All Write - Fiction Advice

Every writer aspires to be the best they possibly can, which makes them work hard to achieve it. For some people, however, that aspiration represents more than an objective.   Some writers go beyond doing their best – they want perfection, and while it might drive them to create exemplary work, it will also drive them to failure.   Why do they fail? Many writers spend hours pouring over one short sentence, or days polishing a paragraph to get it absolutely right. Some take hours, if not days, to write a cover letter, when the majority of the population can reel one off in half an hour. Some keep returning to their 80,000-word novel to tweak it to their satisfaction, which is now in its 10 th draft. And some never send their work out to publishers or agents, because of the fear that it’s just not good enough (in their eyes).   Perfection is rather like dark matter – it exists in our conscience, but it isn’t always detectable. It’s the belief that perfection can ...

Method writing is about how a writer approaches writing rather than what they write, and they can do this by getting closer to the characters - they can step into their shoes and spend time being their main characters. It’s the fun of role play, in order to make them multidimensional, real and emotional. Sometimes it’s better to fully integrate into this side of building each character. Writers can then understand the physical, emotional and sociological structure that makes up the psyche of their characters. Method writing/role play can encapsulate the following:- Realism Emotion Props In-depth research Improvisation/role play Sensory/ perception. Realism in writing means bringing life to your story and your characters that is realistic and believable. That means adding extra dimensions – giving them fears, goals, flaws and foibles, emotions, problems and dilemmas – everything that real people have. Emotion is important in writing. Method actors try to employ what’s known ...

Method writing shouldn’t be confused with writing method - how we write - but rather the way a writer applies writing strategies to stories and novels, in a similar way that is employed by actors when Method Acting.   The ‘method’ technique refers to the system used by actors to immerse themselves, their thoughts and their emotions into their characters in an effort to develop lifelike, realistic performances. They achieve this by drawing upon their own emotions and memories for the right character portrayal. Method writing works in a similar way. It goes beyond that of normal research into subjects and characters and requires a writer to draw deeply upon their thoughts, emotions and their life experiences to fully realise their characters and situations.   We all have life experience, but in order to give that realistic edge to their writing, some writers delve very deeply into their personal experiences for that extra dimension.   It’s a way of expression, be...