I’ve just discovered this AMAZING book for Aspiring Writers.
‘The 38 Most Common Fiction Writing Mistakes’ by Jack M. Bickham.
Bickham instructs the Beginner and Emerging Writer, all the way to the more Experienced, on how to advance your Creative Writing to the next level.
Doctor Kim Wilkins from QWC explained at our final Year of the Edit session.
“Writers always make the Same Mistakes with their Writing. I’ve checked with my colleagues … They agree. It’s always the same ones.”
If we’re all prone to these Mistakes, how can we improve OUR writing?
… By looking at Bickham’s Tips … Here’s a few BIGGIES …
• Conquer Procrastination …write EVERY day
• Don’t write about WIMPS …build characters that are ready to ACT
• Don’t write BORING, unrealistic dialogue …Make your character’s speech come ALIVE with slang, dialect, colloquial and their own TAG phrases.
• Look for TROUBLE … Create CONFLICTS for your characters
• Make your story RIVETING …Tell the story through the Character’s Viewpoint and Problems
• Don’t use REAL people in Fiction …Exaggerate your Characters using their Characters Traits and Flaws.
• Don’t HIDE your Feelings … Fill your writing with PASSION and EMOTION and your Reader will respond.
• Don’t ignore SCENE STRUCTURE … In each scene, state the Character’s motivation upfront, Show opposition through another Character … Develop Conflict/Struggle climaxing with a Disastrous/ climactic Ending.
My Mistake? … I need to Rethink and Strengthen those SCENE STRUCTURES.
Can YOU look at your Writing through Critical Eyes and see where YOU need further developing? … I did.
Think of your Creative Writing travelling along a Continuum, forever moving forward, forever improving.
Happy Writing and Rewriting :))
More great tips……Thanks Karen!
I need to work on description, and scene structure. Thanks Karen.
Hi Angie. How’s your writing going? … Karen :))
Hi Marjorie, its great that you’ve recognised it …That’s the first HUGE step … Cheers, Karen :)) PS Description was in the book too.
Hi, Karen. Another great post. My big one is procrastination. Now that I’ve finished this first novel draft, I feel like taking a break, but I should keep writing, daily. Too easy to easy to get out of a daily writing routine. Joanna :))
Hi Joanna, You must write every day to keep that Creative Brain sparking … A journal, a short story, a Blog … some piece of writing or rewriting. I know when I stop, I start to panic that I’ve forgotten how to write. Its a Muscle that needs exercising… Cheers, Karen :))
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Thanxs David for the Mention and the Link. This is my very first Pingback. Very much appreciated … Karen:))
Dialogue is not just A biggie – it is THE biggie!
Oh and scene structure… and … and ….
Hi Andrew, I agree, dialogue is SO important. Getting the story right is a MASSIVE juggling act … Cheers, Karen
Between me and my wife we would have to say this is an pretty informative post that deserves mentioning elsewhere. This is for 2 types of people: current writers who are considering an independent craft, and people trying to select to become a writer.
Hi Jesse, I’m glad you liked my BLOG. As writers, we should be always trying to improve and extend our craft … Karen :))