Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Find Out How To Write Quality Fiction

By Patty Goff


Writing is not just an art but a craft too. A craft can be learned and writing is no different in that there are many writing skills that can be learned. Imagination and good ideas are important but they are not enough. Other qualities are needed to produce work of a high standard such as discipline and perseverance. It is difficult to teach anyone how to write quality fiction but most writers are able to significantly improve their writing by devoting time and attention to their craft.

Reading prolifically, for example, often has a good effect on your own writing. It not only expands your vocabulary but creates an awareness of different styles, what makes a good plot and how to develop characters. You begin to identify what makes one novel better than another and you are able to use these observations to improve your own writing. Reading what you have written out loud is often a good idea too, as this helps you to make sure that the sentences have a certain rhythm to them.

In order to produce your best work, you need to be protective of your time and space. Be ruthless with any time wasting activities. Writing requires setting yourself apart and this often requires some sacrifice. The results of devoting your time to your writing will be evident in the results.

It is one thing to have a good idea for a book. It is quite another to actually sit down and consistently write page after page. Many of the best authors stick to strict writing schedules in order to do this. They know that unless they do this, they will not be successful. Many of them do a number of rewrites until they are satisfied.

The advice of others can be invaluable in helping you to improve your writing. Attending workshops is one way to expose your work to others. Most people find it difficult to expose themselves in this way. However, bear in mind that helpful criticism is good for your growth. It can help you to rise to the next level.

Observation is a skill possessed by most good writers. Jotting down observations and thoughts in a notebook is helpful. Carry one around with you at all times as these impressions and thoughts may be fleeting and need to be captured before they disappear. Most authors will tell you that you need to show rather than tell when writing a good novel and these observations can help you do this.

Most successful writers have the quality of persistence. This is important as writers have to persevere despite discouragement and rejection. Even successful writers admit to having times of self-doubt and when you are facing this you need to be able to push beyond it. Take courage from the fact that many excellent authors suffered a number of rejections before becoming recognized.

Dedication, long hours, commitment and infinite patience are all necessary when it comes to perfecting the art of writing. Just about every person has an idea for a book but not many have what it takes to actually produce one. To improve your writing is most certainly possible but like anything else of value, it requires some sacrifice to succeed.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment