Monday, February 23, 2009

How to write fiction

I have a fairly strong desire to make a living as a writer. Specifically, as a fiction writer. So, you may ask yourself, how does one become a successful writer of fiction? Well, obviously as a hopeful writer, I haven't quite figured that part out, but I do know one or two things about writing. The most important part of writing is writing when there is nothing you want to say. when you don't have an idea how to finish that story, let alone begin it, that is the moment when it is imperative that you pick up the pencil, keyboard, or whatever and write. The scariest thing for a writer is the blank page, so throw some words on it and maybe it gets a little less scary. This ties in to the second big tip I have learned the hard, hard, hard way. It is always easier to revise than to write. Now, let me clarify. The beginning bits of revision are infinitely easier than the beginning bits of writing. the stuff towards the end of the proccess gets a little more sticky. Nevertheless, you will always be happier revising a long story that needs to be shortened than you will be trying to get your three pages into five. So how does this tie in with my other posts on video games and the horrors of the real world? I have no idea.

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