10 Tips to Improve Your Fiction Writing Skills

This post was contributed by Kelly Kilpatrick, who writes on the subject of distance learning universities. She invites your feedback at kellykilpatrick24 at gmail dot com.

Writing fiction, whether short or long, can be a very trying experience indeed.  So many writers of fiction have different processes for achieving their writing goals that it’s hard to sift through what works and what doesn’t.

Writing is a process that requires skill, determination, adaptability, and plenty of time.  Here are some suggestions for improving your fiction writing skills, gleaned from trial and error over time. Read more

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What Can Fiction Writers Learn from Poetry?

The following is a guest post by William Womack who also blogs at Words for Writers.

Fiction writers are scavengers. We scour daily life collecting faces and names, sharp words and longing glances, then hunker in our caves to weave tapestries from the pretty bits we’ve found. It isn’t just ideas and images we pilfer; techniques and craft are fair game too. Some of our most potent writing tools are borrowed from our poet friends.

A well-turned poem often seems close to magic in the way it telegraphs strong emotion and vivid imagery in a compact space. Fortunately for poets and fiction writers alike, magic has little do to with it. We can dissect poetry, lifting out the parts that are most useful to us. Take for example a passage from my most recent manuscript, Last Thursday. The main character has gone for a walk along the river in Portland to sort out his thoughts when (surprise!) it starts to rain.

A pellet of water slaps the bridge of my nose. I frown at the heavens. Crap. Jerking to my feet, I scramble down the path toward my bike. The brambles around me quiver with a steady piff, piff, like bullets grazing, as random raindrops fall to Earth.

One poetic device this paragraph employs is the recurring theme. Outwardly, the passage is simply describing the onset of a storm. On closer inspection, the subtext created by the choice of words indicates something more-an antagonistic relationship between the main character and fate (or life, or God). He doesn’t just frown at the sky, he frowns at the heavens. His argument with the almighty is an ongoing motif in a number of the early scenes.

Simile and metaphor offer shortcuts to understanding by comparing one thing to another (often unrelated) thing. This is no simple rainstorm beginning, but a personal affront. Somebody’s out to get him! His choice of simile, like bullets grazing, underscores his belief that he’s being targeted by an uncaring fate.

Although it’s subtle, there’s also a bit of assonance, the repeated use of a vowel sound. Crap, scramble, path, brambles, random, the a’s set up a backbeat that draws the eye along. It’s fun to read aloud, too. A little alliteration also rears its head with random raindrops. As with any of these techniques, a dollop goes a long way.

Another thing you might notice on reading this bit aloud is the rhythm. The first two sentences are structured in deliberate groups of three syllables da da da - da da da - da da da - da da da. Again, this is subtle, but it makes for sentences that roll along at a pleasing pace.

And finally, there’s a bit of onomatopoeia, that clunker for words that sound like their meaning. My favorite from above is slaps. Not only is it visceral and sharp, but it repeats the persecution theme. I’ll make the case for the non-word piff as another example, although it invokes a bit of poetic license.

I’ve only slightly scratched the surface with these examples. There are countless other ways we can raid the poet’s toolbox to build fiction. The next time you’re casting about for an inspirational novel to get your head set for writing, try grabbing a book of poems instead.

About the Author

William Womack is a writer and graphic designer living in Portland, Oregon. He is currently working on his second novel, Last Thursday, a tale of murder and intrigue set against the backdrop of the Portland arts scene. For more of his thoughts on writing and the writing lifestyle, visit www.wordsforwriters.com.

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I Want to Write a Book, and Here’s Why

A few days ago, Anne Wayman of The Golden Pencil asked, “Why Do You Want To Write A Book?” While commenting on the post, I started thinking about all of the reasons I want to write a book. What is it that drives us to do what we love? What moves us to reach for certain goals in our creative writing? No person can answer such questions for another, but I can share my own desires and the motivations behind them with you.

Leaving a Legacy

I would like to leave something here on Earth that will be around long after I’m gone. I believe that throughout the course of our lives, we gain wisdom and knowledge (at least I certainly hope so), and writing a book presents a unique opportunity to share that knowledge with others. Fiction writing goes a step further because it has a special ability to capture the essence of humanity and the human experience in an engaging and creative manner.

Creative Writing Ideas

I have so many ideas for books, both fiction and non-fiction, that it would be a waste to never see them realized (in print). Interestingly enough, this is also one of the reasons I haven’t written a book yet; I have so many ideas that I tend to jump from one to the next without finishing a single one. I am constantly barraged by characters, plot ideas, and scenes. I think it would be a shame to keep them all to myself, because some of them are actually pretty good.

Wisdom and Experience

I think going through the process of writing a book, from start to finish, will be a wonderful and enlightening experience. I also feel that there is much wisdom to be gained from that process, which is always true when we are involved in creative writing. Exploring characters, for example, will certainly lead to greater understanding of human psychology and relationships. Any non-fiction project is sure to increase expertise and knowledge about the topic at hand.

A Career as a Writer

I’d like to have my own career, which means I won’t be dependent on some company to see to it that I have a job and steady paycheck. I’ve worked for two start-ups that went under, and while I’d probably join a start-up again if I ever had to take another day job, I very much prefer bearing the responsibility for my own financial fate. I also like being my own boss. Can I take a vacation? Why of course you can! How about a raise? Most definitely! It’s pretty nice. Now, if I can turn freelancing and blogging into becoming a published author, that will be some career!

A Story to Tell and a Message to Spread (Expression)

I have a story to tell, several of them actually. Some of my stories are just glimpses into the reality that we all know. Other stories contain my own personal ideas about the workings of our world and the threats and dangers that we may (or may not) someday face. In general, creative writing allows us to express ourselves, our stories, and our ideas. Writing a book, to me, is a huge accomplishment in self-expression.

Creativity and Accomplishment

Speaking of accomplishment, having a book published is an enormous one. Writing the book is an achievement in its own right. Getting it published means that someone out there believes in your work, and feels it’s worthy of an audience and has the potential to make money. It’s not always desirable to connect creativity with money because the two are often at odds with each other, but it’s a wonderful thing to make a living doing something you love!

Fantasy

Most of my book projects are in the science-fiction and fantasy genres. What other medium allows you to fly a dragon, soar through outer space, or blink through time? Creative writing opens up new worlds, and allows you to create worlds of your very own. I love that! Sure, video games and movies let you escape into strange fantasy worlds, too, but you don’t get to create those worlds and all the people and creatures that live in them!

Writing is What I Do

Writing is what I do. It’s what I’m good at. So good, in fact, that I know the previous sentence does not adhere to the rules of proper English. I have a knack for written communication, a passion for reading, and a voracious appetite for all things word and grammar related. I even like styling and formatting written content.

I Think I Should Listen to My Mom

She’s been saying it for years: you should be a writer. Shortly after I started freelancing and blogging, she said, I always knew you’d be a writer; I just had this feeling. She went on to explain that she thought I’d lean more toward creative writing - books, poetry, that sort of thing (as opposed to copywriting). My mom is wise when it comes to things like this, so I’m pretty sure I should heed her advice, and that’s exactly what I intend to do!

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