THE BEGINNING WRITER
  • About
  • Categories
  • Subscribe

(More) Quotes To Inspire and Guide You

10/31/2012

I've always loved collecting quotes. So ever since I started taking my writing life more seriously, I've amassed quite a collection of quotes on writing. Here are a few more of my favorites:
Read more »

Practicing the art of "Butt in Chair."

10/29/2012


I don’t know if the muse is going to show up on any given day, but by golly, I’m going to be at my desk every day from 8 to12 every morning in case she does.
-Flannery O’Conner

One of my favorite books on writing is Page After Page, by Heather Sellers. It’s a great book for beginners because it focuses on finding the courage and commitment to start writing and keep writing.

Read more »

First Chapters: What To Include

10/24/2012

Lately I’ve been learning a lot about how to begin your novel. Personally, I think this is the most important part of the book because it determines whether or not the reader will even give your story a try.

As a reader, how many times have picked up a book only to give up on it after reading the first few pages? When those pages didn’t grab you, you dumped the book and moved on to something else.


As a writer, you have to give your readers a reason to stick around right away.

Read more »

Overcoming Self-doubt

10/22/2012


Hello everyone! For my first day back I thought I would talk about something that I face on a daily basis. And if you’re a writer you’ve probably faced it too at some point. Self-doubt.

Self-doubt is the one thing that can end a writer’s career before it even starts. Self-doubt chips away at your confidence and suffocates you with feelings of inferiority and disgust.
Read more »

How To Beat Writer's Block

4/04/2012

I apologize for posting so late in the day. Today I was overwhelmed with the good news that I might be able to go back to college! I spent so much time thinking and talking about the possibility and how to make it happen that I completely forgot that today was a posting day.

But better late than never, right?


So here we go...

Read more »

Helpful Quotes To Inspire And Guide You

3/28/2012

Right now, we're all in different places on the same path. Some of us are learning about how to start. Some are learning about style and craft. While some of us are further along and just looking for a little motivation.

I can't know exactly what you need at this moment, but there is a little something for everyone in this post.

I decided to share some of the best quotes on writing that I could find, covering a wider range of topics than I can usually cover in one post. Hopefully, you can find something here to help you wherever you are on your writing journey.
Read more »

The Different Types Of Point Of View

3/26/2012





When you are just starting a new project, one of the first things you must decide is which point of view to use.

Last week we covered choosing the best point of view character for your story. This week, we're going to look at the various types of POV: first person, second person, third person, and omniscient.

Read more »

Choosing the best point-of-view for your story

3/19/2012

What is Point Of View (POV)?

In The Complete Handbook Of Novel Writing, Nancy Kress helps us define POV as: "who's eyes we see the action through, who's head we're inside of, and who's feelings we experience as that character feels them."


This is why this is why it's so important to choose the right POV character for your story. It will "determine what you tell, how you tell it and, often, even what the action means."

Read more »

Why You Should Keep A Writing Journal

3/14/2012

One of the most valuable tools I've found since I started taking my writing seriously is my writing journal. This notebook, is where I detail every idea I have. Some I end up using, some I don't, but the journal helps me sort them out and keep them organized.

I write out my fears, my worries, my dead ends, and all the difficulties I face trying to piece a story together from beginning to end.


Usually, as I am processing, solutions will come to me. I'll inevitably have a breakthough and I know that I wouldn't have come to it if I hadn't journaled my way there.

Read more »

Explaining "Show, don't tell"...

3/12/2012

While this blog is so new, I am trying to stick with the absolute basics. First, I covered the fear of starting. And then the difference between the passive and active voices.

Now, I want to cover one of fiction's first rules, "show, don't tell."


There's a great quote from Anton Chekhov that explains this concept perfectly.


“Don’t tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.”

Read more »

You're ready now!

2/29/2012

Don't put off starting!


You already know enough to start writing. You have what's in your head and you're heart. You have a lifetime of experiencing the world to inspire you.


You have a story inside you. It's time to tell it.

Read more »

The Fear Of Writing

2/27/2012

Writing is scary. Ever since I decided to start to take my writing seriously I feel like I live in a constant state of anxiety. But from what I've read, this is perfectly normal.

It really is scary just getting to the desk- we're talking now five hours. My mouth gets dry, my heart beats fast. I react psychologically the way other people react when a plane loses an engine.

-Fran Lebowitz

Blank pages inspire me with terror.

-Margartet Atwood

We all start out as beginners. We have to give ourselves time to practice. We can't expect perfection right away.


Successful writers stick with it. Over time, they learn. They aren't scared off by bad writing.


Author Lawrence Block said that the most understandable trap is to wait for fear to subside before starting. "But it doesn't, won't, and shouldn't. Too much good writing comes from writers on the edge."


"You need a certain amount of nerve to be a writer," said Margaret Atwood. "an almost physical nerve, the kind you need to walk along across a river."


Do you have the nerve to be a writer?


As beginning writers, we have to tackle the fear head on and refuse to let it stop us. Can you do it? I know I can.


Read more »
Previous page
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)

About

Recent controversy aside, a date sees a report as a tactful check. Their file was, in this moment, a succinct panther. A gondola is a cristate bail. An unfree kimberly is a drive of the mind. Authors often misinterpret the buzzard as a cocky gate, when in actuality it feels more like a printed wall.

Welcome!

My name is Kelly. I've wanted to be a writer since I was a little kid. I could never afford classes though, so I decided to teach myself. I've collected over 40 books on writing over the last few of years. This is where I share everything I've learned.

Newsletter

Receive all posts on your email.

SNAPWIDGET CODE HERE

Archives

  • May (1)
  • October (1)
  • September (1)
  • August (2)
  • July (1)
  • June (1)
  • April (2)
  • March (3)
  • January (4)
  • April (2)
  • January (2)
  • October (4)
  • April (1)
  • March (5)
  • February (2)
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Tumblr

Blog Archive

  • ►  2020 (1)
    • ►  May (1)
  • ►  2017 (11)
    • ►  October (1)
    • ►  September (1)
    • ►  August (2)
    • ►  July (1)
    • ►  June (1)
    • ►  April (2)
    • ►  March (3)
  • ►  2014 (4)
    • ►  January (4)
  • ►  2013 (4)
    • ►  April (2)
    • ►  January (2)
  • ▼  2012 (12)
    • ▼  October (4)
      • (More) Quotes To Inspire and Guide You
      • Practicing the art of "Butt in Chair."
      • First Chapters: What To Include
      • Overcoming Self-doubt
    • ►  April (1)
      • How To Beat Writer's Block
    • ►  March (5)
      • Helpful Quotes To Inspire And Guide You
      • The Different Types Of Point Of View
      • Choosing the best point-of-view for your story
      • Why You Should Keep A Writing Journal
      • Explaining "Show, don't tell"...
    • ►  February (2)
      • You're ready now!
      • The Fear Of Writing
Powered by Blogger.

Labels

  • characters
  • dialogue
  • fear of writing
  • getting started
  • motivation
  • openings
  • point of view
  • productivity
  • quotes
  • story structure
  • technique
  • writer's block
  • writing routines
  • writing tools

ABOUT THIS BLOG

Calypso

Search

Popular Posts

  • The Different Types Of Point Of View
    When you are just starting a new project, one of the first things you must decide is which point of view to use. Last week we cove...
  • Helpful Quotes To Inspire And Guide You
    Right now, we're all in different places on the same path. Some of us are learning about how to start. Some are learning about styl...
  • Choosing the best point-of-view for your story
    What is Point Of View (POV)? In The Complete Handbook Of Novel Writing , Nancy Kress helps us define POV as: "who's eyes we ...
  • When to Show and When to Tell
    Hello everyone! I am so happy to be back! You see, I finally got the opportunity to go back to college last year, so of cours...
  • Layering Your Story Using Braiding
    I've recently made it to the middle of a story I'm writing and it didn't take long for me to realize that I didn'...
  • Saving Acorns: Preparing For What Comes
    Hello, everyone! Time goes so fast doesn't it? I've been meaning to get a post out for weeks now but I just keep getting ...
  • First-Person Point Of View: Advantages and Disadvantages
    Hello, everyone! I hope you're having a good week so far.  Today I'd like to talk about the advantages and disadvantages of ...
  • First Chapters: What To Include
    Lately I’ve been learning a lot about how to begin your novel. Personally, I think this is the most important part of the book be...
  • How To Create Unique Characters
    I'm in the character creation stage of a new story so as part of my series on new beginnings, I want to go over some great brains...
  • (Even More) Quotes to Inspire and Guide You
    Like most writers, I am a voracious reader, and I am always writing down my favorite quotes. So, as you can imagine, I've collect...
  • Home

Social Media

Pinterest

Recent Post

FOLLOW ME

  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Tumblr

Featured Post

Want to talk to me?

Name

Email *

Message *

Search

Instagram

Labels

  • characters
  • dialogue
  • fear of writing
  • getting started
  • motivation
  • openings
  • point of view
  • productivity
  • quotes
  • story structure
  • technique
  • writer's block
  • writing routines
  • writing tools
Twitter Instagram Pinterest Tumblr

Pinterest

© THE BEGINNING WRITER • Theme by MG Studio