Thread: Writing 101 - How to write so that people can read it without confusion.

Okay, first off, HEY! I'm back! Took a few monthes off because frankly, I didn't have anytime to get on. Now I am back and will try to make the rest of the covers for you guys, but if you already have one I understand if you don't use it.

Now to the whole reason I made this little thready thingy. Because I love you crazy Bieber fans (Sorry, I'm not one of you. I am just a writer.) and want your stories to be read and enjoyed to the fullest. Having been reading around, I see a lot of rookie mistakes when it comes to writing.


1. Don't type your story in the thread started or reply boxes. Just don't. Type it in an office program.

2. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE FOR ALL THAT IS GOOD INDENT AND SEPERATEYOUR DIALOGUE! (thats speech fyi). For example:

"Hey!" Justin yelled across the room. "What's up?" I asked him, smiling and made my way towards him. "Not much." "Oh, me too."

What you just read in blue is how most dialogue is written on here. See how it's hard to tell who is saying what? It's like a mosh pit of words. If you don't know what that is look it up. Anyway, this is how that conversation should have been written:

"Hey!" Justin yelled across the room.

"What's up?" I asked him smiling, and made my way towards him.

"Not much."

"Oh, me too."

See how much easier that was to read? If you also notice, on the last two lines I didn't specify who was talking, but you knew who it was, right? After a while of using those explanations after dialogue, they start to lose their meaning, and will almost dissapear to the reader.

3. Don't switch between first and third person. Example:

Sarah looked over towards the door and hoped Justin would be home soon. After a few minutes, she gave up and went to take a shower. I took my clothes off and stepped into the clawfoot tub, letting the water run down my back. Something inside me was telling me he was in trouble, but I didn't care.

That didn't make much sense, right? In the beginning I was in third person, then switched to first person. Don't do that. Pick a view and stick with it throughout the ENTIRE story.



I will probably come back and add more, but for now add anything you want to this thread! AND READ MY FANFICTION! CLICK THE PICTURE IN MY SIGGY!

This is good advice! I thought of one:

if you find a word that you can use differently, because say you used it to much already, then do it.
For example:

"Please, tell me you love me too." I said, tears streaming down my eyes.

"I don't know what to tell you. I'm just finding out about this now.." he said.



^ I know it may be easier to say said all the time, but it gets boring, repetive.
So try dressing it up a little. It will make the paragraph and the story a lot more exciting.

Here's the same 2 sentences with a new verb :
"Please tell me you love me too." I pleaded, tears streaming down my face.

"I don't know what to tell you. I'm just finding out about this now.." He replied, with a stiff expression.



Hey how do you set up a picture so yu can click it and directly send it as a link to your story?

Another thing that I keep seeing is:

I went to my locker and took out my books. When I got home...

You have to specify HOW you got home. What, were your books magical? Did they magically take you to your house? No? Well then tell us. Did you take the bus? Did someone drive you?

Another irritating thing that I see, is that the stories move too quickly. In the very 1st chapter, we're (slightly) introduced to the character, and then by the second chapter, the main character and Justin are already dating. Make the story at least a LITTLE realistic, even if it's fiction. MOST relationships aren't like that.
In a lot of fan fics, there's no character development. We're told the character's name, age, and who they live with (sometimes not even that), and then we're thrown into the story. Take a moment to explain who the character is, give them a chance to grow in the story.
There are so many more things that piss me off, but I'll leave it at that.

One last thing. I am so tired of seeing these type of sentences:

"When we went to the park I had fun because we spent so much time on the swing and he pushed me so high that I felt like I was flying and it was so much fun.

No. Break it down.

"We had so much fun at the park. He pushed me so high on the swing, I felt like I was flying."

See how short that is? Cut it down.

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