A Young Author at Emerson College
Writing Tip Roundup
*This will be updated as I post each bi-weekly blog.*
My Biggest Writing Tip: WRITE FANFICTION FOR YOUR OWN STORIES.
"But Olive, that would just make it canon."
No, it won't. You decide what's canon.
I have 11+ alternate universes (some of which have alternates within that category) and counting and I know every little intricacy of my main four.
This is an easy way to take things that you maybe enjoy but can't put in the novel AND to give yourself a better way to flesh out your characters.
From "The Beginning of it All"
- - Stories are everywhere. Movies, Plays and Television are excellent easy ways to learn pacing and plot structure as they mostly all follow the three or five act structures.
- It's okay to not write every day, but take advantage of down time. I suggest making it a goal to do something in your notes app every day. That gave me most of my character development scenes in my works.
- If you have strong opinions on certain tropes, use it as a writing exercise. Put your own spin on it.
- Make a list of things you like in a piece of story telling. Then, try to find ways to incorporate those aspects.
From "An Aesthetic or a Choice? Pinterest and the Author's Mind"
I want to preface this by saying: creating mood boards for your works is writing.
- Use Pinterest aesthetics to try and flesh out your world. Looking at pictures and describing them is helpful if you can't picture the setting itself in your head.
- Be creative with fan creations. Use fanart for face claims or scene inspirations. I use it an unhealthy amount.
- If you're not excited about the vibes, they probably need to be changed. Writing what's popular isn't going to make you happy unless its something you deeply enjoy.
From "Playlist After Playlist"
- - Music can be a great tool to both brainstorm and focus.
- Step out of your comfort zone with music when you're writing.
- Ask your friends and readers what songs they think fit your vibe. More often than not, they'll have better suggestions.
- Don't use music to ritualize your writing. Making this a habit will make it more difficult in the future to work without it.
