Wow, it’s been way too long since we’ve reviewed any of our Tuesday Tips. This post might be a little less “quick” than usual.
Here we go:
Even though that was a lot of info, I can’t let the chance to say this again slip by: Never forget your golden rules. Read, read, read, and write, write, write!
Here we go:
- Do You Need An Editor? Can you afford one? There are indie-friendly editors out there that won’t charge quite as much, but it’s still not going to be cheap. So, if you can’t get yourself a professional editor, find yourself a writing group. Give and receive help in a group of supportive writers either online or in person. Also, become the best self-editor you can be.
- On Self Editing: Read your work through multiple times, each time checking for different elements (spelling and grammar vs pacing and character development). Take breaks between your read-throughs to get some distance. Then, back at it. Think you might have missed something? Read it again. Think you’re all set? Read it again to make sure. Try reading it in a different format, or out loud. Don’t get complacent.
- On Character Building: Don’t oversimplify your people with a laundry list of traits. Humans are complex. Contrast your main character against the people in their life. How do they fit? Let your characters grow at a reasonable pace. Some situations might have them stepping up to the plate, but others could still bring out their worst even after they were “past” that particular issue. Growth doesn’t mean complete change of who they are.
- From guest author Grace Hudson: Read outside your genre. Take risks in your writing, telling what needs to be told instead of what the world might want to hear.
- On World Building: Have some fun developing your world by adding holidays. Delve into the history of your world and ask, what do they celebrate and why? Plus, you get to put these holidays on your own calendar and have extra reasons to celebrate. It’s not weird, you’re an author!
- From guest author A.L. Wright: Join a critique group and develop a thick skin. Groups like these keep you writing, help you learn to think critically about others writing as well as your own, and help you learn to take real feedback.
Even though that was a lot of info, I can’t let the chance to say this again slip by: Never forget your golden rules. Read, read, read, and write, write, write!
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