2. Be Aware of Your Weaknesses and Do NOT Forgive Them

Sorry, I know I said I would write every couple days on these "Be's" but life got busy.

Anyway, moving on now.

Everyone has a weakness. It's in every person. There's no denying you have a weakness whether it be for caffeine, chocolate, great music that makes you swoon or even just a simple smell like fresh baked goods. It's in fighting the weaknesses that are bad that we want to focus on in writing. There are things that writer's do that don't want to accept and acknowledge they have a weakness in their writing but then wonder why no one wants to read their work because of their "God" complex in writing.

A lot of writer's actually will take a lot of criticism lightly. LISTEN! Take what you can from your critics. LEARN! Some beginning authors--and I do this--will write a story and then have someone critique and after a comment about some kind of grammar or such, will say, "Oh, I wanted it that way." or "It's no big deal."

EVERYONE! IT IS A BIG DEAL! We all have a weakness whether it be something big in writing like regurgitated plots, dialogue, or descriptions. It could be as small as using punctuation incorrectly or adding things that people can't really "say". Such as, "I need to get that from my brother's room although he's sleeping," she tiptoed quietly. These are little mistakes that can really mess up getting accepted by an agent or even a publisher.

Everyone thinks these days that whatever they start to do, any hobby they get into they don't have to learn from mistakes to get better and that they already are the best at what they do.

For example:
I've been trying to learn to sew for years. I actually was almost finished with making this dress for a costume and the day before I was supposed to wear it--I did a fitting and ALL the seams ripped! I cried and cried. I seriously was depressed for a LONG time. I'm barely getting over the fact that I know I did something wrong from the beginning--I measured myself. That's a no-no because you always seem to make yourself smaller than you actually are. I blamed the pattern for not being correct when all along I knew what I did wrong and didn't want to acknowledge that I needed to learn from it. I hadn't sewn anything but blankets since then.

Now though, I have picked up a slew of clothing patterns. Some I have high expectations for and know that I need to practice before making the pieces but I am willing to learn and try things the right way and ask for help when I need it.

That's how it should be for writing. Acknowledge your faults. Don't keep shrugging them over your shoulder like it's nothing to worry about. Things will work out if you listen to your critics and actually use their suggestions.

1. Be Courageous

A lot of beginning writer's don't like to have their worked judged or to even tell people they are writing a story.

This is a big deal people! You are writing a novel, short story or poetry! Not a lot of people have the guts to say that they are writing a story. Stand up there. Be proud that you're trying something new or doing this to achieve a goal you set one, two, or even ten years ago.

I for one, do not like to show most of my work to anyone. I will show it to people I feel I can trust and give me good feedback. I have not shown most of my work to friends or even family.

I am really preaching this all for myself--we all usually talk about things to help others but realize that we need it for ourselves. (Sorry for that sidenote).

Tell your family you are writing a story. Some may think you're strange or crazy. Some will think it's magnificent that you are trying something that is very difficult: time wise and emotional wise. Share your work when you need feedback with someone close to you.

Quit hiding that manuscript under the mattress or diving at the keyboard when someone enters the room (I need to stop this too).

Another thing for beginning writers that we don't realize is that if we do become published--we're going to have to stand up in front of people to promote the story. We are going to be doing readings. Get into a speech class. Learn to wiggle away those stage fright jitters. Sometimes just an acting class may even help with this because it is more interactive.

Join writing groups. Talk about your story with them. Get the feedback needed. Take the criticism gracefully and then do what you want with it.

Writers are no cowardly lions. We are brave to even let our emotions flow inside a story that becomes so close to our hearts that we don't want to let it all go. Let it go. It's like when a parent watches their child going to a full day of school the first time. It's hard. Tears flow, sniffles start and that child is growing up. At some point even later, they will go to college or get married. You have to let that child go. They have to become their own person and it is the same with the novel. If you don't let it go at some point, it will never grow up to be it's own story.

Be courageous. Stand up to show off your stuff. Don't get cocky, just be proud of what you are doing. Ask for advice. Ask for feedback from close family. One thing I have noticed with fellow writer friends is that those who show loved ones their stories--write more stories. They are getting that support system in tow at an early stage. Unlike me and other writers who have the fear of criticism and aren't that brave to show off work at an early stage. I have noticed that I write less and less the more I don't show anyone my work. I, too, will have to become courageous.

Things to Learn as a Writer

Okay, so I receive regular emails from the author David Wolverton/Farland. He's a science fiction author and does workshops and such. He also does what I guess you could call it an "email blog".

Anyway, he's been writing on what he likes to call the "Beatitudes of Writers"

I am going to do a spin-off of this and use some things I've noticed that really help as a beginning writer.

So, over the next little while I will be doing the "Things to Learn as a Writer" instead of calling it the "Beatitudes of Writing".

Here is what I will focus on:
1. Be Courageous
2. Be Aware of your Weaknesses and Do Not Forgive Them
3. Be Innovative
4. Be Humble
5. Be Persistant
6. Be Convicted in Your Writing
7. Be in Charge of Your Writing
8. Be Studious

I'll actually just change the title of these items on the "8 Be's of Writing".

There are many more things you can do with writing and need to focus on but these are the ones I noticed from David's email blog and from other sites and books that really need to be focused on.

This will all begin shortly--I will work on one a day or so. Ciao!

Updates All Around

Okay--I've updated my blog! Ain't it so pretty?

Well, a couple changes--first, my music player is now on the bottom of the page and automatically starts--well it should do that.

Second background--it is just more me.

Thirdly--I finally am posting something! YAY!

I will seriously try to update again sooner!

Ciao!

Descriptions are a Piece of Cake

Wow--long time, no write. All due to the buying a house wonderfulness which has now turned into a house buying terror, nightmare, etc. (Whatever you want to call it. I'll post more on it later on my other blog).

Anyway, today and last night and for weeks upon weeks I have been tumbling over writing some things that help me do the writing I like to do.

I call myself a descriptive writer--I am crap at dialogue but I love descriptions. The tastes, the smells, the captive imagination that can seem so real at times and suck us in to those imaginary places.

I like to follow a few steps when doing descriptions and ask myself questions along with it.

1. What am I supposed to describe?
--Well, you really want to know what you're describing first when you start to describe something...duh. Now, to actually know what you're wanting to describe is a bit harder. You really need to focus on what is important in the scene.
You don't want to describe everything around the main character or a) you'll confuse the reader from the situation or b) your writing will get dull and boring and the reader will put your book down.

IE: Bob is noticing Sally's hair.

2. What do I want the reader to see, taste, smell, touch, hear from this description?
--If you've never eaten a grape, you're not going to know that some have seeds and some don't. You won't know that sometimes they are so tart that they can pull your cheeks in from the sides or that they can be as delicious as the best candy that has sat on your tongue and melted and makes you want to eat the whole bunch in one sitting. You wouldn't know that you could squish grapes easily or that even raisins are actually grapes--just wrinkled.
Using the 5 senses is HUGE in writing descriptions. Now, some things won't make noise, some things won't have a taste, etc. Once you've figured what you want to describe--make a list of the senses that would be necessary to show to the reader. Then from that list you can start writing your description.

IE: Sally's hair is: coarse, long, dark blonde, straight, and smells like coconuts.

P.S. If you need help with the 5 senses list--find pictures of the stuff you're trying to describe. Maybe more than one picture of the object. For example: If you're describing some kind of sword--use multiple photos to make your sword real to you first then make it real to your readers.

3. Now that I've got my senses list and my object to describe...how do I know what to look for in my writing a description?
--Adjectives. LOTS OF ADJECTIVES! Use them immensely. Don't use the "-ly" ones a whole lot because that can get tedious and make your description perilous because it will now sound like a horrible poem. Also, you will need to use commas correctly when using more than one description in a row.

IE: Sally had the most coarse, sandy colored hair.

Although that is a very elementary way of description--it's a good place to start. From then you can work from it.

IE: Bob ran his fingers through Sally's sandy hair. He felt the sleek, coarseness of it slide gently through them. He wrapped his entire hand through the straight strands and held it up firmly to his cheek noticing the smell of coconut rise from the pieces.

From there--I bet you can get the idea and put it all to use. Ciao! I'll to write more again soon!