Where to learn about writing?

Question

I have a lot of difficulty writing. I started asking a writer my questions but I think he didn't like it very much. He was bothered and offered me his course, which I can't do at the moment. Where can I learn writing and writing techniques without spending money if possible? Do you learn the techniques just using Google?

Answer 1

Read widely and in large quantity. I read a huge number of books, across most genres, before I started writing. I also day-dreamed a lot, making up stories in my head without the pressure and difficulty of trying to write them down. By the time I actually put pen to paper, I had already discarded a ton of terrible plot ideas and flat characters, and had absorbed a sense of what a book-length plot felt like.

Then I turned to blogs. There are loads of resources out there and it's worth spending time browsing around to see what clicks for you. My favourite is probably K. M. Weiland's website 'Helping Writers Become Authors'. It's a bit daunting at first because there's so much information, but what I like is that she illustrates all her points with examples from popular books and films so it's easy to relate to. I've found her blog series on plot structure, scene structure and character development particularly helpful.

I'm not published yet but I've completed two readable novels so I figure I'm doing something right.

Answer 2

“Learning writing”, in many cases, is equivalent to just “writing”. I wrote (and presently write) a lot of fiction and short stories, and the way I got better was just to write. As I read more and compared-and-contrasted and got feedback from my family and friends, my style more-closely approached what I wanted it to look like. Feedback from others, especially others who are interested in you and your writing (e.g. family, friends, an editor), is critical to learning how to write in your own way.

It is also very important to understand that a lot of writing will probably not make it anywhere. If you have a really good idea and a really gripping concept, then that might be able to make it somewhere, but if you’re still learning, much of the actual putting-words-on-pages will just be practice until you get to a point where you can express things exactly how you want to.

Answer 3

Many aspiring writers believe that there is some secret to writing (or to writing bestsellers) and they spend much time and effort on uncovering that secret. They buy – and maybe even read – one how-to-write book after another, they watch endless hours of YouTube tutorials, they keep asking similar questions on websites dedicated to writing, and so on. But:

There is no secret to writing.

All that you need to become a good writer has been repeated endlessly everywhere and it all comes down to two practices:

1. Read a lot.
2. Write a lot.

Writing is a procedural skill

Like swimming or riding a bike, you learn it by doing it. By reading many examples of the kind of text you want to write, you gain an implicit knowledge of what constitutes a good text in that genre. And by writing many texts, you learn how to write good texts.

How-to-write books and questions on websites like this one are for reflection and refinement. Like a trainer and special exercises in swimming, they can make you even better, but they cannot replace the endless rounds you have to swim in the pool.

Answer 4

This is a very broad question. In practice, there are two types of writers with a lot of overlap--plotters and pantsers. Plotters like to make outlines and plan ahead. Pantsers open the laptop and start writing using pure imagination.

I mostly am a pantser, but I'll put together a brief outline at some point so that I can make my scenes match up. I have reams of wasted chapters, but I think it's more fun to pants it.

All writers benefit from a style guide like The Chicago Manual of Style. Do you capitalize "i" in iPhone if it starts a sentence? Well do ya? You can pick up an older version, like the 16th Edition, for cheap on resale sites.

Beyond that, reading and writing in large quantities will help you develop a voice. There's no avoiding trial and error.

Answer 5

Read and write regularly. Schedules are often busy, so it isn't necessary to do both daily, but try weekly. Maybe every other day. Set a time, or set a few times. Stick to something, though.

Read many genres. Not just mystery or fantasy or science fiction or dystopian or romance, etc. Also look into suspense, action, drama (though most stories have drama), thriller. Check out stories with lots of grit and dark tones. On the other hand, try out books with happy or positive tones. Look into books focusing on a conspiracy in the story, etc.

Have fun with it. Don't burn yourself out. Take breaks when necessity strikes. Edit if you really need to. Never let self-doubt hurt your writing. Just focus on enjoying it.

Trust your subconscious. The stories you have stored in your mind are waiting to come alive on the page. A writer's job is to transcribe the story, using language that comes as close as possible to what's in their head. Don't second-guess yourself or else you risk declining the quality of your writing. You can always edit it for better wording later.

If all else fails, watch YouTube videos on it. Read blogs. Check out what techniques prolific authors use. On Writing by Stephen King is a gold mine, a literal wealth of knowledge.