the same sentence, unless it is for emphasis (ie: She walked slowly, talked slowly, moved through life slowly, and around her, the world rushed by.) This includes paragraphs as well. Pro tip: If I’m reading a sentence and I can SEE the same word (especially nouns) in my direct line of vision in the sentence above, change it. 

- Start relying less and less on adverbs. 

- Read less. Write more. 

- Practice writing different types of stories. I don’t mean that you have to keep switching genres entirely, I just mean: practice writing people eating, people dancing, write smut if you’ve never tried it, write a death scene, write a wedding. Write different scenes and different viewpoints so that when the time comes for you to write something big and long and epic, you have the arsenal to make every scene equally engaging.

- Start using a trusted beta writer! They help so much and are good practice for presenting your work to editors and critics. 

Advanced Writer (Writing is a passion, perhaps working on a novel or serious work, want to share their projects):

- Read MORE. Probably more than you think you should, and definitely more than you are. Don’t let your writing consume you for too long, or you’ll get stuck in a rut.

- Keep Chekov’s Gun in mind at all times, of course, but begin thinking of different ways to connect everything back to the main story. Small details or side-scenes that seem unimportant at first but ultimately help paint the bigger picture are often the best part of a story.

- Tap into your senses - it makes a scene so much more vivid if we can imagine what the character is smelling, hearing, even tasting. There are more ways to perceive the world than through sight.

- I’m certain you’ve heard the rule about showing instead of telling, but remember to include this in everything- from a character’s inner dialogue to the way they interact with others. Really try to not TELL the audience almost ANYTHING. Show it all.

- Don’t be afraid of second drafts. Or third. The best part about being a writer is that you can edit and fix and revise and clean up until it’s perfect, but this only matters if you take advantage of it!

- Remember why you started writing in the first place- remember that it’s meant to be fun, exciting, and relaxing. You make your own rules here, and don’t let anything or anyone tell you otherwise. I know it can be hard to stay motivated, but remember that writing is just a way of sharing a fun story with others, and is in no way required to be perfect, structured, or conforming to any standard.

Hope this helps all you writers out there! And for now... go forth and write, my darlings!

[editingmadness]

Best Books/Series to Read as a Developing Writer

These are some of the books that helped me find my voice growing up! They’re pretty unconventional, not the classics that everyone suggests (which are also great), but I hope they can help some of you. (Also they’re all just great reads, too.)

- The Ocean at the End of The Land (Neil Gaiman) 

Neil Gaiman’s style is so simple, yet elegant, and has a poetic whimsy to it that I have not found in anyone else’s work. His ability to make me believe and hang onto every word of every page is astounding, and the Ocean at the End of the Lane is a perfect example. It takes a strange and difficult transition from a lighthearted story about a little boy and his family to a dark and truly terrifying fantasy adventure and makes it seamless. 

- The Water Curse (Sophie Mackintosh)

A slightly different style than most of the other books that inspire me, this one is deep, detailed, and extremely complex. It goes full out on the details on every scene, and really immerses you in the story. Definitely good for writers wanting to see twisted storylines and intense description in action.

- The Princess Bride (William Goldman)

 If there was ever a book where you could just tell that the author was enjoying the writing process, this is it. Everything about this book, from the descriptions to the characters to the humor is absolutely perfect, and even the way William Goldman disguises the book inside of another, complete with a made-up personal anecdotes and a backstory.

- Warriors (Erin Hunter)

This may come as a bit of a surprise, given that Warriors is a children’s series most of us read in grade school. However, in all my years of writing and reading other (non-professional) writer’s works, I have noticed that the younger writers who HAVE read Warriors tend to have a better grasp on settings, descriptions, and movement in a story, while those that haven’t are still working on it. I credit this to the series’s consistent and unique style of articulating how, where, and why certain events are happening. The first thing I ever wrote was a Warriors fanfiction, and I’ll always remember the fun I had writing it and the immediate rush of excitement that emanating such a dynamic writing style gave me. 

- Good Omens (Neil Gaiman + Terry Pratchett)

I may have a bit of a bias toward Neil Gaiman, but as anyone who’s even heard of Good Omens will tell you, this story is a verifiable MASTERPIECE. Everything from the characters, to the humor, to the settings just feels so flawless and inspiring. The best takeaway from the book for me was the attention to detail throughout, which is not only breathtaking, but part of the reason why it translated onto screen so well. 

If you’ve read/enjoyed any of these books, let me know!!! And until then...

Go forth and write, my darlings!

[editingmadness]

Small Ways to Improve Your Writing/Editing Process!

- Write in Comic Sans (helps fight writer’s block)

- STOP. USING. EPITHETS. WHENEVER. POSSIBLE.

- Be sure your ratio of Names to Pronouns in a paragraph is roughly 1:3

- Rewrite the entire thing (Yup. Do it. You find so many edits.)

- It is more important to be definitive on the style, mood, and message of your story before starting than the actual plot

- Describing the exact clothing a character is wearing (when it’s not strictly plot-relevant) is more interesting to you than it is to the reader.

- Write fanfiction. Write poetry. Write smut. Write whatever you want. Who cares. Writing is writing.

- If you’re having trouble with a scene, write the dialogue first. It will act as an outline for the rest.

- thesaurus.com is your friend, but don’t let it take over your writing. Strong sentences can use simple words too.

[editingmadness]

Writing Opinion:

Adverbs, Adverbs, Adverbs

...

I don’t like them

I don’t like them at all. I’ve run my old English teacher’s ear off about them on multiple occasions, and pretty much everyone who knows me knows of my distaste.

Here’s the thing about adverbs: they are a crutch. In writing, there’s a certain strength you must harness to must harness to give your sentences power, to give them meaning. And often, especially in young writers, there is a tendency to use adverbs for this purpose.

The problem is, regardless of intent, this appears a bit cheap. A bit obvious. Especially when whatever the adverb is describing would be reasonable for the reader to just assume for themselves (A good note to remember in writing is to always trust the reader). For example, the sentence, “The moon reflected majestically off the water.” is redundant. We all think of the moon as majestic, there’s no need to over-emphasize it.

So. The solution. I’ve heard this out of everyone from amateur writers to Hemingway himself: Use a stronger verb. Or even better, a stronger verb phrase. Don’t spoon-feed your reader details in such an on-the-nose fashion. Instead, use a verb that paints the picture in their mind far more elegantly. Removing the adverbs allows yourself to rework the sentence, to make it flow better, or be more descriptive in a simpler fashion.

If we go back to the sentence:

The moon reflected elegantly off the water.

Sounds nice, sure. But we can do better:

The pale moon’s face glinted off the water.

Now, the sentence gives you the exact same information, but doesn’t rely on a meaningless opinion-based part of speech to do so. The pale moon is glinting off the water, and of course the reader will know that that is elegant, without you, as the author, having to say so. 

The only exception to this rule is if you are using the adverb as a contradictory description to what the reader would expect. For example, the sentence, “He grinned wickedly.” is an acceptable use of an adverb, as a grin is not reasonably assumed to be wicked. (Although personally I still believe that there are better ways to say this, that are more subtle, such as “He grinned, baring a set of glistening, knife-sharp teeth.”, but that’s just my writing style.)

Additionally, there are two adverbs that I do not have a problem with, and they are “personally” and “particularly”. The word particularly is a difficult one to avoid and both words are very good at getting to a point, description-wise, that is a bit hard to reach.

Anyway, that’s all, that’s just my opinion, and obviously all writing styles are different so take this with a grain of salt. But until next time...

Go forth and write, my darlings!!!

[editingmadness]

The Greatest Writing Tip I’ve Ever Uncovered

Having trouble with writer’s block? Take a moment to pause and ask yourself when the last time you read a book was. Most writers that I know (including myself) take a ton of motivation and inspiration from other, more talented authors. Read a book by an author you love or in a style you want to emanate, and I swear that is the best way to get back on track. 

[editingmadness]

Writing Tip: Characters

In writing, especially regarding any sort of fiction, characters are going to be one of the core elements in any story. They will be our guides through an unfamiliar world (or at least an unfamiliar adventure), and it is up to you as the author whether we are to root for or against them at any given point.

Thus, it is crucial that they be intriguing, dynamic, and well-fleshed out. No one likes a one-dimensional, half-assed character, especially if our setting is on Earth (lookin’ at you, Anastasia Steele). This is a trap that I see a lot of beginning writers, fanfiction authors in particular, falling into. Characters that are designed with the intent of being projected upon are fine for some stories (Again, especially fanfiction), but a lot of the time this results in people going overboard and making characters that are meant to carry a serious plot line out, nothing but, well... boring.

To combat this, I suggest creating a character profile for each character (or at least, the most important 5 or 6, if there are too many), that you can refer to throughout the story. My character profiles include this information:

- Physical Traits

- Postitive Personality Traits

- Negative Personality Traits (Extremely important and often overlooked)

- Information (Backstory, family, health info, etc.)

- Quirks/Habits (What sets them apart from the other characters?)

These five sections are pretty baseline for developing any character, but they are a great place to start. Of course, a characer’s personality (again, especially negative traits, as these are what creative conflict) is the most important thing, all of these are absolutely vital to flesh out BEFORE the writing process can begin.

The best reason for this to avoid another mistake that I see in a lot of amateur fiction, which is OVER-describing characters. Now, there’s nothing wrong with description, and it certainly can make a story more vibrant for the reader. Characters that act or dress strangely, have a certain sort of beauty to them, or have specific defining traits are fascinating to read about and these should absolutely be mentioned.

Problems arise when all the detail comes at once. Most people do not sit and admire every single feature of an acquaintance on their first meeting. Not only is this disruptive to the flow of a story and distracting to the reader (at BEST), but over-description typically leads to the story having this... feeling that it was only created with this one character in mind, most often the protagonist, who is usually the victim of overdescription. It gives a certain cheapness to the story and steals depth away from other characters/storylines.

The benefit of having all this information written down beforehand is to clear up what I like to call “Writer Brain”, which is a state of mind you go into as a writer where you feel you must write down every thought that comes to your head. That way, you won’t forget it. Because of Writer Brain, often a lot more content than is necessary finds its way into a story. Write everything down that you want to say about a character, and this frees up your mind to focus on what information is necessary to directly include in the story, and what the reader can reasonably deduce for themself.

In all of this, remember that a story is a story, not a character. No matter how interesting a character is, they should never overshadow the theme, plot, or message that you are trying to convey with whatever it is you are writing. The best example of avoiding this is bestselling author Neil Gaiman, who puts so much more emphasis on his plot than his characters in The Ocean at the End of the Lane that the main character is not given a name throughout the entire book. And guess what? You never notice. It’s not important. Because the story is what you’re invested in - THAT is what’s getting you to turn the pages.

Now, obviously everyone’s style is different and I know that I personally enjoy creating intriguing characters to love and describe. But just bear in mind that a story is a delicate balance between characters and their interactions and the situation at hand. Maintaining this balance takes practice, and little steps such as creating a character profile or understating the descriptions can make a massive difference.

That wraps up this Writer’s Tip. I will be doing a part 2 on this soon because I definitely have more to say, but until then... Go forth and write, my darlings!