Thought of the day... writing

Mar 25, 2009 10:42

Fiction is movement... description is static

2009 writing tips

Leave a comment

Comments 10

jgracio March 25 2009, 15:08:09 UTC
Have you read Stephen King's On Writing?

Think that's the name.

Reply

married_n_mich March 25 2009, 21:38:49 UTC
No. I haven't read him. I was reading an older book on fiction writing... from 1992!

Is King's good?

Reply

jgracio March 26 2009, 00:11:39 UTC
Well, I liked it.

It's not just a writing book, there's a lot about King's life there too, but I found the sections about writing to be really good.

He gives advice on things like setting the scene, character building, language, all those things you'd expect.

What I didn't expect was some other advice, that I found counter intuitive, but that made sense.

Like pruning your work, pretty much. After a story is done, when you're no longer so attached to it (he recommends working on something else to put that story out of your mind), go back to it, and remove every single unnecessary word.

Rewriting after it's done so you strengthen subtext.

Fun stuff. Read it several years ago, and I could understand how King is such a successful writer, he combines being a good storyteller with good technique.

Reply

married_n_mich March 26 2009, 01:30:01 UTC
Rewrites are a pain. I have a finished original fic that needs to be rewritten. Pretty sure I have been sitting on it for two years or more by now.

I might need to check out King's book. I'm always looking for good advice. Thanks!

Reply


Leave a comment

Up