Writing fiction advice blog targeted at fanfiction creation. Covers all stages of writing, editing, and English grammar rules. Content updated weekly.
#2: Pre-Writing
In simplest terms, pre-writing is what you do before writing. Go ahead and groan; I know you want to. Specifically, it is the brainstorming and planning you do to create your story. And the best way to illustrate this is to take you through the creation of a story step by step. Write along with these tutorials; just choose your own ideas. It's called practice and you are under no obligation to show it to anyone or submit it anywhere. But the more seriously you treat your writing, the better it will get.
#1: I'm A What?
The inspiration for this tutorial:
Name: Andreas W.
Homepage URL: http://andreas.n3.net
Comments: You are a little bit of a language-fascists.
Naturally has a good language part of a good story, but if one for example is from some non-English country, it gets a little tougher to be a very correct writer.
Your criticism is a little brutal, considering that you've had plenty of high-level education in English.
You shouldn't really expect others to keep the same quality, and this is something you appear to have troubles with.
#1: Definitions and Punctuation
This guide is starting with definitions (just to make sure we're talking about the same things) and punctuation because while most of us use the same symbols, we don't always use them the same way.
DEFINITIONS
- noun - the name of a person, place, thing, or idea. A common noun refers to any person, place, thing, idea, etc. while a proper noun refers to a specific person, place, thing, idea, etc.
- pronoun - a word that takes the place of a noun.
#1: Steps to Remember
- Spelling and grammar check with the computer.
- Word count.
- First read-through.
- Getting an overview of how the story works.
- Looking for any place where the writing falters.
- Making notes of problems and of what you liked.
- Multiple read-throughs, concentrating on one issue in a pass.
- Scenes
- Characters
- Point of View
- Dialogue
- Paragraph Breaks and Repetition
- Proportion
- Grammar
- Finishing Touches
#1: Fitting Writing In
Odds are you have a pretty full life already. Friends and family who insist on making sure you’re breathing; work, school, or maybe both; and the other stuff I like to lump under “chores” that generally insure that your home and personal environment isn’t toxic. And now you want to add writing to the list.
Be prepared for those without the compulsive writing gene or drive or mindset to look at you like you’re crazy and maybe ask that question out loud. I haven’t found a good answer for “Why would you want to? Are you crazy?” yet, even when I ask myself.
Miscellaneous Concerns Introduction
There are some things that need to be discussed with fanfics, fandoms, and writing that doesn’t fall neatly under the other categories. So Miscellaneous Concerns gives them a home base.
Grammar Guides Introduction
The second section of Stephen King's On Writing is titled "Toolbox." In it, he describes all the things a writer should know making them analogous to tools in a toolbox that you a writer should take everywhere you go. The toolbox should have multiple layers and the commonest tools go in to the lop layer.
Editing Lessons Introduction
Your fanfic masterpiece is finally finished. See you just typed The End. Now it's ready for everyone out there in Internet-land to read!
Hit save and sit on those eager hands. Remember the list of important lessons I gave you back in the Writing Tutorial Introduction? Especially #5: Never submit or post a first draft ANYWHERE! Including the 'Net. What you just finished is the first draft. You need at least two more drafts before submitting or posting. So we're moving into Important Lesson #6: You WILL write more than one draft.
Writing Tutorials Introduction
Welcome to the FanFiction Garret and congratulations. You have taken the first step toward considering your writing seriously.
"But I do this for fun!"
Yes, and people make pottery for fun too. But nobody wants to put flowers in a cracked vase and nobody wants to read a story that hasn't been constructed properly. How many times have you clicked to the next fanfic in the archive because you saw the writer didn't even bother with spell checking or proper spacing?
Don't be shy. I'm the first to raise my hand and say "guilty".
