Thread: A little advice

Hey, I'm fourteen. I'm a part of another forum for a trading card game I used to play. Anyone I'm working on a novel. It's kinda hard to explain where I'm at with the writing. I finished the base of the story. (Grammar and spelling aside.) but some people gave some very interesting advice on different tips. It is a sci-fi/fantasy novel. Does anyone have any advice for me like ways to keep the readers interest and help explain the plot better? I'll post the book in a little bit as soon as I'm finished editing it. Please ignore any spelling or grammar errors as I am horrible at it. Thanks!

Read Ben Bova's "The Craft of Writing Science Fiction That Sells" - it's really easy to understand, he explains really well with examples of real stories that he includes in the text.

Can't recommend it enough for all the tips and tricks for putting together a story that works.

http://www.amazon.com/Craft-Writing-...9048174&sr=8-1

Well, it's a bit hard to just give general advice without anything to go by. Are you a complete beginner or do you have some grasp of the basics? What kind of advice have you already been given?

Hi there, Shadowthorn.

One of the things that help us learn is reading examples. Why don't you browse some of the works in the Fiction boards and ask the writers a couple of questions regarding their work? A few comments on them could also help. This brings you a lot of benefits. First, this will allow you to gain the necessary ten posts so you could post in the creative boards and finally show us your work in progress. Second, it will help you gain more chance on feedback since the ones you gave critiques to will most likely reciprocate (we're a give-and-take community here). Finally, and most important, you get exposed to the works of others, learning the different styles of writing, and this will help you find your own style. Three birds with one shot, I think that's a cool bargain.

Good luck to that work of yours!

I respect Zootalaws' advice, but I would be very wary of introducing a first-time writer, aged 14 no less, to any kind of 'how-to' novel. I understand the appeal of such things, I do, but the reality is that so many of them will set your head spinning before you've even set pen to paper. You don't want that. What you need to do is start reading sci-fi novels from the great writers like Isaac Asimov, Arthur C. Clarke, Ray Bradbury, and Larry Niven to name but a few. Don't just read them, though. Pay attention to how they're paced, the various structures of sentencing, and how they explain and embellish their plot. That's the only true way to learn how to write well in any genre.

Good Morning, Blaze. May I offer a bit of off-the-wall, grandfatherly advice? To be fair, I must tell you that I have spent my life writing non-fiction. Only in the past year or so have I begun to try to learn fiction. So now you know that any advice I offer does not come from an experienced writer of fiction such as Sam W. It does, however, come from someone who has had a successful writing career that began when I was the age you are now. I was 14 when I sold my first newspaper articles 57 years ago.

My advice is that you try writing some sketches, or stories, or even the start of a novel, set in the year 2011 on planet Earth, dealing with the sort of people you know such as your parents, your neighbours, your friends at school. Don't stop writing science fiction, but also work at creating realistic people through dialogue, realistic places with brief descriptions, realistic events through narration.

I may be wrong, and Sam W will correct me if I am, but my belief is that if you can create a bit of believable fiction about the here and now, that you can go on to create other worlds and other times.

Whatever course you follow, do keep writing.

Originally Posted by Blaze Shadowthorn

Does anyone have any advice for me like ways to keep the readers interest and help explain the plot better?

That's an odd question. What do you mean, "explain the plot better"? Your plot shouldn't need explanation; it should be showed and played out in every scene you write. If the plot calls for the protagonist's spaceship crashing onto an alien planet, you write about that. What's to explain?

If you meant explaining the scenes themselves, that's a little harder. My best advice is to spend time in the scene in your mind, and find what stands out. Is the wind especially strong? Is there something that's out of place in an otherwise sterile room? Is a character exhibiting notable body language?

Avoid delving into minutia, though. Some authors, in an attempt to convey the world they so laboriously built, will overload the readers with details. We don't need to know everything. We want the story.

However, you know what drives a story? Characters. Readers will remain interested if they like and can connect to the characters. Happily, the same rule applies: spend time with the characters in your mind. Make them real. Give them motivations and have them act like human beings. If your characters are just means to an end, no one is going to want that.

But, as everyone else said, the best way to learn is through reading. Take works that you enjoy and figure out why you like them so much. Take the characters that you love and determine what the author did to make you connect with them. The best way to be a good writer is by being a good reader, so start there.

Does anyone have any advice for me .... Please ignore any spelling or grammar errors as I am horrible at it.

Turn on spell check, the red lines under the words are nearly always right, the green lines that microsoft grammar gives you are less reliable, but worth consideration.

Originally Posted by Sam W

I respect Zootalaws' advice, but I would be very wary of introducing a first-time writer, aged 14 no less, to any kind of 'how-to' novel. I understand the appeal of such things, I do, but the reality is that so many of them will set your head spinning before you've even set pen to paper. You don't want that. What you need to do is start reading sci-fi novels from the great writers like Isaac Asimov, Arthur C. Clarke, Ray Bradbury, and Larry Niven to name but a few. Don't just read them, though. Pay attention to how they're paced, the various structures of sentencing, and how they explain and embellish their plot. That's the only true way to learn how to write well in any genre.

Which is exactly how Bova's book is structured. It isn't a 'how-to' book, as I described.

I have gone into more detail in another thread, but essentially he sets a few simple 'rules' - items each story must have. Then he gives a complete short story, then he critiques it in detail according to those rules. And these aren't 'Ben Bova's Rules' - these are the generally acknowledged rules for all fiction. In essence he does exactly the same as you suggested the OP did.

Perhaps you should have reviewed Bova's work before so cavalierly discounting it as inapplicable? It is extremely readable and easy to absorb, for a fourteen year old as well as an adult.

In particular, he asked for "advice for me like ways to keep the readers interest and help explain the plot better" which is EXACTLY what Bova's book is about. In particular he explains why stories fail - what elements are missing and how inexperienced writers with a good grasp of language and a good idea fail to capitalise on that. It isn't a book about learning to write, it is a book about how to ensure what you write contains all the elements necessary to capture a reader, in other words, precisely the areas the OP wished help with.

I don't go giving advice heedlessly, I don't just talk for the sound of my own voice. I also am an inexperienced writer of fiction and found his short work invaluable - the best $1.99 I have probably ever spent.

Reading others works can help you. but always keep in mind that don't let what you read affect your original idea of the novel. reading can help you discover different ways to express your thoughts more prominently.

Originally Posted by Gamer_2k4

That's an odd question. What do you mean, "explain the plot better"? Your plot shouldn't need explanation; it should be showed and played out in every scene you write. If the plot calls for the protagonist's spaceship crashing onto an alien planet, you write about that. What's to explain?

That is exactly the type of post Blaze doesn't need to read. If you had been a bit more thoughtful and realised Blaze is only 14 and knows sweet Fanny Adams about writing, you may not have been so confrontational. I understood Blaze's post perfectly.

Originally Posted by The Backward OX

That is exactly the type of post Blaze doesn't need to read. If you had been a bit more thoughtful and realised Blaze is only 14 and knows sweet Fanny Adams about writing, you may not have been so confrontational. I understood Blaze's post perfectly.

Wow...it's like you took my post out of context, ignored the part where I explained what I meant and offered advice, and blindly attacked the rest.


But no one would do that, right?

Originally Posted by Zootalaws

Which is exactly how Bova's book is structured. It isn't a 'how-to' book, as I described.

I have gone into more detail in another thread, but essentially he sets a few simple 'rules' - items each story must have. Then he gives a complete short story, then he critiques it in detail according to those rules. And these aren't 'Ben Bova's Rules' - these are the generally acknowledged rules for all fiction. In essence he does exactly the same as you suggested the OP did.

Perhaps you should have reviewed Bova's work before so cavalierly discounting it as inapplicable? It is extremely readable and easy to absorb, for a fourteen year old as well as an adult.

In particular, he asked for "advice for me like ways to keep the readers interest and help explain the plot better" which is EXACTLY what Bova's book is about. In particular he explains why stories fail - what elements are missing and how inexperienced writers with a good grasp of language and a good idea fail to capitalise on that. It isn't a book about learning to write, it is a book about how to ensure what you write contains all the elements necessary to capture a reader, in other words, precisely the areas the OP wished help with.

I apologise if I've offended you, but I didn't dismiss his work. I said it was unwise to introduce a 14-year-old to any book about writing. Most of them have, as you pointed out, 'rules' that generally must be adhered to. In short, I find the notion of 'rules' for writing nonsensical and, speaking from experience, oftentimes crippling. Introducing them to a writer who's just trying to find his/her way in the writing world is, in my opinion, the worst thing anyone could do. Why cripple the kid with dos and don'ts before s/he's even found the confidence to put pen to paper? That's all I'm saying. I'm not discounting the man's work. I'm just saying that the fun of writing is often sapped because of people either a) being told about 'rules' or b) being told to follow some set-in-stone guideline for writing the perfect novel.

I don't go giving advice heedlessly, I don't just talk for the sound of my own voice. I also am an inexperienced writer of fiction and found his short work invaluable - the best $1.99 I have probably ever spent.

I don't talk for the sound of my own voice either; I talk from experience. I've written a dozen novels. I have never so much as opened a book on writing, a how-to book, or any book other than fiction written in my genre (et al). That is not to say those things are worthless, but my point remains. You'll find conflicting information in every guide or how-to book on the market. Spend any great amount of time reading them and you become so confused that you don't know where to even start.

Wouldn't it be great if there was some kind of writers' bible that could make us all best-sellers and great novelists? There is, but it's not just one book. It's thousands. Reading guides and how-to books can confuse the hell out of you. Reading novels will show you how to write and give you ideas for your own novel. For me, the latter trumps the former.

Blaze, I hope you are still with us and we haven't frightened you away.

I'll be honest. If someone had handed me a book of rules for writing when I was 14 I would have followed my dad's advice, gotten a degree in agronomy, and gone to work for the Department of Agriculture.

Sam W has the best advice. Read. Read the kind of books you like, and read some you think you won't like, but maybe you will. And write. Those are the only rules you need to know about right now. Read a lot, and write a lot.

Originally Posted by Sam W

I apologise if I've offended you

You didn't

Most of them have, as you pointed out, 'rules' that generally must be adhered to.

'Rules' was probably too strong a term. Guidelines is probably a better description.

All literature follows a certain protocol, unless you are Cormac McCarthy or JG Ballard... all Bova does is to explain those, with examples. Even Aristotle knew there were certain elements that, if included, make for an entertaining story.

As a writer with a lot of experience, you may have forgotten what it was like back when you hadn't written a thing... it isn't easy, if you haven't had any formal training in writing you are pretty much out in the cold knowing what to do. I've no doubt some people are natural storytellers, knowing instinctively what elements are needed. I ain't one

I'm sorry that this has turned into an argument. The OP asked for some help. I found the book really helpful, so I thought I would pass that on.

All I have seen from experienced writers replying to his question is 'read more' - he possibly already reads a lot, he was after some more concrete help.

I read a lot - a hell of a lot. It is helpful having a large amount of literature to refer to, but sometimes a helping hand from an experienced author and editor can help you focus and overcome some of your inexperience.