So, ive been reading your fanfics for a while, and i wanna start writing my own!! Do you have any tips/tricks/advice for me???
Keep in mind Iām not the best with advice. Feel free to use or ignore any of these. I have not studied how to write. I just took the normal classes in high school and kinda looked around the internet for some stuff. Iām not claiming to know how to write the best, so please understand that before reading. Iām just going to say things that have helped me (or things that havenāt helped me). Please let that be a warning before we begin.Ā
Write a lot. Practice practice practice! The best way to get better is to write!
Also, reading helps too. Read a lot and read different types of things. It will help out by giving your story some diversity compared to other stories.Ā
Donāt post your first draft. Always edit if you want it to come out better. Rarely does someone write the perfect chapter without going back and editing a single thing. I like to do a read through for editing, then a separate one for proofreading. You donāt have to do two, but at least go back and edit once. It will help.Ā
Rewriting your chapter. Itās a pain in the ass and takes longer, but when you rewrite a chapter itās usually better. Always save a copy of your original version in case you decide you wanted the first scene more, that way you donāt have to try to figure out what you put in the beginning. Iāve rewritten chapters before and theyāve always turned out better and longer. I put more details in and saw where some parts were lacking. Plus it helps with making sure the chapter flows.Ā
Flowing. Make sure your chapter comes across fluidly and not choppy. Make sure the scenes blend well together and if youāre going to cut to another scene please remember to put in a line break. Itās very confusing to read a story and it skip to another scene with no warning. One minute they were in the hot tub then the next theyāre waiting in line at the movie theater? Doesnāt flow well. Make sure when youāre editing that it goes well together.Ā
If youāre bored with it, chances are your readers are going to be bored with it. I know some scenes are more tedious to write than others and you want to just skip to the good parts but you need to put in certain information before you get to those parts. Sometimes Iāll write the better parts, then go back and try to make it connect. (flowing) The best thing to do is just summarize that part and move on, and then when youāre editing it make it jazzier. Just make the scene more interesting by either cutting it shorter so you donāt lose the readerās attention or change the scene toā¦ well, make it more interesting? Iām sorry if thatās not helpful. When I have to write a dull part where I need to add information I try to find a way to present the information in a more entertaining way.Ā
Donāt rely too much on dialogue. What I mean by that is when itās talking about a major part of the story, try to foreshadow up to that part and add non-dialogue scenes that reveal pieces of it. For example, in one of my stories I have the main character suffering from trauma he experienced when he was sexually assaulted. I started with small details like he would tense when someone touched his shoulder, or he didnāt want to be touched. Of course when it came to actually revealing about it it was in dialogue, but by that point there were so many clues that not a lot of people were surprised by what happened, but still surprised enough with how it came to be.Ā
Adverbs. Iāve had people tell me Iām using too many adverbs, and yeah, I can see that. Sometimes you can replace that word with a strong verb, but sometimes you canāt. Itās okay to have adverbs, just try not to have too much. Like, Iāve usedĀ āhe shrugged nonchalantly.ā Technically (adverb haha) shrugging is already pretty nonchalant. I didnāt need to add that last part. Another example would beĀ āhe said softlyā. I can replace that withĀ āhe whisperedā. However, sometimes thereās not a way to get rid of that adverb without making your sentence too long and too clunky. I think itās impossible to get rid of all adverbs, but that might just be me. If someoneās able to write an interesting story with using absolutely (adverb haha) none, more power to them. Thatās not me. Iāve heard the goal is to have 5 or so percent of your story be adverbs and no more. If you can get down to that, great. If not, donāt beat yourself up. As long as you donāt use them too loosely (adverb haha) I think itāll be okay.Ā
Try not to use the same verb in one sentence/paragraph more than once. If I used the wordĀ ālookā, Iām going to try to use another word when I need to sayĀ ālookā again. Iāll use words like searched, glanced, eyes flitted, etc. Iām not saying itāll be bad if you use the same verb more than once, but for me, it breaks me out of the story when I see the same verb being used too much.Ā
Show not tell. This is a tricky one, because sometimes itās better to just tell us instead of show us. I usually (adverb haha) turn someĀ ātellsā intoĀ āshowsā when Iām in the editing phase. Showing is better for your imagination, but if youĀ āshowā us too much it might just be a lot of details that you donāt need. Iām still trying to find the happy medium for this concept, but thereās a lot of advice out there for how to show and not tell, or when itās the best time to use either.Ā
Details. Okay, so this is more of a personal opinion of mine. I donāt care too much about what someone wears or what their house looks like, etc. Itās good to get a vague idea if itās needed, but if itās not, donāt bother with it. I donāt need to know what the character is wearing every single chapter/day. As long as theyāre wearing clothes Iām good. If itās specific to the plot thatās another story, but if the character is just going grocery shopping I donāt need to know that she wore her American Eagle jeans and brought her Coach purse and wore her Oakley sunglasses. I also donāt need details like that either unless it needs to be said. Honestly? I kinda zone out if thereās too much detail about a room/weather/clothes, etc. I donāt need a lot of details because then I have to think too much while reading and I get stuck on those parts trying to imagine it and it limits what I can freely (adverb haha) imagine in my head. Like if I said she was wearing a black dress and ended it there, you can imagine it however you want. I can add some details of course, like it was above the knee or strapless, maybe even that it had lace, but I personally (adverb haha) donāt care about every detail of the dress because I just want to read the story.Ā
When editing, I suggest this simple trick. Change the size and font of your chapter, then go through and edit it. Youāll be more focused on trying to read it because your brain wonāt be able to skip right over stuff even though you know whatās going to happen next. Iāve caught so many mistakes this way, most of them being simple ones too. I always write inĀ āCalibriā sizeĀ ā11ā², but when I edit and proofread I doĀ āTimes New Romanā and sizeĀ ā13ā². Itās easy and it helps.Ā Ā
Please please please use proper punctuation and capitalization. I know some people like to write their entire story/chapter in lower case, but itās a pain (for me) to read. Some people may love that, but I would much rather read something where everythingās how itās supposed to be. If you want to write in lower case, have at it. Itās your story, and thatās your choice. Iām just saying I wouldnāt suggest it.Ā
Let your readers know if you accept constructive criticism or not. I do, and I let people know that I do. Some people donāt, and thatās fine. Just make sure you make a note of it so no one tries to give you suggestions. Honestly, (adverb haha) itās probably (adverb haha- Okay, thatās the last one Iāll point out, just wanted to show how often adverbs get used.) going to happen anyways. Some people donāt listen or donāt even read authorās notes, so if it happens then ignore it unless you decide you want to give what they said a shot.Ā
If you do take constructive criticism, know that you donāt have to listen to all of it. Itās good to think about every suggestion, but you arenāt obligated to follow it. Iāve had people tell me the pacing is too fast or too slow, and Iāll think about it, but then Iāll decide for myself what I think. (Or Iāll ask a trusted friend what their opinion is and go from there) Some advice you get will hinder your writing, but some will enhance it. If you get a beta thatās cool too. But realize that if you go that route youāll be working with their schedule too, so keep that in mind before getting a beta.Ā
Speaking of schedules, I do not suggest making an updating schedule. Iāve had countless people ask me what my updating schedule is, but itās not gonna make me change my mind. Making an updating schedule adds stress. Some stress is good, but too much is damaging. If you already have a decent amount of chapters stored up then first of all, good for you, second of all, then itās okay to make a short updating schedule. Like say,Ā āIāll be updating every Saturday for five weeks, then weāll see how it goesā or something like that, but donāt commit to an updating schedule unless you want the added stress. As a reader I would love if every story had an updating schedule and stuck with it, but as a writer I know how hard that is. The only times Iāve ever been able to keep up with an updating schedule is when I wrote the story in advance and had it finished before I even posted chapter one. Thatās the only time for me. If youāre able to make an updating schedule and stick with it then you deserve a lot of kudos! I canāt do it, so I donāt suggest it, but if youāre up to the challenge then by all means, go for it. Itās your story after all.Ā
Setting goals. Setting goals is a powerful tool to use. It can help you stay on track and you can feel better when you meet those goals, but also remember not to beat yourself up if you donāt make it. Your goals donāt define you. Sometimes we meet the goals on time, sometimes we finish them early, and sometimes weāre days/weeks/months/years late. Thatās okay. Itās not a race. Just because you donāt make a goal doesnāt mean itās the end of the world. Just take a moment to reflect on it, then get right back to it. I havenāt reached a lot of my goals when it comes to writing (and in real life) but that doesnāt mean Iām a failure. Just keep on moving forward, even if itās not at the pace youād like to see yourself at.Ā
Research. It can help so much! Make sure the source is good of course. Some websites are full of shit, but some are rich in knowledge. Iāve used the internet, real life experiences, and talking with people as research before. (I mean hell, I drank boiled rain water just to see how it would taste/feel like for a story) If youāre writing about mental hospitals, do a lot of research! If youāre writing about a couple having dinner at home and one of them is cooking and you say they put the raw 10lb ham in the oven then thirty minutes later it was done, thatās not gonna fly. Theyāre gonna get sick and then youāll have to write about their hospital visit. Make sure you do your research! It can help!
Trigger warnings. If your story has some triggering content, put a warning. Itās not fair to put a warning at the end of the chapter, after someoneās already read the chapter. I know it can spoil what happens, but come on! Some things need warnings. If thereās suicidal thoughts or any type of abuse, let us know in advance so we can either prepare ourselves or leave the story. Or sometimes the person will skim it to get past that part. Just put a warning. Itās better for everyone in the long run.Ā
Speaking of people leaving the story, let them go. If someone chooses they donāt want to read anymore, donāt try to guilt them into staying. We all have such a limited time in this life. Donāt force someone to keep reading if they really donāt want to. On the same note, if youāre reading a story and decide you donāt want to read it anymore, donāt tell the author, or if you do, be gentle about it. It can be discouraging to hear someone leaving, so be kind about it or donāt say anything at all, especially if you havenāt been commenting on the other chapters.Ā
Also, itās better to prepare for low feedback. That way if you get a lot itās great, but if itās a little itās not as bad. I say that, but even I donāt 100% believe that. Iāve had some stories get less feedback than others and it is discouraging. Thereās really no way around that, at least that Iāve found. I like to ask questions at the end of my chapters to engage the readers and hopefully get more responses, orā¦ you could use cliffhangers. As a reader, I hate getting to cliffhangers, especially if the next chapter isnāt posted yet, but hey, itās a good way to get reviews. Another thing Iāve noticed (not saying you have to do it at all, just something Iāve observed while posting) I get more reviews for angstier chapters than fluffy ones. Dunno if thereās a pattern there, but itās something Iāve seen. Not suggesting you should write angsty stuff if you donāt want to, just mentioning it. Thought it was kinda funny, everyone kept demanding more fluff, then when I gave it to them half the people stopped reviewing?Ā
Dialogue! Now, this is tricky. You donāt want person A and person B to sound the same, so you need to give them some personality. For my characters that like literature more, Iāll have them say stuff like,Ā āI should have gone sooner before they closed.ā Or Iāll shorthand it and have them say,Ā āI shouldāve gone sooner before they closed.ā But for characters that are more laid back, Iāll do stuff like,Ā āMan, I shoulda gone before they closed.ā Or someone sayingĀ āKindaā and another person sayingĀ āKind ofā. I observe how people talk and try to mimic that. Also, not every sentence has to be full. Sometimes in real life Iāll say stuff like,Ā āTired. Been working more hours than normal.ā Thatās more realistic than me saying,Ā āIām tired. Iāve been working more hours than normal.ā Now, for some people the second one is realistic, for me itās the first option. Know your characters and how they speak, itāll help out a lot.Ā
Also, observe people in general. You can draw inspiration from normal conversations around you. You can also pick up certain mannerisms. Little details likeĀ āHe played with the ends of his scarf when he was nervousā or āHis fist clenched as he listened to what she had to sayā. Just small things like that help set a scene without adding too much detail. Plus, it helps break up dialogue. Too much dialogue without anything else happening can be bland. Also, too much narrative without any action/dialogue can be bland too. Itās all about finding that happy balance.Ā
Iāve heard that thereās no such thing as writerās block, and I kinda believe it. The theory was if you hit a writerās block what you actually did was write yourself into a corner that you canāt get out of. To fix it you need to go back and change the path. This could be going back a few sentences or paragraphs, sometimes half or more of a chapter. I hate to admit it, but when I hit a writerās block I try that trick and it helps. I end up changing the path of the scene and it works out better. Iāve had to sacrifice so many words/time because of it, but hey, I progressed the story in the end, so thatās something. If you can work past that writerās block without changing the path, thatās awesome, Iām just saying whatās worked for me before.Ā
Donāt update too often. I know that might sound weird, but itās helpful. Give your readers time to build up anticipation, let them think about what they read and process it. It will also give more people time to review. Too often Iāve seen people read through all the chapters and only review the most current chapter. I understand why people do it, but it would be awesome if they reviewed every chapter. Iām not saying they have to, but I am saying you have better odds of getting more reviews if you wait a little bit before posting. Itāll also give you more time to work on the next chapter after that to build up a little stockpile of chapters. If you can help it, try not to update within a week. I think a week is a good amount of time to wait between chapters if you already have the next one finished.Ā
On that same note, donāt feel bad if itās been longer since your last update. Real life happens. Sometimes documents get deleted on accident, sometimes you get scheduled more often at work and canāt write as much, or sometimes something happens that takes up all of your time. Donāt feel bad about not updating as often as you wanted to. Sure your readers will want an update, some might even demand one, but itās your story and your life. Take care of yourself before attending to your readerās needs. Real life comes first, you come first. End of story. Most websites have aĀ āfollow storyā option or something like it. If they want to read that badly theyāll subscribe or follow and wait for the updates. I know some people donāt have accounts, but if theyāre interested in your story enough theyāll check on it periodically to see if thereās an update. Just focus on you first before your story/readers.
Write based on experiences. If youāve hurt from laughing so hard, draw off those experiences if youāre making a character do that. If youāve cried yourself to sleep, write based on that. Emotions are powerful things and sometimes hard to nail down, but if you write off your own emotions it can bring a scene to life. So next time youāre exhausted after a long day at work, thing about how your muscles feel, how your mind feels. Next time you hear/see something confusing, think about how your face changes. You can also write off other peopleās experiences too. That goes along with the wholeĀ āobserve peopleā thing. Just write how it would feel, and it should start coming together better.Ā
Hereās something that helps. Wait a few days after finishing a chapter before editing it. It will give you time to forget some parts of your story and help you read it with fresher eyes. You can catch more mistakes that way and see how it would flow better if you change some scenes around. I use that trick and it definitely helps.Ā
Find a good place to write. My best writing happens when Iām on the couch, surrounded by throw blankets with two or more waters ready on my end table. Yours might be different, but whatever it is, try to find the best way for your to write. I personally canāt have any noise going on, some people have playlists they use for certain stories. Whatever works for you, do it!
Thereās so much writing advice out there, I feel like I havenāt even scratched the surface. Thereās stuff on keeping a character in character, how to write well developed relationships, how to build suspense, so much stuff. I have a sideblog where I reblog writing advice. Some helps, some I keep around just in case one day I could use it. Itās @fairytailandchill if you wanna check it out. Thereās not a lot there, but itās something to start with.Ā
If anyone else knows a helpful trick, please mention it. Once again, I donāt claim to know all. I can only tell you what has and hasnāt worked for me. I can tell you the best advice though.Ā
Have fun. Writing shouldnāt feel like a chore or homework. Itās something we do for fun. Sometimes we have to take a step back when itās becoming too stressful, and thatās okay. Just make sure youāre having fun while youāre writing. Itās the best way to keep writing. Thank you for your ask. I hope this was helpful. :) Congratulations on wanting to write! I sincerely hope it makes you happy!
(Also, sorry if thereās any typos in here. Iām ironically not going to proofread this because Iām tired as fuck and need to go proofread my actual story lol)
