I’m a writer blog

Guidelines for writing Poems, Stories and Tales

Are ‘how-to write fiction’ books full of it?

How are fiction books written?

Fiction writing is narrative writing that involves elements of plot and character created entirely by the author, as opposed to nonfiction, which is based on real world events and real people.

Is fiction harder to write?

“Fiction grabs readers when you build it out in a way that’s engaging. It’s an incredibly difficult skill to get right.” Most people don’t understand how insanely hard it is to write good fiction. They’ll find a typo in a bestselling novel, and say “Even I can spell!

What should you not do when writing fiction?

Avoid making common mistakes by following these writing tips:

  1. Don’t write sporadically. …
  2. Don’t ignore story structure. …
  3. Don’t second guess yourself. …
  4. Don’t abandon your first novel. …
  5. Don’t pigeon-hole your process. …
  6. Don’t start off slow. …
  7. Don’t switch POV. …
  8. Don’t create flat characters.

How do you start writing a fiction story?

6 Key Tips for Starting the Novel Writing Process

  1. Choose a world you want to spend a lot of time in. …
  2. Find a story idea within this world you want to immerse in. …
  3. Assemble a cast of characters. …
  4. Plan your ending. …
  5. Break the story into acts. …
  6. Start writing before you get cold feet.


What makes a good writer fiction?

In fiction, the writer’s job is to entertain, to draw an emotional response from the reader. The reader is often looking for suspense, action, and to go on a journey they have not been on before, one they will not easily forget. Readers want to get drawn into and experience the story for themselves.

Why is creative writing so hard?

The first stages of writing are usually the most challenging because the basic elements of the story are created, which requires no imagination but rather information recollection. People generally do not like this stage, because it is hard to create something out of nothing.

How many writers actually finish a book?

In the United States alone, over 200 million people dream of writing a book. Yet, the number of writers who go on to actually finish their manuscript is estimated to be just 3%. Of those, only 20% will go on to become published.

What are some mistakes writers make?

25 Common Writing Mistakes Writers Make (and How to Fix Them)

  • Waiting for inspiration to strike. …
  • Writing oversimplified characters. …
  • Talking about the work-in-progress. …
  • Relying on perfect conditions to write. …
  • Worrying about what happens when you make it big. …
  • Providing a lack of conflict. …
  • Trying to write for everyone.

Should I write fiction?

If you write to escape or to feel, think or experience something different, then it’s possible (but not definitively a conclusion) that you will enjoy writing fiction. If you write to document, to process, or to share a real experience, feeling or event then it’s possible that you will prefer writing non-fiction.

How can I improve my fiction writing?

70+ Small Tweaks to Improve Your Fiction

  1. Write what you know. …
  2. Write about what you don’t know. …
  3. Read more. …
  4. Write every day, whether you feel like it or not. …
  5. Read other genres. …
  6. Outline your stories before you start writing. …
  7. Write from the seat of your pants, especially if you’re accustomed to outlining.

How do you make a story not cringe?

6 Tips to Avoid and Fix Bad Writing

  1. Read Out Loud. This is the first step to checking your piece for awkward writing: read it out loud. …
  2. Shorten Your Sentences. One of the best ways to avoid awkward writing is to take out every unnecessary word, phrase, and sentence. …
  3. Be Specific. …
  4. Re-Word. …
  5. Tighten. …
  6. Delete.