Post by Tyrannus et Callida on Jan 8, 2005 17:04:04 GMT -5
I'm bored so I decided to post some advice for common problems when writing. Especially since my Contest is coming up.
So, in no particular order...
#1- There are five parts to the story. Introduction, rising action, climax, falling action, conclusion/denoument. Every good story has all of these. The introduction and conclusion are most important, and very often the most difficult to master. The introduction is what introduces the characters and their main problem. If it is sub-par, then it is less likely that readers will wish to read further. The conclusion is what you leave your readers with. For an exciting story, leave on a high note. For tragedy, leave on a sad note. For comedy, end with a laugh. The conclusion determines how readers feel after they finish reading.
#2- The key to any story is conflict. There are different kinds of conflict. Internal conflict has a character dealing with problems within himself/herself. External conflict is much more common. It has a character conflicting with an outside force.
#3- Every story MUST have plot. There must be some main event that the story works up to.
#4- A good story has many conflicts deeply intertwined. Layers upon layers upon layers upon layers upon layers. (sorry to do that, but I had to get the point across.) Many of them should be subtle, and almost undetectable to those not actively looking for them.
#5- Word choice is VITAL. The words chosen mold your story into what it is. The words 'sadly', 'solemnly', and 'somberly' all mean the same thing, but each has it's own connotation.
#6- The story must be understandable by those who read it.
#7- The characters are the most important part of a story. There are two essential characters: the protagonist and the antagonist. The protagonist is not necessarily the 'good guy'. He/She is the main character, whom the story is told by/through. The antagonist is the opposing force. There will most likely be a multitude of other characters, which can be defined through these basic categories:
--Aids the protagonist
--Aids the antagonist
These characters, however, are not bound to these categories. Very often, a character will transition from one group to the other.
#8- Each character can be described as either dynamic or static. A dynamic character is a character who changes throughout the course of the novel. A very common case is the helper of the antagonist who 'has a change of heart' and then helps the protagonist. A character that is static does not change throughout the course of the story.
#9- A character can be developed using direct characterization, in which the narrator directly tells us what this person is like. For example, in my fanfic I wrote, "He was a powerful man, and also malicious. Those whom he disliked often went missing, and a few were found dead." A character can also be developed using indirect characterization, in which the character is developed through more subtle ways, more commonly through thoughts and actions.
#10- A very important part of characterization is sympathy. The more we are sympathetic to a character, the more we will like him/her. For example, most main 'villains' in stories would have absolutely no sympathy for them, because they are utterly evil. The ones that the author creates the most sympathy for are usually the protagonists. Very often, an author will play on a reader's emotion by building up sympathy for a character who helps the antagonist, and then has them participate in an 'act of redemption', in which he/she helps the protagonist and may or may not die.
#11- Something must ALWAYS be happenning. Otherwise, the plot will become boring, and readers will be lost. If a story draws people in, then readers will often put up with a bit of boredom, but may stop reading if the plot becomes stale or if it seems to be taking too long for an event to finish. This is why there must be layers upon layers of conflict, so something is always happenning.
#12- Avoid stupid spelling mistakes. There's nothing that bothers me more than bad spelling. Use the 'spell check' or a dictionary. That's what they're there for.
#13- Most of the time it is best to avoid use of the passive voice. However, there are exceptions to this rule. Sometimes, the passive voice can add feeling. For example, it could add a sense of inevitability.
If there are any specific questions on fanfic writing post them here, and I or someone else will most likely answer them.
Thanks to StephXZed for the confirmation on 'static'.
So, in no particular order...
#1- There are five parts to the story. Introduction, rising action, climax, falling action, conclusion/denoument. Every good story has all of these. The introduction and conclusion are most important, and very often the most difficult to master. The introduction is what introduces the characters and their main problem. If it is sub-par, then it is less likely that readers will wish to read further. The conclusion is what you leave your readers with. For an exciting story, leave on a high note. For tragedy, leave on a sad note. For comedy, end with a laugh. The conclusion determines how readers feel after they finish reading.
#2- The key to any story is conflict. There are different kinds of conflict. Internal conflict has a character dealing with problems within himself/herself. External conflict is much more common. It has a character conflicting with an outside force.
#3- Every story MUST have plot. There must be some main event that the story works up to.
#4- A good story has many conflicts deeply intertwined. Layers upon layers upon layers upon layers upon layers. (sorry to do that, but I had to get the point across.) Many of them should be subtle, and almost undetectable to those not actively looking for them.
#5- Word choice is VITAL. The words chosen mold your story into what it is. The words 'sadly', 'solemnly', and 'somberly' all mean the same thing, but each has it's own connotation.
#6- The story must be understandable by those who read it.
#7- The characters are the most important part of a story. There are two essential characters: the protagonist and the antagonist. The protagonist is not necessarily the 'good guy'. He/She is the main character, whom the story is told by/through. The antagonist is the opposing force. There will most likely be a multitude of other characters, which can be defined through these basic categories:
--Aids the protagonist
--Aids the antagonist
These characters, however, are not bound to these categories. Very often, a character will transition from one group to the other.
#8- Each character can be described as either dynamic or static. A dynamic character is a character who changes throughout the course of the novel. A very common case is the helper of the antagonist who 'has a change of heart' and then helps the protagonist. A character that is static does not change throughout the course of the story.
#9- A character can be developed using direct characterization, in which the narrator directly tells us what this person is like. For example, in my fanfic I wrote, "He was a powerful man, and also malicious. Those whom he disliked often went missing, and a few were found dead." A character can also be developed using indirect characterization, in which the character is developed through more subtle ways, more commonly through thoughts and actions.
#10- A very important part of characterization is sympathy. The more we are sympathetic to a character, the more we will like him/her. For example, most main 'villains' in stories would have absolutely no sympathy for them, because they are utterly evil. The ones that the author creates the most sympathy for are usually the protagonists. Very often, an author will play on a reader's emotion by building up sympathy for a character who helps the antagonist, and then has them participate in an 'act of redemption', in which he/she helps the protagonist and may or may not die.
#11- Something must ALWAYS be happenning. Otherwise, the plot will become boring, and readers will be lost. If a story draws people in, then readers will often put up with a bit of boredom, but may stop reading if the plot becomes stale or if it seems to be taking too long for an event to finish. This is why there must be layers upon layers of conflict, so something is always happenning.
#12- Avoid stupid spelling mistakes. There's nothing that bothers me more than bad spelling. Use the 'spell check' or a dictionary. That's what they're there for.
#13- Most of the time it is best to avoid use of the passive voice. However, there are exceptions to this rule. Sometimes, the passive voice can add feeling. For example, it could add a sense of inevitability.
If there are any specific questions on fanfic writing post them here, and I or someone else will most likely answer them.
Thanks to StephXZed for the confirmation on 'static'.