Jump to content


Photo

How can I get better?


  • Please log in to reply
20 replies to this topic

#1 Npaws

Npaws

    And now my watch begins

  • Builder
  • 1821 posts
  • minecraft:
    Npaws

Posted 08 February 2013 - 03:21 AM

I think I could be more good at writing if I had a more descriptive vocabulary in my stories. How can I get better at this?

#2 Seabreeze

Seabreeze

    Everyone around me is incompetent

  • Retired Admin
  • 7217 posts
  • minecraft:
    Seabreeze

Posted 08 February 2013 - 03:28 AM

Read.



#3 Guardian Selene

Guardian Selene

    A Council-mare of the XCOM Project

  • Pony
  • 692 posts
  • minecraft:
    Commander_Nanook

Posted 08 February 2013 - 03:31 AM

Read some good stories, what's in book discussion is a good start.

#4 Npaws

Npaws

    And now my watch begins

  • Builder
  • 1821 posts
  • minecraft:
    Npaws

Posted 08 February 2013 - 03:32 AM

I have a lexile of 1305 and I can read a novel in like 4 days. I read a lot. But I guess I could read more.

#5 Guardian Selene

Guardian Selene

    A Council-mare of the XCOM Project

  • Pony
  • 692 posts
  • minecraft:
    Commander_Nanook

Posted 08 February 2013 - 03:37 AM

Well then try some writing exercises, like describing the same area in two paragraphs. Then shrink the area and add more paragraphs.

#6 Npaws

Npaws

    And now my watch begins

  • Builder
  • 1821 posts
  • minecraft:
    Npaws

Posted 08 February 2013 - 03:41 AM

That could work! Thanks Commander!

#7 Guardian Selene

Guardian Selene

    A Council-mare of the XCOM Project

  • Pony
  • 692 posts
  • minecraft:
    Commander_Nanook

Posted 08 February 2013 - 03:43 AM

No problem, glad to help. Now I must zzzzzz

#8 High Orbit

High Orbit

    To you we give our cannon salute

  • Builder
  • 799 posts
  • minecraft:
    Ymlong

Posted 08 February 2013 - 05:09 AM

Best way to do it, is to take your history textbook, and re-write it as a novel. Ponified, of course.

 

I still can't explain to the teacher why my notes always start with

 

On this episode of My Little History : Friendship and Betrayal...



#9 Npaws

Npaws

    And now my watch begins

  • Builder
  • 1821 posts
  • minecraft:
    Npaws

Posted 08 February 2013 - 05:22 AM

Hehe

#10 Hieros Godhead

Hieros Godhead

    Coded Clouds and Paper Canyons.

  • Pony
  • 1170 posts
  • minecraft:
    CiderMakara

Posted 08 February 2013 - 05:23 AM

I'll give you a suggestion a good friend of mine gave me-

 

Think of an abject.

 

Then an adverb.

 

Then group those two together and write a 10,000 word short story with that at the center.

 

Now that may be a bit much, so I'd suggest bring it down to about 2,500 for starters, but the more you write, the better you get. Also, as tsar said, read. There is always something to be gained from a published novel or a good fanfic, even if you read it solely to glean ideas from the text.



#11 Npaws

Npaws

    And now my watch begins

  • Builder
  • 1821 posts
  • minecraft:
    Npaws

Posted 08 February 2013 - 05:29 AM

I can't thank you guys enough for all the helpful suggestions. Problem is that I am such a procrastinator and probably not get on this for a bit. The tips are sure to help me though!

#12 RunningWolf251

RunningWolf251

    It's so lonely 'round the fields of Athenry.

  • Builder
  • 2087 posts
  • minecraft:
    kibamoon

Posted 08 February 2013 - 06:02 AM

Best way to do it, is to take your history textbook, and re-write it as a novel. Ponified, of course.

 

This is how I started getting a bit better at it, although it wasn't with ponies at the time, rather with either real horses or centaur-sorta things. I'd also suggest, if you're really wanting to get into writing a bit more and become better, take Honors or AP English courses if they're offered, those will help you tremendously with your writing and composition skills.

 

Also, for the descriptive vocabulary thing, this is not necessarily the case. Just because you have an extended repertoire of words and a thesaurus of related or similar words to use does not mean that the reader is going to understand or want (key word here) to read a bunch of high-level words that they don't understand. Frankly, it's a turn-off and far too laborious to keep the common reader attentive. Keep it simple and save complex words for situations where the character is bored because this will give the reader the feeling of being bored as well and they will begin to relate more with the characters in the story, just don't go too overboard with that particular feeling. Complex words can also be used to make something seem more sophisticated without detailing too much of what it appears to be or having to describe too in depth. Again, simplicity is key for an audience that is not composed largely of literature critics.



#13 Defective

Defective

    Hey! Where's the gummi shark filling?

  • Retired Admin
  • 2333 posts
  • minecraft:
    DefectiveTurret

Posted 08 February 2013 - 07:40 AM

Read.

 

This is basically it.

Read advanced material like classical literature, or at least something that actually builds brain cells.

That means Twilight and all related reading material needs to be either vaporized or chucked directly into the nearest incenerator.
 

Heck, I used to read dictionaries for fun as a kid. Don't question it. I just did, okay? I suppose it helped in its own way,

but rather, learning from the best writers in history does have a splendid effect on one's ability to wield the written word.

 

Addendum from Kyo: Read Poe. Lots of Poe. Edgar Allan Poe is the best writer in all of history. His work must not be overlooked. Not for one, single, solitary moment. Read Poe. What on earth are you waiting for?!


Edited by DefectiveTurret, 08 February 2013 - 07:46 AM.


#14 greebster

greebster

    World's best mom!

  • Builder
  • 2530 posts
  • minecraft:
    greebster

Posted 08 February 2013 - 08:28 AM

Up your level on reading material. If it has pretty pictures inside and it can fit under the door, you probably need a more advanced and heftier book. Look at the Book Reccomendations corner over in Off Topic, plenty of books in there for you to discover, I have no doubt.

To add to the mix of books that will somewhat conflux into your imagination's productivity at some point, just practise writing. Build your world early and you will assert an advantage in terms of development. My world outside of the pony fandom has even got a map. I made a list of locations and named them according to words from old cultures. I have another list of names for characters, subject to change of course.

Primarily, just keep reading and keep dreaming.

#15 Hayleychick

Hayleychick

    Background Pony

  • Pony
  • 34 posts
  • minecraft:
    Hayleychick

Posted 13 March 2013 - 12:36 AM

centaur sounds cool post a hd skin of one!



#16 Npaws

Npaws

    And now my watch begins

  • Builder
  • 1821 posts
  • minecraft:
    Npaws

Posted 13 March 2013 - 12:48 AM

wat...



#17 Night_Breeze

Night_Breeze

    I can explain...

  • Pony
  • 919 posts
  • minecraft:
    tux_peng

Posted 13 March 2013 - 12:51 AM

I can't thank you guys enough for all the helpful suggestions. Problem is that I am such a procrastinator and probably not get on this for a bit. The tips are sure to help me though!

and don't use many of these phrases  http://en.wikipedia....glish_speakers  They're often overused to make writers sound smart



#18 catopia26

catopia26

    Pleasure to make your acquaintance!

  • Builder
  • 656 posts
  • minecraft:
    catopia26

Posted 15 March 2013 - 07:19 AM

I read for at least an hour every night and I have worked my way up a ways to the iron druid series. I would completely reccomend reading that for better vocabulary.



#19 intothetrashyougo

intothetrashyougo

    ---

  • Banned
  • 139 posts
  • minecraft:
    ---

Posted 15 March 2013 - 07:43 AM

Read some H.P Lovecraft and try deeply describing what is happening in a character's head in a way that seems somewhat abstract and uses many metaphors (I can give an example upon request).

#20 Argos

Argos

    In the end, I was good to my friends, and that's good enough

  • Banned
  • 107 posts
  • minecraft:
    blackhawk651

Posted 04 August 2013 - 10:02 PM

Read the dictionary. That's what I do to be more descriptive.



#21 Squint

Squint

    Zzz

  • Builder
  • 4956 posts
  • minecraft:
    Squu

Posted 18 November 2013 - 11:38 PM

I can read a novel in like 4 days.

This might be your problem. I'm not saying that you're skim-reading or anything, of course not - but it's never good to rush through books. I have a friend who goes through books like kids go through candy, but her writing could also be improved upon. Try slowing down when you read, decide a pace for you to read at and keep the pace constant. I'm not saying I'm an excellent writer (I'm really not), but after I first started to slow myself down when reading, I noticed my writing improved as I was noticing my word choice more, as you would notice word choice more when reading.




0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users