tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725342624231517088.post5003588062291774607..comments2023-10-30T15:13:22.680+00:00Comments on Strictly Writing: My Top Writing TipsDThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11803989273524731892noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725342624231517088.post-43971919143369278062009-11-23T09:22:21.002+00:002009-11-23T09:22:21.002+00:00I can't imagine you ever running out of ideas,...I can't imagine you ever running out of ideas, Geri!Administratorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13894920115299109640noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725342624231517088.post-37344632137364361202009-11-22T21:13:42.019+00:002009-11-22T21:13:42.019+00:00Don't use up all your ideas in one story!
The...Don't use up all your ideas in one story!<br /><br />There's a tendency to overplot - I know, I do it. Then you dry up and have no plots left!Geraldine Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01575892095296317266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725342624231517088.post-46223044873338654382009-11-22T15:12:39.753+00:002009-11-22T15:12:39.753+00:00I used to avoid adverbs at all costs, Olivia, and ...I used to avoid adverbs at all costs, Olivia, and the result was that my characters were constantly twitching and moving and sighing and... it was exhausting:)<br /><br />LOL, Derek! And you are so right about asking for permission. I think that time and the resultant confidence helps us stop doing that so much.<br /><br />Absolutely, Colette. I think it can really do more harm than good, otherwise.Administratorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13894920115299109640noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725342624231517088.post-75743587857597133502009-11-22T12:28:05.814+00:002009-11-22T12:28:05.814+00:00As a relative novice I'm always interested in ...As a relative novice I'm always interested in advice but number 6 is the one that works best for me. There is so much advice out there and when you have so much to learn you have to know what to pick up and what to discard.Colette McCormickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00383068332228040704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725342624231517088.post-34280980758425704062009-11-22T10:45:17.711+00:002009-11-22T10:45:17.711+00:00A great post, and I love the comments from everyon...A great post, and I love the comments from everyone else. Sometimes it feels like we're seeking permission to write how we want to write; good to know that we're all paddling the same canoe - is it still a canoe with more than 6 people? My tip, which I'm trying to teach myself, is to write honestly. And that, my friends, is an adverb. :o)DThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11803989273524731892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725342624231517088.post-86685520994137633802009-11-22T09:38:43.300+00:002009-11-22T09:38:43.300+00:00Thanks for these tips Sam. I was particularly inte...Thanks for these tips Sam. I was particularly interested in the 'adverbs' one, because I've heard so much, recently, about not using them that I started to feel uneasy every time I found myself wanting to put one in. I've never even thought about it before, just used them where I thought they were 'natural' - and it was really off-putting to keep wondering about them. Eventually I thought - with all the editorial input I've had, over the years, I don't think I've ever been asked by an editor to take out an adverb, so I can't be doing anything so very terrible with them! You're right - only follow the advice that seems relevant to you.Sheila Nortonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13997206301877289623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725342624231517088.post-48997627833691491552009-11-21T19:19:24.996+00:002009-11-21T19:19:24.996+00:00Thanks, Julie.
Yeah, it took me a while to find m...Thanks, Julie.<br /><br />Yeah, it took me a while to find my own groove - i spent the first couple of years writing taking in ALL the rules and every single piece of advice i was given!Administratorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13894920115299109640noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725342624231517088.post-84407587094465918512009-11-21T18:40:12.850+00:002009-11-21T18:40:12.850+00:00Great post. I'm all for finding out what works...Great post. I'm all for finding out what works for you and sticking with it - if it ain't broke, don'y try to fix it.<br /><br />Julie xxJulie Phttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06546678603569056691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725342624231517088.post-26478052031057561872009-11-21T16:38:33.502+00:002009-11-21T16:38:33.502+00:00Yes, i agree Caroline, holding on to ideas can suc...Yes, i agree Caroline, holding on to ideas can suck the life out of them.<br /><br />And definitely agree on the latter - you can end up going around in circles if you seek too many opinions.Administratorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13894920115299109640noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725342624231517088.post-67555879269335851222009-11-21T13:53:50.613+00:002009-11-21T13:53:50.613+00:00Great advice, Sam and number one, on not 'savi...Great advice, Sam and number one, on not 'saving' ideas, particularly resonated with me. I did this once and then couldn't raise any life from it when I finally got my act together.<br /><br />My one to add would be that getting lots of different people to read something can be a mistake. Took me along time to realise that not all opinions have equal worth.Caroline Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04708248040141519582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725342624231517088.post-33128370137691090962009-11-21T09:06:27.103+00:002009-11-21T09:06:27.103+00:00Thanks for reminding me, Sam - the whole sentence ...Thanks for reminding me, Sam - the whole sentence structure thing is something I need to pay attention to. <br />And yes, Nik, that gut feeling is soooo important.<br />SusiexSusie Nott-Bowerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08428000582406338267noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725342624231517088.post-5622176436289881232009-11-20T19:15:30.124+00:002009-11-20T19:15:30.124+00:00Ha! Bad advice that was!
And definitely, learning...Ha! Bad advice that was!<br /><br />And definitely, learning to trust and developing that instinct's not something that comes over nightNik Perringhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07426321804560400335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725342624231517088.post-15271359607691114492009-11-20T18:33:22.393+00:002009-11-20T18:33:22.393+00:00Agreed - i think that's as important as anythi...Agreed - i think that's as important as anything in the writing process, finding the confidence to trust one's own instincts. Easier said than done though.<br /><br />Only children should write in the first person?!! I'd better get some serious rejuvenating surgery, then:)_Administratorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13894920115299109640noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725342624231517088.post-26932339052988109022009-11-20T17:49:16.529+00:002009-11-20T17:49:16.529+00:00Exactly.
And that can go the other way as well -...Exactly. <br /><br />And that can go the other way as well - not every piece of advice/criticism you get's right for you and a lot of it is very general and is best ignored. I've read so much utter rubbish on the internet (on forums and blogs) saying this doesn't sell, that doesn't sell (one blogger said that only children should write in the first person and that grown-ups write in the third - utter tosh btw)that I think if we listened to it all nothing would ever get written.<br /><br />To use a cliche - at the end of the day, if it works, it works - and the best judge of that, as we're writing, is us. (And trusted readers of course.) <br /><br />I think what I mean is (ramble, ramble) we know what's best for us/our writing and need to learn to trust ourselves more - and I include me in that category (though I am trying!).Nik Perringhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07426321804560400335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725342624231517088.post-89520346191692971102009-11-20T17:39:07.630+00:002009-11-20T17:39:07.630+00:00You always give excellent advice, Nik. And it is h...You always give excellent advice, Nik. And it is hard to listen to one's gut sometimes, especially if it is bad news - eg 'this voice isn't working' or 'that chapter really nees to be scrubbed.'Administratorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13894920115299109640noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725342624231517088.post-82989506690770153772009-11-20T17:10:10.340+00:002009-11-20T17:10:10.340+00:00Good post (and I never realised you smoked cigars!...Good post (and I never realised you smoked cigars!).<br /><br />My advice - trust yourself. Listen, and I mean REALLY listen to your gut, even if it's telling you what you don't want to hear.<br /><br />And keep trying. Nothing's wasted.Nik Perringhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07426321804560400335noreply@blogger.com