| Although there are no set rules for writing a | | | | stressed enough. Why isresearch important? It |
| novel, there are certain principles that will improve | | | | adds depth, credibility, and texture to a work of |
| the execution of your story. If you were to bake | | | | fiction. Personally, I like to read books, which shed |
| a cake, wouldn't you like to know the recipe? Just | | | | light on some unknown subject. Tellme something |
| as there are certain ingredients needed to bake a | | | | new. |
| cake, there are certain action steps, which are | | | | IV. Right-Brain Thinking |
| necessary for writing compelling fiction. | | | | Tap into the right-brain, and you've hit the source |
| Likewise, an architect would not try to build a | | | | of your creativity. This involves use of free |
| house without a blueprint, or without the proper | | | | association, free writing, mind mapping, and |
| tools, so why try to write a novel without the | | | | clustering, which are all functions of the right brain |
| building blocks? From my experiences of working | | | | use. Dreams are the most important of all of |
| with beginning writers, your chances of writing a | | | | these. You can use dreams to spark ideas. |
| good book are better when you improve your | | | | V. Reactions |
| writing skills. These are some of the nuts and | | | | Newton's Law says that for every action, there's |
| bolts for writing a good work of fiction. | | | | a reaction. In movies, the reactions are called |
| Seven Keys to Improving Your Writing | | | | "reaction shots." |
| Regardless of your talent, I found there are | | | | This is just as important to character |
| seven keys, which will improve your writing. | | | | development in writing fiction. Reactions make for |
| These action steps are reading, writing practice, | | | | good writing. Reactions will also help with your |
| (including journaling), research, right-brain thinking, | | | | characterization. Through the five character |
| reactions, reversals, which keeps a scene turning | | | | actions (thinking, speaking, acting, reacting, and |
| on its ear, and revisions (or rewriting.) | | | | interacting), reactions can be shown through |
| I. Reading | | | | thoughts, dialogue, and actions. Each one tells us |
| For a writer, reading is like inhaling oxygen. You | | | | something about the characters. One character |
| need it to exhale the carbon dioxide of your | | | | will react to the same situation in a totally |
| writing. The two are inextricably intertwined. | | | | different manner than another character. You can |
| Reading is key to stimulating the mind and the | | | | look at the outcome of children in a large family |
| imagination. In addition, it builds your vocabulary | | | | and get an idea how people are so different who |
| and flexes your creativity muscles. Most of all, it | | | | come up in the same environment. |
| shows you the craft of writing fiction, as well as | | | | VI. Reversals |
| non-fiction, and the tricks a writer uses to evoke | | | | A reversal is the scene's climax, a turning point, a |
| emotions, and to captivate an audience. Reading is | | | | change. Not only does it add magic to a scene, a |
| a prerequisite to writing. | | | | reversal enhances, invigorates, and amplifies a |
| Make a goal to read as many of the classics as | | | | scene. Make sure there is at least one reversal in |
| possible. Read the genre in which you would like | | | | each major group of scenes. Reversals make |
| to write, particularly if it's romance, mystery, | | | | your plot unpredictable and heighten the tension. |
| suspense, horror, fantasy, comedy, or magical | | | | At the end of your novel, your main character |
| realism. Set a goal to read at least one new book | | | | should be changed from the person he was at |
| a week. All great writers are great readers. You | | | | the beginning. Make sure you take your scenes |
| need to be a voracious reader to be a good | | | | from positive to negative values, and vice-versa. |
| writer! | | | | A scene can start off peaceful and wind up in |
| II. (W)riting | | | | mayhem. Or the scene can start off chaotic and |
| Writing, (including journaling) is equivalent to a | | | | wind down to a tranquil one. |
| musician's form of piano practice. Writing takes | | | | The biggest reversal in a scene can be from life |
| more than talent; it involves craft. The craft of | | | | to death. When you outline, label your scenes for |
| fiction includes all the skills that fiction writers must | | | | the emotional value. Example: From pride to loss |
| develop: characterization, dialogue, plotting, setting, | | | | of respect. |
| plus many more techniques. | | | | Revisions (or Rewriting) |
| Journaling each morning is another way to | | | | After you have escaped from your draft and |
| become a better writer. In fact, it is crucial to | | | | have distanced yourself as the writer, you will |
| courting the muse. By journaling, you will also learn | | | | explore ways to troubleshoot your own and |
| to check in and check out with your feelings. | | | | others' writings for unfocused, incoherent drafts. |
| Remember, Author Henry James said, "A writer is | | | | When rewriting, finish the first draft. Put aside for |
| one on whom nothing is lost." Writing is a spiritual | | | | one week up to a month. Then do your own |
| undertaking. Pray before you write. | | | | self-edit. |
| III. Research | | | | In conclusion, it takes courage to write. |
| The importance of research for writers can't be | | | | Remember. "No guts, no story. |