Writing Forum

Eliot has given a great answer already, but I shall add my own thoughts to it.

Writers need to be sponges. We need to learn from all the writing that we read, regardless of genre. News articles can teach you a lot about writing in a way that engages the audience. Textbooks often convey information concisely. Humour posts can teach you about pacing and delivering a punchline. That's before you even start reading the genre and style you're interested in.

I'm slowly working my way through Wonderbook by Jeff Vandermeer which approaches the writing guide in a whole new way. I subscribe to Writing Magazine and pick up new ideas each month. Listening to the Writing Excuses podcast featuring Brandon Sanderson and others (whose names I have forgotten ... not much of a sponge for names, it seems!) is always an edutaining (educational and entertaining) listen. Of course there are Sanderson's lectures on YouTube as well.

I have awful habits as a writer. I haven't worked on anything properly since December and that was a short story. I have a novel that reached 60K then I stopped. I started a new one and couldn't finish the first chapter. I now have an idea which takes the best of both and will hopefully be the first novel I actually finish (that's if I start it). I do, however, write a fair amount for two hours on a Thursday. I'm a member of my university's creative writing society and that always gets my creative juices flowing. I tend to write near-nonsensical humour pieces, but at least I'm writing. Also, I like to think what I write there is actually pretty good. I always read out what I've written to the group and 9 times out of 10 I will get pretty heavy laughter in the right places. The other times will occur when I take a joke too far or not far enough. It's always useful to have a live reaction to your work, I find.

I guess the most important thing to do is write as much as you can. Enter a contest, or do some free writing. Even if it is just a few minutes take the time to do it.

Thanks,
Matt

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