Sunday, October 26, 2008

Writing Basics

When you were a new writer starting out, did you ever have one of those epiphany moments when you suddenly realized the proper usage of dialogue tags? Or what staying in one POV really meant? What do you wish you knew then that you know now? What are the key things you think newbie writers should know? Here's what I've come up with so far:

*Basic formatting
*POV
*Deep POV and distancing words
*Dialogue Tags - when to use/when not to use
*Character empathy
*Basic idea of GMC
*Basic idea of Pacing

What else? I know there's a ton of stuff I'm forgetting.

I'm reading: Writing BasicsTweet this! Written by Kristen Painter at 10:28 PM
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11 comments:

  1. moxylyn7:59 AM

    Ohmygoodness. I'm not sure what some of those mean. I bet I'm doing it all wrong aren't I!

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  2. Kristen Painter8:03 AM

    I don't think you're doing it all wrong, you're probably just not doing it according to the "rules" that have been setting up for writing romantic fiction. Every genre has its conventions, romance is no exception.

    I'm giving a bootcamp style workshop on this next month. Maybe I'll post my worksheets when I'm done.

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  3. December8:37 AM

    I'm still learning. I did figure out POV, and dialog tags, with the help of my RD mentor.

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  4. Kwana8:58 AM

    I'm learning something new now. The importance of plotting and structure. At least I hope to learn it.

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  5. Karen Erickson10:01 AM

    Back when I first started writing I just wrote. And it was terrible crap with no real plot or point. And the dialogue tags! And the adverbs oh my! LOL

    I think incorporating all five senses is pretty important. Helps the reader experience what's happening to the characters...

    Great list!

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  6. Jennifer Shirk10:08 AM

    Writing with more emotion. Still something I'm working on.

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  7. Eva Gale11:52 AM

    All of the above? Telling and showing, the difference and when to use each. I still fall into telling important things sometimes. It's a hard thing to teach though becuase it's one of those things you can only learn my doing.

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  8. Kaycee James1:03 PM

    Where are you giving the workshop? Romance Divas? I don't want to miss it. I need all the help I can get. :-)

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  9. Mindie2:31 PM

    Extra words...maybe that's what you meant by "distancing" words. Like "very," "truly," etc.

    Also, the he felt/realized/knew, etc. syndrome.

    Defintely adverbs. Lol.

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  10. Kristen Painter3:15 PM

    Kaycee - I'm doing this at my local chapter.

    Mindy - Distancing words are the words that take you out of deep POV - felt, noticed, heard, saw, watched, etc. That's what I call them.

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  11. Sissi M. 9:18 PM

    Ha! POV is numero uno on my list this week. I can't wait for the writing bootcamp!

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