Hello Again,
There is always that book that everyone hypes up and the story line is original and the characters are perfect; you expect the context of the writing to be too. Yet we often find ourselves disappointed in what I like to call 'Flat Writing'.
Flat writing is writing that lacks detail, variety and literary techniques. This is easily avoided by simple changes to your writing that don't take any effort to learn.
Sentence Length and starters: This is one pet hate of mine and yet is also a difficult to break habit: Starting every sentence with 'the'. An easy way to solve this is to try to never start a sentence with the same word in you're piece of work. This could be done by starting with a connective; pair of adjectives or even a verb or adverb. This will instantly change your writing for the better.
E.g.-
'The cat sat on the mat.'- Flat writing
'Meanwhile, the cat sat on the mat'- Starting with a connective.
'Poised and perfect, the cat sat on the mat'- Starting with a pair of adjectives
'Patiently waiting, the cat sat on the mat'- Starting with a adverb and verb.
This clearly makes a positive difference to the writing and makes for a more enjoyable read.
Sentence length also plays an important part by using simple and short sentences for tension and effect and longer, complex ones for detail and description.
Description-
Whilst too much detail can often also find the reader bored to tears but not enough can suddenly make your writing seem like a list.
Eg-
I went to school. It was great but it was warm.
Sound utterly boring doesn't it. This can be fixed so simply with detail such as adjectives, metaphors and similes.
Other ways of keeping your writing rich is to work out, if you cant describe it well enough, is it really worth writing about? does it hold significance? Does having that detail enrich your story in any way? If not. Seriously consider whether you add it.
That's all there is to really say on the matter, it's simple tweaks to your work that can make it of a lot higher standard which ultimately improves your writing completely.
Thank you for reading and I hope my tips help.
xo
Wednesday, 22 April 2015
Friday, 17 April 2015
How to: Develop a basic plot.
Hello,
Every story, whether it be a comic book or a play, has a plot. And a plot is the basis of your story, hence it needs to be the strength in your book. Whilst many say characters can equally be the most importt factor, Characters are emphasised by your plot.
Step One: Genre.
A Genre is the style of your story and this can play a vital role in how your story plans out. These are the top ten Genres of recent times. As most things, they come with sub genres which is where your imagination has free reign.
Top Ten:
Young Adult
Fantasy
Middle Grade
Literary Fiction
Thrillers/Suspense
Romance
Children's
Science Fiction
Women's Fiction
Historical
A Genre is the style of your story and this can play a vital role in how your story plans out. These are the top ten Genres of recent times. As most things, they come with sub genres which is where your imagination has free reign.
Top Ten:
Young Adult
Fantasy
Middle Grade
Literary Fiction
Thrillers/Suspense
Romance
Children's
Science Fiction
Women's Fiction
Historical
Step Two: The Plot Rollacoaster.
I remember in primary school when the teacher would ask you to plan your story you'd be given a mountain shaped planning sheet, with a climax at the top. As childish as it seems, for initial, unorganized ideas, I swear by this method.
I remember in primary school when the teacher would ask you to plan your story you'd be given a mountain shaped planning sheet, with a climax at the top. As childish as it seems, for initial, unorganized ideas, I swear by this method.
As You can see it starts wih a background, which is essentially your beginning where you set the 'scene' of your plot. This includes usually the setting and main characters unless you want your story to be totally ambiguous.
The next bit Is the rising action, this is where you start to build 'tension' or begin your conflicts between characters which will eventually lead to...The Climax.
Climax,Dilemma, problem. Whatever you're preference is the one rule when it comes to Climax is not to rush. This is probably the main aspect of your story and if you rush this, the rest of it becomes downgraded as a whole. By rushing I do not mean it cannot be a fast paced thriller-it can- I mean that you shouldn't leave the reader completely lost as you rushed your problem.
The Falling action, is much the opposite of the rising action, instead of building things up, things tend to fall apart, leading to the resolution.
Then for the dreaded...Ending. As many people know writing an ending is probably one of the hardest task as a writer as, much like Climax's it can be rushed and so for ruined. This is something to avoid at all costs as readers often expect a great ending and can often.be extremely disappointed if you finish with 'And it was all a dream'.
Quick Tips
Be Original.
Don't rush.
Plan.
Don't write a disappointing ending.
Sunday, 1 February 2015
How To: Characters.
Hello Again,
I believe a key factor for a good, enjoyable book is strong characters with strong personalities. You need someone or something that the reader can latch on to and relate to or a character of which the reader in some way loathes but can't help but love. You also have to make your characters believable. Do not be mistaken, believable doesn't mean realistic, you just have to make the characters fit. If you were writing a book about a posh boarding school for the upper class in the late 1800's it wouldn't fit if suddenly one of them was constantly on a mobile phone tweeting about first world problems. It has to fit, culturally and historically.
My second tip is to keep it simple. Try not to make your characters to complex, and stay true to the characters morals. If suddenly a good, well behaved student started burning down class rooms, without any explanation, the reader is going to be totally lost. This can often be avoided by build up. If a character gets jealous, don't just go have them sort out the problem straight away, display how the characters feelings 'build up' over time.
Another key factor for a good character is a good name. This is the thing the reader will most likely remember first. It is easy to forget names or get confused so a simple tip, is exactly that keep it simple. By simple I mean, try not to have characters with similar names such as Andrew and Andrea as it can become confusing for the reader at times especially when these characters converse with each other.
An easy way to think of new names is to use name generators and 'baby naming' websites.
Some good sites I would recommend:
http://www.namegenerator.biz/last-name-generator.php -Simply type in the first/last name of your character and scroll through the full names that are generated.
Another great site for first names is- http://www.whatalovelyname.com/ Where you choose a quality of your character say 'brave' and then a name with that meaning is then given.
Another simple way to create quirky and original names is to play around with other names but combining them or spelling them backwards such as:
Heaven-Nevaeh
Alyx-Xyla
Alyx and Nevaeh - Alyx-Nevaeh
It is really easy to create unique names that will make your characters memorable.
-Hunterosewrites
I believe a key factor for a good, enjoyable book is strong characters with strong personalities. You need someone or something that the reader can latch on to and relate to or a character of which the reader in some way loathes but can't help but love. You also have to make your characters believable. Do not be mistaken, believable doesn't mean realistic, you just have to make the characters fit. If you were writing a book about a posh boarding school for the upper class in the late 1800's it wouldn't fit if suddenly one of them was constantly on a mobile phone tweeting about first world problems. It has to fit, culturally and historically.
My second tip is to keep it simple. Try not to make your characters to complex, and stay true to the characters morals. If suddenly a good, well behaved student started burning down class rooms, without any explanation, the reader is going to be totally lost. This can often be avoided by build up. If a character gets jealous, don't just go have them sort out the problem straight away, display how the characters feelings 'build up' over time.
Another key factor for a good character is a good name. This is the thing the reader will most likely remember first. It is easy to forget names or get confused so a simple tip, is exactly that keep it simple. By simple I mean, try not to have characters with similar names such as Andrew and Andrea as it can become confusing for the reader at times especially when these characters converse with each other.
An easy way to think of new names is to use name generators and 'baby naming' websites.
Some good sites I would recommend:
http://www.namegenerator.biz/last-name-generator.php -Simply type in the first/last name of your character and scroll through the full names that are generated.
Another great site for first names is- http://www.whatalovelyname.com/ Where you choose a quality of your character say 'brave' and then a name with that meaning is then given.
Another simple way to create quirky and original names is to play around with other names but combining them or spelling them backwards such as:
Heaven-Nevaeh
Alyx-Xyla
Alyx and Nevaeh - Alyx-Nevaeh
It is really easy to create unique names that will make your characters memorable.
-Hunterosewrites
Saturday, 2 August 2014
Introduction.
Hey Guys,
So I believe that first impressions aren't the thing that defines you for life, but it does still help to make a good one. Every time you step into a new place, talk to a new person, it's an impression and probably what that place or person will remember you for, until you meet again. And I suppose it's the same on the internet.
My name is Hunter Rose and it is the name I write all of my work under. I am 13 years old and that means actually sitting down and putting effort into writing can be a struggle when you really want to go out with your friends or waste away your life on the comfort that is the internet. But I do make time.
I think the main reason I write is to escape the world I'm already in, so I can experience things I maybe can't do in my own life but when you write, there is nothing stopping you. I think I was born a writer. It sounds very cliche but I really do think I was. I remember being about six or seven and making a book from crumpled up pieces of A4 paper and stapling them together and writing about a Shepard and his sheep, that he lost. Not really original but I do believe that was the moment I became a writer.
Then, many,many English lessons later I got a special prize for this poem I wrote. I felt like the queen of writing, it was literally like I had won the Nobel prize for literature. My poem rhymed which is quite the achievement for a nine year old child and it had 8 stanzas. I felt on top of the world.
I found English quite easy, the actual concept and the creative writing bit but my punctuation and grammar stopped me from achieving the marks I thought I could achieve. So after practicing many times over, it is still an issue. Another big thing I remembered from primary school was going from the measly, inferior pencil to the bold, black (or blue) lordly pen. I would spend my break and lunch times copying out books in my practice pen, making sure I joined every single letter to its partner and that my writing had the perfect slant. And I still didn't get it. But then, I moved schools, and I told them I already wrote in pen and they believed me so, that was that.
Then came Secondary school, and year seven was pretty familiar but in year eight stuff got real. There was no longer easy-doesn't-really-matter creative writing, it was exam prep and punctuation and grammar weeks and Peer-marking. Until one day, remarkable writers was born. An hour a week of pure creative writing, the only boundaries we had was a picture for inspiration. So maybe it wasn't every single week but it was just an easy way for us to improve on our writing, without really realizing we were.
Then, in august of 2013 I decided to write a novel, based on Sherlock Holmes. I'd always started books but then got uninspired about 3 pages in, but no I was determined this time to finish and in October of 2013, I did. I have to admit. I was proud. I was proud that I had actually achieved something properly,and about a month later we decided to get it printed.
So I believe that first impressions aren't the thing that defines you for life, but it does still help to make a good one. Every time you step into a new place, talk to a new person, it's an impression and probably what that place or person will remember you for, until you meet again. And I suppose it's the same on the internet.
My name is Hunter Rose and it is the name I write all of my work under. I am 13 years old and that means actually sitting down and putting effort into writing can be a struggle when you really want to go out with your friends or waste away your life on the comfort that is the internet. But I do make time.
I think the main reason I write is to escape the world I'm already in, so I can experience things I maybe can't do in my own life but when you write, there is nothing stopping you. I think I was born a writer. It sounds very cliche but I really do think I was. I remember being about six or seven and making a book from crumpled up pieces of A4 paper and stapling them together and writing about a Shepard and his sheep, that he lost. Not really original but I do believe that was the moment I became a writer.
Then, many,many English lessons later I got a special prize for this poem I wrote. I felt like the queen of writing, it was literally like I had won the Nobel prize for literature. My poem rhymed which is quite the achievement for a nine year old child and it had 8 stanzas. I felt on top of the world.
I found English quite easy, the actual concept and the creative writing bit but my punctuation and grammar stopped me from achieving the marks I thought I could achieve. So after practicing many times over, it is still an issue. Another big thing I remembered from primary school was going from the measly, inferior pencil to the bold, black (or blue) lordly pen. I would spend my break and lunch times copying out books in my practice pen, making sure I joined every single letter to its partner and that my writing had the perfect slant. And I still didn't get it. But then, I moved schools, and I told them I already wrote in pen and they believed me so, that was that.
Then came Secondary school, and year seven was pretty familiar but in year eight stuff got real. There was no longer easy-doesn't-really-matter creative writing, it was exam prep and punctuation and grammar weeks and Peer-marking. Until one day, remarkable writers was born. An hour a week of pure creative writing, the only boundaries we had was a picture for inspiration. So maybe it wasn't every single week but it was just an easy way for us to improve on our writing, without really realizing we were.
Then, in august of 2013 I decided to write a novel, based on Sherlock Holmes. I'd always started books but then got uninspired about 3 pages in, but no I was determined this time to finish and in October of 2013, I did. I have to admit. I was proud. I was proud that I had actually achieved something properly,and about a month later we decided to get it printed.
Link To The Book- http://www.movellas.com/story/201308062047021312-the-life-of-miss-amelia-holmes-the-locket
And the finished product was something I was always going to keep and remember and even though it was only 12,000 words long and had endless mistakes it was my first book. And so in January 2014 I decided to write my own original book, Bellissimi Dragons.
This took a lot more thought. I had to create completely new characters and develop an original plot and keep it original. At the moment I am 18,000 words in and starting to wrap up the story. This blog is going to be following me as I finish this book and how I can try to help you in your journey of writing and maybe you can help me out. Thanks for reading,
Hunter Rose x
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