5 random tips for you writing gremlins >:) 1. Story/plot What is the difference between these two? Often they are used synonymously, but what if they had their own unique purposes? Starting with the plot, it is what actually occurs in the novel/movie. A man loses his job, and must find a new one. He falls in love, starts a family, and lives on a farm. That is the plot of a random story. It's great for what it is, but that's all it is. A story, on the other hand, is deeper than the plot. A man loses his job, and realized his life has been wasted. He looks back and regrets all the time he turned down his friends because of work. He realizes he is lonely, and wants someone close, and something that gives him meaning. He goes on a personal journey, gets into farming, falls in love, and starts a family, finding fulfillment in that instead of a high-profile job. The difference between these two isn't the amount of content I am including. It matters about what the plot is conveying, and the "message" behind it. Writing just for a plot will make the story hollow and bland, and writing just for a story could be preachy. Using both will make a compelling story that brings the readers along for a journey- it could be self discovery, a lesson learned, accepting the past, growing as a person. All of these are life experiences that we love to see unfold. And who knows? Maybe a story will touch someone's heart, and it will be more than just a silly story. 2. 50-50 Readers are smart. Most likely, when they read your story, it will not be their first. They probably have reading comprehension, and have general life experience. (This is somewhat untrue for children's books, so ignore this if that is your focus) Because of this, do not talk down to your reader. Writers often feel the need to go way too in-depth, or explain every little detail far too much. Sometimes this is necessary; other times, the reader gets bogged down, or feels like the writer thinks they are stupid. The solution? The writer gives 50%, and the reader figures out the other 50%. This does not mean you leave out half the story; it means that the reader can understand, infer, and deduce a good amount. This goes a hand in hand with showing, not telling, because you can show things to a reader that they pick up quickly. If you have a character described as having twitchy eyes, not going to late-night events, always wearing comfy clothes, and having a slurred, slow voice, your reader could infer that the character likes sleep, or doesn't get enough of it. A lazy or sloth character, without explicitly saying, "she is lazy" or "she sleeps all the time". Don't underestimate your readers. They are smarter than you think! 3. Expand your mind It is said that all writers are readers, and if you aren't already, I highly encourage it. But don't be a fantasy reader, or a historical fiction reader. Be a diverse reader! Read modern and classic, in your genre, and especially out of your genre(unless you hate certain genres, of course). By reading what you are less familiar and comfortable with, it often expands your vocabulary-both literally and metaphorically speaking. Exposing yourself to new writing styles, genres, types of books, and more can boost inspiration, give you brand new ideas, and overall is great for your mind! ;) 4. Re-write, don't edit This tip is one I put off trying for the longest time, but now that I've started doing it, it's honestly the holy grail of writing advice! When you have written something, instead of going back and editing sentences here and there, deleting them and making a couple changes before moving on, try re-writing from scratch. But what if I forget what happens?! You cry. If you want a guide, try using two different tabs on a computer, or keeping the original page handy if writing physically. It could be a chapter or scene, that you start from 0, and write each part again. This will illuminate any poor sentences, so that you have the opportunity to re-think them and figure out a better way to say it. For me, I started at the beginning of my WIP, and wrote it from scratch. It was a huge help, especially since I had a lot of things that needed to change. When you are done, re-write some more! It may take more time, but trust me, it can seriously help make your writing stronger. Also, it's satisfying! 5. Write every day Do you want to be a better writer, but don't have inspiration? Write something random. Write a poem! Personify your favorite soda! Writing every day uses your creative muscles, which improves your writing and discipline. If you improve just 1% each day, you'll be 365% better after a year! You got this! ~~~~ Questions? Additional tips? Comment below! :) Music: Come Together - The Beatles
