Thursday, April 7, 2011

F is for Friday Five (and Flu)

I'm going to cheat a bit with "F" and I can do that because it's my blog. Let me explain. Right now "F" is for Flu, because for the second time this year I have it. You didn't read that wrong - 2nd time!  Due to my current state I'm slightly less enthusiastic about sitting at the computer, which is why I'm going to combine posts and use "F" to satisfy my A to Z goal as well as participate in Friday Five for the the group blog, Paper Hangover, I contribute to.

Don't forget to link your blog post on the Paper Hangover site and we'll all check it out.

Without further ado...

Friday Five prompt: The Five things you wish you'd known before you became a writer...

In no particular order:

1. If you have an idea and don't know how to make a story out of it, start asking yourself questions to flesh the story out. The good old classic who, what, where, when, and how is a good start to learning more about your idea.

2. Characters are vital. An idea will only get you so far, but fully developed, well thought out characters drive a story. Do this by studying people. Their movement, behavior, manorisms can become your characters'.

3. Become a member of Verla Kay's Blueboard. The wealth of information there is invaluable as is the community of writers. Writing is lonely, you should try to surround yourself with people who who share your passion.

4. Read, read, read!!! (Write, write, write!)

5.Pay attention during English class when you are working on vocabulary and grammar. These are two powerful tools you'll need in your toolbox, and it's more work having to learn it when all you really want to do is focus on creativity, not the structure of a sentence, which doesn't come naturally because you weren't paying attention.

I seriously could go on, but I'll stick to the rules (even if I did technically combine more than one piece of advice into some of the five).

13 comments:

  1. Sticking to these rules sound like a good foundation for any writer. I have never heard of Verla Kay's Blueboard, but I will look it up. Thanks!

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  2. Read, read, read. Yes! Great list :)

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  3. I so agree with all of these, and especially love #2. It gives us license to people watch with abandon! :0)

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  4. Great list, Michelle! Hope you're feeling better soon. :)

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  5. I'm sorry about the flu, Michelle, and hope that you'll feel better soon!

    Definitely agree with number #2! Characters are such crucial parts that drive the novel.

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  6. Thanks for the advice and feel better.

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  7. Character is something I definitely overlooked in my first MS and I am still trying to flesh them out! Drink your Theraflu!

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  8. I was a grammar nerd in high school and it does make writing that much less stressful. :)

    Feel better soon!

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  9. Great list. I am very big on characters. (Plot is not as a important to me. I haven't been to Verla Kay, just Absolute Write (which is also amazing if you haven't checked it out)but I'll look into it. Also,yay for Contemporary YA!

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  10. Thanks for all your well wishes. I am taking Tamiflu, which I swear is a wonder drug. Whenever I get the flu it ALWAYS helps, and pretty quickly too.

    I appreciate everyone stopping by the blog and commenting!

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  11. Great list. I wish I paid more attention to grammar in school, but it just didn't appeal to me at the time.

    Feel better!

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  12. Great tips! Hope you feel better soon! :-)

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  13. Great advice, especially number 2.

    I hope you are feeling better soon.

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