Writing Need Some Writing Advice And Tips

[Black_DragonBorn]

Hello.

This is my 2nd thread. First one was about some questions with contract. And I was taken a back seeing how many of you helped me out. So seeing the frndly community I am here to ask some of my questions here.

Now to the topic I am writing my first book which is mainly about martial arts. Name: Twin Dancer Aura Master. In this book I tried to create new power concept and also trying to keep the story fresh. But the problem is I have started writing it without any plan. I just got an idea and I started writing it down for fun. So I only have the base concept and some of the main plot. As a result I am now struggling with creating new plots and connecting each one. So if you guys have any tips on plot writing, do help me out.

2nd point and also the one which I am struggling the most is describing surrounding and atmosphere. I almost have no clue how to describe them properly. I hope to get some guidance in this matter.

If you have any other tips do share with me. I am totally new in this field and am clueless.

 

[Mechaphobic]

When I write I visualize everything like a movie in my head, and I build the descriptions based on whether or not I think they are important to the scene. If you say something like a mage's tower is really intimidating, you need to be able to say why? Were skeletons hanging around in iron cages? Was there bloodstains on the stone walls? Just anything I can think of to get the imagery across. Basically if you are drawing attention to something, think why, and explain it all.

I think of it as similar to a buffet, they will pick most of what they want to eat, but you are in charge of the main dish. That means that you need to make it as appetizing as possible.

 

[RepresentingWrath]

Yeah, I got the same problem as you. Started writing spontaneously. First of all, take notes of what happened in every chapter. Try to think of an ending or at least the direction your story will take. That way, you will be able to do some reverse engineering. You would think of events that must happen for your story to reach that point. Try to concentrate on already existing characters and basically dedicate chapters to their development. Slowly introduce new characters and make some screen time for the characters that were overshadowed. Try to use scenes like fighting or r-18 scenes that are mostly descriptions as filler. You will have some time to come up with the idea of plot development. Something like this. It's not the right way, but it's the only thing I came up with.

As for describing. Try to imagine the scene. Don't describe it monotonously. Think of how it feels and mix it up with actual descriptions. There will be people after me who would give you better advice. At the moment, you can have mine.

 

[Black_DragonBorn]

When I write I visualize everything like a movie in my head, and I build the descriptions based on whether or not I think they are important to the scene. If you say something like a mage's tower is really intimidating, you need to be able to say why? Were skeletons hanging around in iron cages? Was there bloodstains on the stone walls? Just anything I can think of to get the imagery across. Basically if you are drawing attention to something, think why, and explain it all.

I think of it as similar to a buffet, they will pick most of what they want to eat, but you are in charge of the main dish. That means that you need to make it as appetizing as possible.

Alright I will try it.

Yeah, I got the same problem as you. Started writing spontaneously. First of all, take notes of what happened in every chapter. Try to think of an ending or at least the direction your story will take. That way, you will be able to do some reverse engineering. You would think of events that must happen for your story to reach that point. Try to concentrate on already existing characters and basically dedicate chapters to their development. Slowly introduce new characters and make some screen time for the characters that were overshadowed. Try to use scenes like fighting or r-18 scenes that are mostly descriptions as filler. You will have some time to come up with the idea of plot development. Something like this. It's not the right way, but it's the only thing I came up with.

As for describing. Try to imagine the scene. Don't describe it monotonously. Think of how it feels and mix it up with actual descriptions. There will be people after me who would give you better advice. At the moment, you can have mine.

Thanks a lot. I will keep these in mind.

 

[Biggest-Kusa-Out-There]

What I found helpful is to think a story through arcs.

In a martial arts story it would follow the century old recipe of
'mc gets their ass kicked -> wants to improve -> finds a master/teacher -> they impart the knowledge of the dao or smth -> they have talent -> beats bullies or small fries they couldn't face before -> gains confidence -> gets beaten by another person -> trains -> maybe the treasure were the friends we made along the way -> maybe romance -> the person they like/their friend gets beaten or harassed -> trains harder -> beats the new obstacle -> etc.'
Since you've mentioned coming up with a new power concept you can take inspiration from hunterxhunter in their approach to power or any story with a unique power tbh.

For ambience and description, I recomment listening to ambient videos on youtube. You could pick a forest, an office, a mall, a gym, etc. and remember human memory works mainly with sight/sound/smell. If your character is on the street mention cars, pedestrians, animals (birds, dogs, cats), etc.

Remember the 'show, don't tell' rule, if your character finds the place spooky, describe them looking around or playing with their clothers/hands instead of saying "John was nervous'. This helps make chapters longer as well lmao.

 

[Black_DragonBorn]

What I found helpful is to think a story through arcs.

In a martial arts story it would follow the century old recipe of
'mc gets their ass kicked -> wants to improve -> finds a master/teacher -> they impart the knowledge of the dao or smth -> they have talent -> beats bullies or small fries they couldn't face before -> gains confidence -> gets beaten by another person -> trains -> maybe the treasure were the friends we made along the way -> maybe romance -> the person they like/their friend gets beaten or harassed -> trains harder -> beats the new obstacle -> etc.'
Since you've mentioned coming up with a new power concept you can take inspiration from hunterxhunter in their approach to power or any story with a unique power tbh.

For ambience and description, I recomment listening to ambient videos on youtube. You could pick a forest, an office, a mall, a gym, etc. and remember human memory works mainly with sight/sound/smell. If your character is on the street mention cars, pedestrians, animals (birds, dogs, cats), etc.

Remember the 'show, don't tell' rule, if your character finds the place spooky, describe them looking around or playing with their clothers/hands instead of saying "John was nervous'. This helps make chapters longer as well lmao.

Aight thanks for the advice ^^

 

[RepresentingCaution]

Write what you want to read, and someone else will also love it!

 

[skillet]

something someone told me: 'plot' is just a sequence of scenes. The plot is driven by smaller events, so considering it that way might help you plot out your novel more easily! As in, give your character a goal (an arc, in other words), and then think what smaller events would be necessary to bring that goal to reality. lol someone might've already said this here

also for the description thing, best advice I can give is for you to read. On this site, on NU, or maybe get Kindle Unlimited for the first free month and read as much as you can, but don't just read-- also pay attention to how the other people did it. Actively notice how other people are doing stuff, and then try imagining how similar explanations would work for you. In daily life, too, if you look around you, just idly try putting down what you see in words in your head, asking yourself, "if I had to write this place down, how would I describe it?" and etc.
+++ something I saw somewhere (lol): describe the big things first! If it's dark, say that first, so that people don't find out halfway through a chapter that they were supposed to dim their imaginations from the beginning. If you're in a restaurant sitting on wooden tables, say that first, and then get into the details later as they get relevant (i.e. a character stares at a particular flower pot at the right while zoning out).

 

[Ai-chan]

Hello.

This is my 2nd thread. First one was about some questions with contract. And I was taken a back seeing how many of you helped me out. So seeing the frndly community I am here to ask some of my questions here.

Now to the topic I am writing my first book which is mainly about martial arts. Name: Twin Dancer Aura Master. In this book I tried to create new power concept and also trying to keep the story fresh. But the problem is I have started writing it without any plan. I just got an idea and I started writing it down for fun. So I only have the base concept and some of the main plot. As a result I am now struggling with creating new plots and connecting each one. So if you guys have any tips on plot writing, do help me out.

2nd point and also the one which I am struggling the most is describing surrounding and atmosphere. I almost have no clue how to describe them properly. I hope to get some guidance in this matter.

If you have any other tips do share with me. I am totally new in this field and am clueless.

What kind of story you have? Comedy, slice of life, horror?

In general, you can simply use the standard western structure: introduction, rising action, climax, falling action, ending. If you have gone too far and you can't tell which is your rising action or climax, don't be afraid. Look at your work, and decide if the situation can go worse or it will just get better from then on. If it can go worse, then what you've written so far can only be either introduction or rising action. If it can't get any worse, then your last chapter is at climax.

Now that you know where your stories are on the story structure, you can plan it much easier now. Or just like @Biggest-Kusa-Out-There said, you could treat it as arcs. Maybe what you've written before is one arc and the next chapter a new arc starts. But if you want to get any semblance of structure, you still need need proper planning. Arcs can function as smaller blocks in the larger picture.

Or you could go with the eastern storytelling structure, Kishotenketsu, which is introduction (ki) development (sho), twist (ten) and conclusion (ketsu).

 

[Black_DragonBorn]

something someone told me: 'plot' is just a sequence of scenes. The plot is driven by smaller events, so considering it that way might help you plot out your novel more easily! As in, give your character a goal (an arc, in other words), and then think what smaller events would be necessary to bring that goal to reality. lol someone might've already said this here

also for the description thing, best advice I can give is for you to read. On this site, on NU, or maybe get Kindle Unlimited for the first free month and read as much as you can, but don't just read-- also pay attention to how the other people did it. Actively notice how other people are doing stuff, and then try imagining how similar explanations would work for you. In daily life, too, if you look around you, just idly try putting down what you see in words in your head, asking yourself, "if I had to write this place down, how would I describe it?" and etc.

Thanks for the advices.

+++ something I saw somewhere (lol): describe the big things first! If it's dark, say that first, so that people don't find out halfway through a chapter that they were supposed to dim their imaginations from the beginning. If you're in a restaurant sitting on wooden tables, say that first, and then get into the details later as they get relevant (i.e. a character stares at a particular flower pot at the right while zoning out).

Yeah more like what you notice first. I got the thing. Thanks ^^

What kind of story you have? Comedy, slice of life, horror?

Martial arts, fantasy.

In general, you can simply use the standard western structure: introduction, rising action, climax, falling action, ending. If you have gone too far and you can't tell which is your rising action or climax, don't be afraid. Look at your work, and decide if the situation can go worse or it will just get better from then on. If it can go worse, then what you've written so far can only be either introduction or rising action. If it can't get any worse, then your last chapter is at climax.

Tbh kinda confusing ?

Now that you know where your stories are on the story structure, you can plan it much easier now. Or just like @Biggest-Kusa-Out-There said, you could treat it as arcs. Maybe what you've written before is one arc and the next chapter a new arc starts. But if you want to get any semblance of structure, you still need need proper planning. Arcs can function as smaller blocks in the larger picture.

Yeah I got it. Thanks

Or you could go with the eastern storytelling structure, Kishotenketsu, which is introduction (ki) development (sho), twist (ten) and conclusion (ketsu).

Ok this was something new I learned. Well thanks for the advices.^^