Writing Tips from Around the Web
- Katherine A. Pisana
- Jun 30, 2017
- 2 min read
As a writer, I often find myself searching the web for great writing resources--and there are many. As a general rule, because there is always so much to learn, I try and read two writing related posts or article each day. (Not that this happens consistently with LSAT studying!) To help my fellow writers out, I've decided to start a feature called Writing Tips from Around the Web highlighting resources I've used or found that week. The resources will vary from blogs, Twitter personnel, articles and even YouTube videos. So without further ado, here we go!
@NaomiLHughes on Twitter
A YA writer, assistant editor at Entangled Publishing, and a freelance editor, Naomi is constantly pushing out fantastic tweets about how to improve your writing. I also adore her occasional long threads on common writing mistakes she sees as a freelancer. Definitely worth a follow!
What is character agency? Well, that's where the article comes in! To put very simply, it's how active--as opposed to reactive--your character(s) are in your story. Do their actions move the plot forward or are they simply reacting to outside events? The former makes for more interesting characters.
Imagery can add beauty to writing, but it has to be used well! Mary Kole, a freelance editor and former literary agent, makes it easy to understand how to use imagery for the greatest impact. One of my favorite parts of the article was her practical tip about limiting yourself to one image or analogy for a moment. Using more can dilute the strength of the imagery.
It's often difficult to know where to start your story: this post written by author Kes Trester gives you practical tools to help you decide.
An amazing blog post that utilizes examples from The Hunger Games series to show how to deepen POV. In order to get readers invested, it's crucial they get a clear sense of your character(s) and their motivations. How do you do this? Make sure to tell the story through your character's eyes and not your own. (Easier said then done, I know!) There are some things to ask yourself to make it easier, though: what makes your character's interpretation of events and people unique? Have I shown my character's thoughts and feelings through well-placed internal dialogue and instinctive bodily reactions? Have I taken out filter words to make the story seem more alive?
Well, that's it for now! I hope you find these links helpful and I would love to hear your thoughts! I'd also love to know some posts or articles you've found helpful to hone your craft! Feel free to contact me on Twitter so we can chat!
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