Sharing Some Techniques and Tips for New Writers

Article Title: Sharing Some Techniques and Tips for New Writers
Submitted by: Craig Lock
Line Space: 65 characters
Category (key words): Writing, Creative Writing, Writing Hints/Tips
Web Site: http://www2.webng.com/write
z/creative.html
Additional Articles: http://www.articlesbeyondbetter.com/profile/Craig-Lock/270n(Writing, internet marketing, self help, spiritual/inspiration and money)

Publishing Guidelines: This piece may be freely published,nelectronically or in print.

"We share what we know, so that others may grow."n n *
SHARING SOME TECHNIQUES, TIPS AND ADVICE FOR NEW WRITERS:n nfrom Thomas Clark, former senior editor at Reader's Digestn
"The foundations of successful writing are within anyone's grasp.
The only way to do it is to do it." -n- Tom Clancyn
"My greatest good fortune was that I didn't know that I was doingneverything wrong. If I'd have done a single right thing Inprobably would have failed. If I'd known how hard - statisticallynspeaking - it is to get a first novel published, I might havengiven up. What success means is really looking failure in thenface and tossing the dice anyway. You may be the only person whonknows the dice came up, but in that knowledge you have somethingnthat millions of people will never have - because they werenafraid to try." n - Tom Clancy (again)

"There is no perfect time to write. There is only the present." n - Barbara Kingsolve

"Dreams are the stuff that make life worth living. Give them upnand you give up all that truly matters."n n "The art in writing is rewriting."

Never fall in love with your first draft - rewrite.

"You MUST believe in yourself. If you don't believe in yourselfnand your talent and your ability to succeed, then you can'tnexpect others to believe in you." n - Joan Nixonn
"I write because something inside myself, inner and unconscious forces me to." That is the first compulsion. The second is one of ethical and moral duty. I feel responsible to tell stories that inspire readers to consider more deeply who they are."

People often write to preserve a family's history. You too cannlea
about the richness of your family background.

Nice word dat 'dingbat'. Marie invented it to describe some of the dea
and kindly inhabitants of "Sleepy Hollow".

Write what you care about and understand. The simple truth isnthat all good books will eventually find a publisher, if a write
tries hard enough.

The central secret is to write a book people like you will enjoy reading. n- Richard Pattersonn
"Write from your own passion, your own truth. That's the onlynthing you really know a lot about. Anything else leads you awaynfrom the pulse." n- Marianne Williamsonn
"Courage matters as much as talent. A real writer doesn'tnconsider giving up as an option." n- Marianne Williamsonn
"Gustave Flaubert said it best: 'We do not choose our subjects, they choose us'."n- Josephine Hartn
"Writers come from every walk of life and every background. Annexcellent editor once told me the secret of good fiction is tonplace flesh on the bones of an ordinary story and to drive itnwith strong characterisations." n - Steve Martinin
Write about the most embarrassing moment in your life. Write anpoem of 10 lines, then discuss the next day in class. ZEN ANDnTHE ART OF MOTORCYCLE MAINTENANCE was initially rejected by
122 publishers. Since then it has never been out of print. Idealnlength of a book is +- 200 pages. Publishers have rejectednpreviously published novels, eg. "controversial" NZ writer, Alan Duff.

"You can't build a reputation on what you're goin to do." n- Henry Fordn
Story flows from character. Character is the most importantningredient in any fiction story. A good plot with lousyncharacters is a lousy book. But a mediocre plot with strongncharacters makes enjoyable reading."n - Robert Cormie

"Listen to the way people talk. If your characters sound real the rest is easy." n- David Eddingsn
Edit and rewrite - until you get it down on paper, there'snnothing to work on. "Even garbage can be improved."

There is no shortcut to writing a good novel. The publishe
doesn't want to hear about the idea, but to see the book."n- Richard Pattersonn
"My manuscript is the only thing over which I have absolutencontrol." n - Sandra Brownn
"Writing is hard work. But very enjoyable hard work andncompletely satisfying - even though one is never completelynsatisfied with one's efforts."n - Colleen McCulloughn
Trust your own instincts.

"Be bold. Thrust forward. Have the courage to make mistakes, evennto fail. Nobody is going to die, if your efforts aren't perfect."n- Garrison Keillo

When you want to quit:

Put your manuscript away for a time. Go off and "shoot pool",nwatch TV, fish - do whatever you want to do and see what happens.
If the urge to write goes away, you have no problem. If itndoesn't, you'd better resign yourself to the idea you'll never be happy, nunless you are a writer." n- Garrison Keillor n
"If younhave a masterpiece within you, you'd better save it on paper. Otherwise none thing is for sure - none of us will ever miss it."n- Steve Martinin
"Courage matters as much as talent. A real writer doesn'tnconsider giving up as an option." n- Marianne Williamsonn
A glimmer of hope for me then!

"When a new writer says to me 'I give up - it's too hard', Inreply, 'Fine, give up' and if the recipient of this advice takesnit without flinching, I know there was no real writer there tonbegin with." n- Steven Bachn
"Write for yourself, not for social recognition or financialnsuccess. If you're any good, they will come. But the work itselfnmust be your primary and major satisfaction." n- William Heffe
ann
Mastering the technical bits:

"Begin with a great opening sentence. Make frequent use ofnsensory perception. Use strong active verbs. One good verb nis better at description than a clutter of adverbs and adjectives."n- Joan Nixonn
If you have a wonderful idea, don't talk about it to friends andnrelatives. Write it down. Don't discuss, nor spend too much timenwith writing groups. "Start each fresh day by rewriting thenlast page of where you stopped yesterday."n - Patrick McManusn
"Always stop for the night at the point where you know exactlynwhat the next paragraph will be. "It avoids the blank stare when you're rewriting." n- William Heffe
ann
Dont tell - SHOWn
"Don't be too miserable, if your first efforts aren't any good.
Stick at it. Keep reading and writing and learning, as it's thenonly way you'll improve."n - Alexandra Ripleyn
"Don't be afraid to discard work you know isn't up to standard.
Don't save junk, just because it took you a long time to write it." n- David Eddingsn
"Keep writing. Keep learning. Keep believing. You may never makenit big; but at least you know you gave it your best shot." n- David Eddings (again)

And to end off, here is a wonderful philosophy for new writers...

"There is no perfect time to write, there is only the present.
She's right. If we wait for everything to be perfect, we cannspend our whole life waiting." n- Barbara Kingsolve

I hope that the above tips from Thomas Clark are helpful to nyou and that is why I am sharing them.

Happy writingn
Craig Lock (Eagle Productions)

"Eagles may fly high, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines."

About the submitter:
Craig believes in sharing information and insights to make a difference in this world: to help and especially encourage people along life's magical jou
ey...and that brings him the greatest joy.nnhttp://www2.webng.com/write
z/creative.html

The "original" online creative writing course.
15 entertaining lessons by a prolific author.
Learn the craft of writing and have fun at the same time.

All proceeds go to needy and underprivileged children - MINE

"The world would have you agree with its dismal dream ofnlimitation. But the light would have you soar like the eagle of your sacred visions." n - Alan Cohen

P.S: Don't worry about the world ending today...nit's already tomorrow in "little" scenic and tranquil
New Zealand

THIS ARTICLE MAY BE FREELY PUBLISHED.