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iluv's tips for a good story


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#1 iluvponies35

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Posted 19 February 2013 - 02:56 AM

#1: Don't rush yourself: Always take time to think out plots, character personalities, and settings.

 

#2: Be descriptive: You don't have to try to be as descriptive as writers like Victoria Holmes, and Brian Jacquas, but make sure to give a quick but thorough decscirption of the setting.

 

#3: Don't bore your readers: I did say to be descirptive, but if its just one whole chapter of a seemingly endless fight your readers will loose interest. Try to make it seem like several things are happening at once.

 

#4: Be dramatic: Say your character is in a reeeal tight spot. Make it seem like the tiniest movement will result in certain death.

 

#5: Don't go fast: Some of the good stories on Fimfiction.net have 1,000 words per chapter, The better have 3,000-5,000 per chapter, and the best have 10,000+ per chapter.  Really put some time and effort into each chapter.

 

#6: Be true to your characters personality: Say your character was a shy pony. Then suddenly he/she was bouncing off the walls and talking at warp speed. Thats what they call 'Being out of character'. Remember this: A character CAN go from shy to talkative, but it won't happen overnight.

 

A few minor tips that should be obvious:

 

#1: Don't be Captain Capitals. Remember this: Captilise every standalone 'I', always start the first letter of any sentance with a capital letter, and a characters name is capatilised too.

 

#2: Grammar people, ALWAYS check your grammar. A profesional story has good grammar.

 

#3: Check, double-check, and triple-check your spelling.

 

Good luck and happy writing!


Edited by iluvponies35, 20 February 2013 - 05:58 AM.


#2 DjIceFyr

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Posted 19 February 2013 - 03:03 AM

Good tips. I also find that having a sheet of paper in front of you and jotting down ideas can really get a story planned out and started. Then again, that's just me.

#3 Rhythmition

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Posted 19 February 2013 - 03:15 AM

I try to keep a note pad in my pocket in case of sudden ideas. Unfortunatley they usually occour in the car where the notepad does me no good.

#4 iluvponies35

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Posted 19 February 2013 - 03:21 AM

I try to keep a note pad in my pocket in case of sudden ideas. Unfortunatley they usually occour in the car where the notepad does me no good.

 

I can relate...I can relate...



#5 RunningWolf251

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Posted 19 February 2013 - 03:25 AM

My best ideas come just before or after sleep, so I like to keep either my computer or a notepad nearby before I head to sleep. I generally think my day over before I fall asleep and my mind likes to wander so I end up thinking of something that would be really cool to write about or draw, but I can never keep that idea for the next day unless I write it down. The good ideas for drawings are generally lost because it's difficult to describe that image in words without actually drawing it, so it helps me to at least save the good writing material.

 

Also, all good points, but I just have one other recommendation for people who want to improve their writing skills: read books. If you read books in the genre you like to write in or just read to keep increasing your literature level, that really helps you get a sense of how other people do it and what to do and what to avoid when writing. I always liked to read a good sci-fi or mystery novel, as well as some of the classics whenever possible, they're very good for references and allusions and such.



#6 Hieros Godhead

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Posted 19 February 2013 - 09:39 PM

These are some good ideas iluv, I can see a lot of people using them.

 

One of the problems, just a small one I had, was insinuating that a fic isn't fantastic unless it has 7,000+ words per chapter. Now sometimes this might be true, but sometimes just dragging out your word count to make for bigger chapters is annoying and pace-breaking for the reader.

 

I'd personally say the length of the chapter vs how good it is is entirely dependant on the writer and the story, as individual as it gets. Sometimes, a fic with less than 500 words per chapter and about four chapters can be one of the most hard-hitting things you'll ever read.

 

Other than that, this is pretty solid advice! Good work!



#7 greebster

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Posted 19 February 2013 - 09:54 PM

#2: Be descriptive: You don't have to try to be as descirptive as writers like Victoria Holmes, and Brian Jacquas, but make sure to give a quick but thorough decscirption of the setting.


THIS IS KEY PEOPLE!

You don't have to try to be as descirptive


To be as descirptive


descirptive..?


Uh oh... spellcheck greebs has returned!


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