Writer's block is one of the biggest challenges writers face. When writing a novel, sometimes your brain and imagination just go blank. Whether it's for two days or two weeks, writer's block can be hard to overcome. However, over the years, I've come across a few techniques that have worked for me, and might even work for you, too.
If you're stuck on a certain part in your story, step back from it for a little while. Take a break, think it over. I personally would not advise you to skip over that certain part and go back to it later, as I've found that to get confusing and disorganized, but if that's a method that works for you, go for it!
Sometimes, the best way to beat writer's block is to write the first things that come to mind. Describe the view from your window, create a scenario for your characters that you wouldn't find within your story's universe, make lists, etc.
Regardless of how you choose to tackle writer's block, remember one thing: never give up! I've often gone weeks without working on my story directly, but planning it out and thinking of ways to continue on have kept me interested in it. As always, don't be afraid to think outside the box!
Monday, September 28, 2015
Monday, September 21, 2015
Point of View
When writing a story, one very important thing to figure out before you even begin is the point of view you want to use. There are several different options, but I'm going to be telling you about the most common ones.
First person is when you write from the perspective of your main character. This is when the story is told using "I", as if you were reading someone's journal. For example, "I quickly ran through the woods in hopes of avoiding the thunderstorm." I used to use this point of view quite often, but I found myself falling into the bad habit of lacking my main character's development. Because everything you knew in the story was being seen from their eyes, it was easy to get caught up in that and ignore their own story. That said, first person POV can still be great - stories like Percy Jackson and The Hunger Games have used this quite well.
Third person point of view is my personal favorite to use. This is when you follow your character(s) through the story, telling about all of them from an outside view. For example, "She followed the rest of her group, keeping up with them as best she could despite her injury." I find this to be the easiest to write, and even the easiest to read. You can still get inside the head of your main character without having to tell everything strictly from their perspective. I think using third person POV allows the writer (and even the reader) more freedom to explore the possibilities of the story.
First person is when you write from the perspective of your main character. This is when the story is told using "I", as if you were reading someone's journal. For example, "I quickly ran through the woods in hopes of avoiding the thunderstorm." I used to use this point of view quite often, but I found myself falling into the bad habit of lacking my main character's development. Because everything you knew in the story was being seen from their eyes, it was easy to get caught up in that and ignore their own story. That said, first person POV can still be great - stories like Percy Jackson and The Hunger Games have used this quite well.
Third person point of view is my personal favorite to use. This is when you follow your character(s) through the story, telling about all of them from an outside view. For example, "She followed the rest of her group, keeping up with them as best she could despite her injury." I find this to be the easiest to write, and even the easiest to read. You can still get inside the head of your main character without having to tell everything strictly from their perspective. I think using third person POV allows the writer (and even the reader) more freedom to explore the possibilities of the story.
Sunday, September 20, 2015
Losing Interest
Many times over the years, I've found myself losing interest in the current story I'd been working on. The reason for this is almost always because I've thought of an idea I'm more interested in, and transitioned to writing that one - but is abandoning a story a good thing to do, or is it really not that big of a deal?
The answer is actually completely and totally up to you. There have been times when I've stopped writing one story for another, and never went back. While I may be disappointed because it never got finished, I usually feel proud of myself for coming up with an idea that I'm much more invested in, and that was important enough to me to put my other idea on hold.
However, there are times when I DO go back to work on older stories - which is totally fine, too! There are no rules saying that you can't work on more than one idea at the same time, but I personally have found that method difficult to keep up with.
If you lose interest in your story, change it up a little bit. Think of new plots, new endings, new characters - even if you don't end up using them, it'll help get your imagination flowing! If you think of an idea you'd rather write instead, give it a try and see how it goes. Writers' minds are often overflowing with possibilities, and it may benefit you in ways you may not even realize to let them all spill out onto the paper (or the keyboard!)
Don't feel bad about "abandoning" ideas if it comes down to that, because sometimes, it just happens - and usually, it's for good reason. I believe that every idea I come up with is better than the last, and that an idea I stick with is a story I'm really, truly passionate about - in fact, I like to think that my current story, which I've been writing since December, is my best yet. That doesn't mean I've forgotten about stories from before that, but if I were still writing the same thing I began while in middle school, I don't think I would've grown nearly as much as a writer.
The answer is actually completely and totally up to you. There have been times when I've stopped writing one story for another, and never went back. While I may be disappointed because it never got finished, I usually feel proud of myself for coming up with an idea that I'm much more invested in, and that was important enough to me to put my other idea on hold.
However, there are times when I DO go back to work on older stories - which is totally fine, too! There are no rules saying that you can't work on more than one idea at the same time, but I personally have found that method difficult to keep up with.
If you lose interest in your story, change it up a little bit. Think of new plots, new endings, new characters - even if you don't end up using them, it'll help get your imagination flowing! If you think of an idea you'd rather write instead, give it a try and see how it goes. Writers' minds are often overflowing with possibilities, and it may benefit you in ways you may not even realize to let them all spill out onto the paper (or the keyboard!)
Don't feel bad about "abandoning" ideas if it comes down to that, because sometimes, it just happens - and usually, it's for good reason. I believe that every idea I come up with is better than the last, and that an idea I stick with is a story I'm really, truly passionate about - in fact, I like to think that my current story, which I've been writing since December, is my best yet. That doesn't mean I've forgotten about stories from before that, but if I were still writing the same thing I began while in middle school, I don't think I would've grown nearly as much as a writer.
Monday, September 14, 2015
The First Draft
The first draft is where the adventure officially begins. You've thought of a plot, created a cast of characters, and you're ready to begin! Perhaps you don't have every little detail figured out, but that's perfectly okay. That's a big part of what the first draft is for: finding out what works, what doesn't, and just seeing what happens along the way.
The differences between your first and second drafts will probably be pretty major, and the differences between the first draft and final draft absolutely will be. When writing the first draft (also known as the "rough draft"), I like to write out my story almost as if it were a screenplay - describing scenes the way I imagine them, but shortening things like adjectives for dialogue. It gets the main ideas on the page without having to go back and change things to fit the format of a novel. I often just call this the "planning draft".
I've recently discovered that writing scenes IN ORDER is very helpful. I used to write whichever scene I developed in my mind, regardless of it's chronological placement. This ended up being rather confusing, but it works for some people. Remember, your first draft WILL be rough - play around with different styles to find what you prefer, and go write that novel!
The differences between your first and second drafts will probably be pretty major, and the differences between the first draft and final draft absolutely will be. When writing the first draft (also known as the "rough draft"), I like to write out my story almost as if it were a screenplay - describing scenes the way I imagine them, but shortening things like adjectives for dialogue. It gets the main ideas on the page without having to go back and change things to fit the format of a novel. I often just call this the "planning draft".
I've recently discovered that writing scenes IN ORDER is very helpful. I used to write whichever scene I developed in my mind, regardless of it's chronological placement. This ended up being rather confusing, but it works for some people. Remember, your first draft WILL be rough - play around with different styles to find what you prefer, and go write that novel!
These are my notebooks from over the past few years. All of them are nearly full (if not entirely full) of draft after draft after draft! Sometimes you change your mind about a plot point, or want to start over to smooth things out a little more - which is exactly why your story will more than likely have multiple different versions before you reach the finished product.
Sunday, September 13, 2015
Character Names
Naming your characters is, without a doubt, a huge part of the writing process. For me, the names are sometimes the first thing I come up with - I think of a name I like, and build a character around that. However, names can sometimes change as you continue to develop the character. For example, a character in the story I'm currently writing started out with the name "Molly". As I worked on the story some more, I realized that a slightly different name was what I always ended up associating her with - "Mel". Don't be afraid to play around and experiment with different names - see which ones suit your characters the best!
Some of the most useful references for writers looking for names are baby name websites. Nameberry and babynamewizard are my personal favorites. These websites give you an overview of each name in its database, including the meaning behind the name as well as the origin. Remember that your character's name does not have to reflect who they are - i.e., a graceful character named "Grace" (most real peoples' names are not chosen that way!).
Last names are a bit more difficult. There are similar websites dedicated to surnames, which I find myself browsing quite often when trying to choose one. Some surnames have been ones that I've thought of on my own. For example, "Bellsworth" is the last name of one of my current characters, which came to mind while playing a video game! Your characters don't have to have last names (there are plenty of fantasy stories that don't mention them), but it's always a useful aspect to keep in mind, should you choose to include them.
Some of the most useful references for writers looking for names are baby name websites. Nameberry and babynamewizard are my personal favorites. These websites give you an overview of each name in its database, including the meaning behind the name as well as the origin. Remember that your character's name does not have to reflect who they are - i.e., a graceful character named "Grace" (most real peoples' names are not chosen that way!).
Last names are a bit more difficult. There are similar websites dedicated to surnames, which I find myself browsing quite often when trying to choose one. Some surnames have been ones that I've thought of on my own. For example, "Bellsworth" is the last name of one of my current characters, which came to mind while playing a video game! Your characters don't have to have last names (there are plenty of fantasy stories that don't mention them), but it's always a useful aspect to keep in mind, should you choose to include them.
Monday, September 7, 2015
Common Fantasy Cliches
(image from nerdist.com)
Fantasy, like most other genres, has a large range of cliches found throughout its stories. These are common themes and points in a story within the genre. With fantasy having quite a few of them, I'm going to be talking about just a few common fantasy cliches. However, this does NOT mean that these are boring, unacceptable plot points to use in your stories - cliches become cliches for a reason: they're popular! That said, too many cliches can sometimes weigh down the overall quality of the story. Use them wisely!
The Chosen One. This is an idea that comes up a lot. In stories like Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, and plenty of others, the protagonist is often the only one in the entire novel who can save everyone - or, at the very least, do what is necessary to allow others to do so. Personally, I think this plot is overused. In order to make your story a bit more interesting, try an idea that requires more than just "destiny" in order for your protagonist to be special.
Dreams. In fantasy novels, characters experiencing plot-altering situations while dreaming is a highly popular concept. Sometimes, an entire chapter is dedicated to a dream, but readers will not find it out until the end. This can be very misleading, and even quite confusing. Dreams can play an interesting role in fantasy, but if they're crystal-clear and require no deciphering of any kind, it becomes a bit unbelievable - even withing the realm of fantasy.
Prophecies. Similarly to The Chosen One, prophecies are overused. When writing prophecies, keep in mind what authors have done in the past to incorporate them into a plot. Think of your own unique spin on a prophecy! Perhaps it isn't the novel's main focus, or maybe it's something a minor character has to face instead.
Last but not least, villains. Villains are often a necessary aspect of fantasy stories. However, there are many instances of villains being unmotivated, underdeveloped, and only existing purely to be a roadblock to get in the protagonist's way. This is why I always believe it's very, very important to understand your antagonist's entire story arc before you begin - maybe even before your protagonist(s) are totally figured out. That said, your story does not have to have a "big bad villain", either. For example, in the novel I'm currently working on, my antagonist is a group of people who once truly believed they were doing the right thing, but have then gone on to realize that the way to gain respect might be by deceiving people without them knowing.
Wednesday, September 2, 2015
What comes first?
A common problem writers face is beginning - not necessarily the exposition of the story, but the elements required to build one. What comes first - characters? Plot? Setting? The truth is, there isn't one single correct answer. In my experience, your very first bit of inspiration can be for just about any of those categories. Sometimes I think up the antagonist first, sometimes a certain friendship, a concept - even a single phrase can be the key thing I begin developing on. With an endless number of ways to begin planning a story, here are some methods I've used with my own writing.
As a general rule, your characters will almost always be more important than a basic concept for your plot - because without characters, your plot probably isn't going anywhere! Creating characters can be the hardest part, without a doubt. With minor characters especially, something I've found to be helpful is to pick one specific quality to exaggerate. You could have a character who's overly cheerful, or a character who's moody and tough and says nothing can hurt them. When you've selected this one characteristic to associate them with, it opens up a thousand new doors for you as a writer. What would break your cheerful character's heart? What's the one thing that makes your angry character smile? As you begin to understand them better, your characters will most likely grow and change immensely throughout the process of creating their tale. It's also important to keep in mind the overall feel of your story. If the dialogue or behavior of your character feels awkward or out of place, it could put a damper on the story as a whole. A little exaggeration is good, especially when it comes to fantasy, but the exact amount of it depends on the kind of story you're aiming to write.
When it comes to plot, this is where you'll need to use the most active part of your imagination. What's something that sounds impossible, and how can you make it real? What kind of story would you like to read? Does it involve magic? Elves? Wizards? None of the above? Drawing inspiration from your favorite works of fiction is a great place to begin, but remember the difference between being inspired to write something of your own and "borrowing an idea".
Sometimes the best way to begin writing is to just write. Write what pops into your mind. Write different perspectives. Re-write the ending to a movie. These are things that probably won't be eligible for publication, but if it helps your creativity flow, they don't have to be!
Here's a video about beginning to write:
As a general rule, your characters will almost always be more important than a basic concept for your plot - because without characters, your plot probably isn't going anywhere! Creating characters can be the hardest part, without a doubt. With minor characters especially, something I've found to be helpful is to pick one specific quality to exaggerate. You could have a character who's overly cheerful, or a character who's moody and tough and says nothing can hurt them. When you've selected this one characteristic to associate them with, it opens up a thousand new doors for you as a writer. What would break your cheerful character's heart? What's the one thing that makes your angry character smile? As you begin to understand them better, your characters will most likely grow and change immensely throughout the process of creating their tale. It's also important to keep in mind the overall feel of your story. If the dialogue or behavior of your character feels awkward or out of place, it could put a damper on the story as a whole. A little exaggeration is good, especially when it comes to fantasy, but the exact amount of it depends on the kind of story you're aiming to write.
When it comes to plot, this is where you'll need to use the most active part of your imagination. What's something that sounds impossible, and how can you make it real? What kind of story would you like to read? Does it involve magic? Elves? Wizards? None of the above? Drawing inspiration from your favorite works of fiction is a great place to begin, but remember the difference between being inspired to write something of your own and "borrowing an idea".
Sometimes the best way to begin writing is to just write. Write what pops into your mind. Write different perspectives. Re-write the ending to a movie. These are things that probably won't be eligible for publication, but if it helps your creativity flow, they don't have to be!
Here's a video about beginning to write:
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