tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post2673841521583123081..comments2024-03-17T06:03:00.362-04:00Comments on Fiction University: Small Things That Will Make Your Writing Life Easier Janice Hardyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-83338356376606400212021-03-20T08:21:48.862-04:002021-03-20T08:21:48.862-04:00Oh good! I'm glad James's post helped :)Oh good! I'm glad James's post helped :)Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-6668671423690878832021-03-18T21:44:15.876-04:002021-03-18T21:44:15.876-04:00I feel vindicated after reading this! I've us...I feel vindicated after reading this! I've used all three of these tricks for the same reasons but wondered if I was only showing myself as an amateur for doing them. Thank you for showing me I just MIGHT have some idea of what I'm doing.Gina Scott Robertshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05226736421483386367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-89382186453092646572015-11-25T23:25:44.066-05:002015-11-25T23:25:44.066-05:00That whole "not stopping" thing is so ha...That whole "not stopping" thing is so hard for me. I dictate so I want to take a break every 25 minutes or so, so my throat doesn't get raw. Only problem is that a 5 minute break turns into 30 or 40, every single time. Lost opportunity! I do the other two fairly religiously. I get a pretty good word count in, but it takes way longer than it needs to.<br /><br />As an aside, I recently read a book where the main female characters were Chloe, Carly and Clara (NOT related). I wanted to shoot myself. There was no way I could keep track of that.Jayce Ellisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-58762301735486364312015-11-21T14:25:13.657-05:002015-11-21T14:25:13.657-05:00Noting my scenes often goes along with when I outl...Noting my scenes often goes along with when I outline. When I brainstorm, I summarize scenes into a few sentences and play with the order, just to make sure someone I kill off doesn't reappear in a later scene or something stupid like that. Then, when I'm writing the first draft, before beginning that scene, I read through those few sentences so I know what I'm writing about. <br /><br />The idea is to nail subplots through outlining, so I don't forget a plot thread halfway through the outline. It also helps me with character arcs. I don't think this will work for any pansters, though. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-39710242497729115342015-11-17T19:04:38.435-05:002015-11-17T19:04:38.435-05:00Great tips. I've moved over to typing what my ...Great tips. I've moved over to typing what my scene is about and may need to go back to note taking. I always type WHAT when I don't know something. Too often that sentence gets rearranged or deleted anyway!Carol Baldwinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10444182118975929045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-65068707442481435952015-11-17T16:05:31.387-05:002015-11-17T16:05:31.387-05:00It is helpful if you use a character or character ...It is helpful if you use a character or character set to set off your inline comments or research questions that is unique and searchable. You don't want to search for every parenthesis in your WIP. But if you have comments set of by something like // that isn't used anywhere else, you can search and make sure you haven't missed any. I use it for all kinds of comments to keep from breaking the stream. Research, things to double-check from earlier in the manuscript, blanks to fill in, extra scenes to be built into the outline, whatever. <br /><br />Pictures of my characters help me when I am writing descriptions and to keep physical attributes consistent throughout the story. <br /><br />Keeping lists of minor characters who are likely to appear again (what was that grade 2 schoolteacher's name again?)<br /><br />I have a scratchpad (document note in Scrivener) where I keep a running list of odd bits of information. Names and ages, an inconsistency to check, a brilliant idea I just had for a future scene, words that I have written several ways in the book that need to be standardized (especially hyphenated words. Sometimes I put it in, sometimes I leave it out...)<br /><br />Background/white noise to drown out other distractions and remind your brain that you are currently being creative so that you can stay focused on the WIP. Whether you use Coffitivity, an iPhone App (I like Relax Sounds and Deep Relax), or what. Sometimes I just have my earbuds in and nothing playing, if I just want to muffle the background noises a little. <br /><br />Writing to a timer can help boost writing speed. Pomodoro method can be fun. <br /><br />I'm sure there are plenty more crutches I use, but that's all I can think about at the moment. <br /><br />Oh--having a word quota, deadline, or a word war or some kind of competition/friendly encouragement/accountability partner can be a real boost too.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04217192664906748187noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-87914581965157406972015-11-17T13:44:27.314-05:002015-11-17T13:44:27.314-05:00Great tips in the post and the comments. Thanks!Great tips in the post and the comments. Thanks!Rosihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01294774973863802821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-39530856578539267522015-11-17T11:52:20.087-05:002015-11-17T11:52:20.087-05:00The name list should not have names that sound lik...The name list should not have names that sound like or start with the same letter or letters as major character names. If your novel is set in a particular place with particular ethnic groups or a special history, you should find names that fit. <br /><br />In your scene notes, decide what the goal of the scene is for the viewpoint character. The scene should also include three bits of information--one or two plot points (information or events which move the plot forward), and one or two character points (important character information) so that you have at least three points total.<br /><br />At the beginning or the end of your writing, you should go over it and make notes in your book bible of character names, descriptions, etc. so you don't change a person's hair color or other info. It's a bit of extra work, but you'll be grateful for it during editing or writing a sequel.<br /><br />When you leave out info, use a symbol that you don't use in your writing so you can do a universal search to make sure you filled in all the blanks.<br />Marilynn Byerlyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16720129999636676998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-36761291787768539762015-11-17T11:21:13.182-05:002015-11-17T11:21:13.182-05:00I'm a pantser, but I feel the need to do a sho...I'm a pantser, but I feel the need to do a short (super short) paragraph about each scene before I write it. It isn't because I need to stay focused though. I keep all of these paragraphs so that when isn't been more that 12 hours since I've written, I can go back and get a gripe on the story I'm want to tell.G. J. Jollyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09716902434885633884noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-83030690768950320122015-11-17T10:28:14.298-05:002015-11-17T10:28:14.298-05:00Great tips! I'm especially guilty of stopping ...Great tips! I'm especially guilty of stopping mid-stream to research. I'm going to try just adding a note in the future. Thanks so much for sharing!Fiona Skyehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11543608166065125842noreply@blogger.com