best writing advice I can recall

[hutchynstarsk]

I'm sure I've actually received a lot of helpful writing advice that was amazing and helped me a lot, but my memory could be better, and, well, this is the best advice I can recall at the time.

Comments

[murphybabe]

I've been away for a while and I'm only just catching up on posts, so I am skipping some :(

This one was really interesting though, and very useful advice. I'm sure when I was writing for the Big Bang last year there was some advice quoted that said - I think - that you should never really like your own writing, because you were probably biased. I think this is rubbish! If you don't like your own stuff then who the heck will? I understand about having doubts about it, and about finding some bits harder to write than others.

But am I wrong, do you think? Do you like what you've written? I'm glad you were pleased with how the difficult scenes worked out (I don't know which they were, I just know that I liked the whole thing *g* ) but on the whole, you do like your own writing... don't you?

*iz confused*

[hutchynstarsk]

I didn't read that advice, or else I don't remember it, but my guess is the person meant that you'll have a lot of doubts and can't always listen to them. There have been times on most of my stories where I've hated them, felt they were stupid, and wanted to stab them with a fork. But, it usually just meant I was stuck and needed to take a step back so I'd be able to figure out what to do next.

To answer your question, Yes I like my stories, or I wouldn't write them. :D I have those doubts, and sometimes after a year or two have passed, I end up cringing a little bit because I'm a different person now and sometimes I think "Oh, that could be written so much more clearly/skillfully/etc.!" But I love all my stories, really. :) They're sort of my 'babies!' I guess people aren't really supposed to admit that--but--they are! ;)

*edit*
Oh...ooops...and THANK YOU! :)

[moonlightmead]

Only if I'm bored by a scene do I get to skip it.
Heh. I think this is sensible advice. I've seen a similar version along the lines of: write what you want to read, and don't write the bits you don't want to read. That's slightly different, with the emphasis on reading rather than writing, but I think it's the same idea.

[hutchynstarsk]

Yeah, I think it's sort of the same thing but just expressed differently enough that I found the one advice really 'clicked' for me. Because honestly, I like to read all kinds of stuff and sometimes it varies from day to day...but I guess they weren't talking about genres, right?

[lillianorchid]

This is quite interesting advice as when I write drafts of stories I always write the scenes that I would love to read first and then If I feel it needs more I'll add them later. I may have to try skipping the bits that may be seen as boring and see how it works. :D Thank you for posting about this.

[hutchynstarsk]

I hope it works for you! I don't know if it's universally applicable but it sure seems to hold a lot of possibilities. I keep trying to use it myself and it seems like a great plan.

[provencepuss]

this is good advice but I would add - Only if I'm bored by a scene do I get to skip it; or do I move to another scene and see if the one that bored me will fit? this is why I never publish WIP - because whole chapters can change their place in a story as i go along.

A good friend said this What's important is that you write, not what you write. The latter follows. and I think that is what I meant above. If you carry on writing it either works itself out or proves that you need to get rid of the bit that bored you. that friend's advice has taken me off on other written journeys - and those have helped me kick-start a story that has been on the boards for over 6 years now; the skeleton is unchanged but the flesh and the clothes are in constant revision. to me that is what creative writing is all about.

[hutchynstarsk]

I think you're definitely right. And I don't publish WIP either--it's too much pressure! :)

I hope your older story really takes off for you! :)

[franciskerst]

So right! I was delayed for months because of that...and came to the same conclusion eventually. Must precise I cannot compare my meager works to those of real writers but I can confirm this is true, even for me.

[hutchynstarsk]

That's awesome it's true for you! And yeah, I also can't say what works for me works for everybody, and I don't even try to do what "real" writers do or follow all the advice. (Outlines? They don't help me at all!) But it's pretty cool when I do find something that works for me personally...that's what I was trying to say! :)