Writing Tips: The Thing About Writing

I read a lot.

When I was fourteen, I discovered websites full of stories written and posted for the public. Some of the material I read was wonderful and some of it was awful. I found a lot of stories that were littered with spelling mistakes and characters that made decisions that no conscious human being would make. But on occasion, I found stories that were decent, even enjoyable. In particular, there was one author that updated her story on a weekly basis with new chapters and everything she wrote sounded brilliant. So one day, I thought, I can do that too. I know the English language. I know what not to do. How hard can it be?

Let me just say one thing: famous last words.


Writing is difficult, from beginning to end.

That isn't to say that you shouldn't write, but you should know it isn't going to be effortless. Writing takes work.

- You need an idea.
- You need characters, perhaps even if you're writing poetry.
- There's a possibility you may even need to have a plot when you begin writing.
- At some point you are going to meet The Blank Page, which can be rather frightening.
- You need to keep your characters alive and your plot moving forward.
- And as you progress in your writing, eventually you'll meet The Blank Page again, when someone is expecting something good from you. That makes it even more frightening.
- At some point, you'll probably have a complete draft, but it won't come out perfect the first time.
- You'll need to revise, if not even rewrite.
- You may even have to repeat that step a few times.
- You'll have to edit.
- A few years after you write something, you may find yourself looking back and wondering what that thing on the floor is. Maybe it was writing, but it sort of resembles roadkill too, so it's difficult to say for sure.

If you want to write, then do it and do it well. Lists like that one can be threatening, especially when you're just beginning. But know that writing, like everything, changes with time and practice. If you don't give up, if you continue to learn and keep moving forward, you'll get better. It'll be a lot of work, but in the end, when you're holding your finished product it will be worth it.


(Note: I know I said I'd write a post on procrastination today, but I thought it would be better to start at the beginning. Funny, procrastinating on a post about procrastination...)

Writing Tips: Procrastination

Dear Readers,

Tonight I was supposed to have been writing. Instead, I drew a pomegranate. Kind of. It didn't come out that well.

Procrastination is a dangerous friend. Be warned.

Signed,
Resident Temporary Artist, Usually Writer

PS: Tomorrow I'll write a real blog post, probably on this subject and more in depth. Promise. Now I'm going to write for real. Hopefully.

Book Review: The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

 "Could you survive on your own in the wild, with every one out to make sure you don't see the morning?

"In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV. 

    "Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before -- and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love." (Cover blurb on book).


I was hesitant to read this book originally -- mostly because someone had full-out convinced me that it was about cannibalism and I wasn't totally sure I wanted to read on that topic. It's not. When I finally purchased The Hunger Games, I was pleasantly surprised to find a blend of adventure (survival of the fittest) and sort-of romance in a dystopian setting.

Katniss is a strong lead, and she's got what it takes to keep this novel alive. She's not the sort of person to let anyone walk all over her, even when the odds are against her, and I enjoyed her spirit. Her knack for survival starting in the first few pages let the reader know that she was by no means to be considered helpless, and she didn't break down just because she was in a bad situation.

Emotional involvement isn't difficult to achieve with me when I'm reading; even a terrible work of fiction can keep me hooked until the end, if only so I can have closure. But it takes a decent plot, connection to the characters, and a pretty good writing style to keep me singing praises after a few days have passed.

By the end of this novel, I was ready to go fight my own battles. And even after several weeks had passed, I was still interested in the characters, so I bought the second book (which I have yet to read). While it probably isn't for the weak of stomach, this series has my praise.

The Hunger Games has captured my attention. I won't bash you over the head with it and tell you to read it or else, but I definitely recommend it to readers looking for a thrill ride.

This book can be found in bookstores and online:

The Hunger Games

Happy reading!

Ink Is Gold: A Blogging Adventure

It's 2:15 in the morning. I'm tired. I should be outlining a book for my independent study class next semester, but my brain is a puddle of pillows and blankets, and I don't feel I'd be doing it much justice anyway.

So, naturally, I've decided to start a blog instead. That makes sense, because I've definitely been meaning to do that lately. But never you mind my abilities to stay on task. This is going to be fun, and I'm actually going to keep writing on here, honest. (Just because I have a reportedly bad track record when it comes to writing blogs consistently doesn't mean anything. It's going to be different now.)

What can you expect to see on here in the future?

- Book reviews
- News on my own writing progress
- Articles on writing tips
- Perhaps I'll even blog about publishing news in the future
- Updates on my independent study class when that comes around
- Song recommendations if I'm particularly in love with one at the moment of my blogging
- Neat things I happened to do or see that might somehow vaguely relate to this blog, or that I feel you might enjoy
- And some everyday life stuff


This morning is the beginning of my first real blogging adventure. Therefore, I have decided that it is going to be a good day. Don't sit around here reading, go enjoy it.

The end.