Being A Writer

My husband knows me better than I know myself. This can be an odd sensation when we have a conversation in which I learn something about myself that is apparently common knowledge to him. A good example would be how I learned I like to write.

The first conversation, from the fall of 2007 went something like this:

DH: Have you heard of NaNoWriMo?
me: NaNoWhatOh?
DH: National Novel Writing Month. You know...write a book. You should do that.
me: *incredulous stare*

How on earth did he know I should write? I'd never written anything before. And I had just emerged from my year of craziness (a.k.a. the year after my twins were born). Why on earth would I commit to write a novel in a month?

But he was right. I did have something in me. An admitedly HORRIBLE romance novel, but I wrote it. And he was SO SUPPORTIVE of the whole process (and has been every year since) even though he's never been allowed to read a word of it.

NOT. ONE. WORD.

Fast forward to the other day, when he sends me the following because he loves me, which I wanted to share with you, dear reader, because I love you!

60 Writing Tips by 6 Great Writers

Please click on the link to see all of this great article, but I wanted to share a few of my favorites with you. Enjoy!!!

ORWELL'S 6 QUESTIONS
In every sentence that you write, ask yourself,

What am I trying to say?
What words will express it?
What image or idiom will make it clearer?
Is this image fresh enough to have an effect?
Could I put it more shortly?
Have I said anything that is avoidably ugly?

ELMORE LEONARD'S 10 TIPS FOR NOVEL WRITERS
1. Never open a book with weather.
2. Avoid prologues.
Which can be annoying, especially a prologue following an introduction that comes after a foreword. A prologue in a novel is back-story, and you can drop it in anywhere you want.
3. Never use a verb other than ''said'' to carry dialogue.
Said is far less intrusive than grumbled, gasped, cautioned, lied.
4. Never use an adverb to modify the verb ''said'' . . .
5. Keep your exclamation points under control.
6. Never use the words ''suddenly'' or ''all hell broke loose.''
7. Use regional dialect, patois, sparingly.
8. Avoid detailed descriptions of characters.
9. Don't go into great detail describing places and things.
10. Try to leave out the part that readers tend to skip.
For example, thick paragraphs of prose.
11. If it sounds like writing, I rewrite it.

ROBERT HEINLEIN'S RULES FOR WRITING
You Must Write
Finish What You Start
You Must Refrain From Rewriting, Except to Editorial Order
You Must Put Your Story on the Market
You Must Keep it on the Market until it has Sold
Start Working on Something Else

STEPHEN KING’S 7 TIPS FOR BECOMING A BETTER WRITER
1. Get to the point.
2. Write a draft. Then let it rest.
3. Cut down your text.
4. Be relatable and honest.
5. Don’t care too much what others may think.
6. Read a lot.
7. Write a lot.

Have I mentioned that I adore Stephen King? 'Cuz I do. But I have to say my favorite thoughts on this topic are by Kami Garcia on her blog post, The Rules Of Writing, where she talks about how sometimes you have to break the rules. Definitely check it out!

Happy Writing!!