How Can I Improve More Quickly?

[AlexanderSen]

After writing for several years now, I am not sure if I ever will be a good writer, as it doesn't seem like anyone likes my writing. Yet, they do seem to like my ideas and my art. I have a long way to go with grammar which seems to be my biggest setback. I could write everyday for the rest of my life and I still might not be that good, but I want to finish the project in a timely manner but my poor grammar skills seem to hinder my work (which seems to be the common problem with the projects I have been working on). I don't know if there is a way to quicker way in developing my skills... I feel like I almost need another co-writer on my projects and or an editor to refine my work to a level which is enjoyable for people. It's sad because I have spent so much time on these things already I would hate to see it go to waste. What is the most important things to look out for in writing and how can I make the most improvement in the least amount of time?

 

[AnyaKimlin]

Buy a good punctuation and grammar book, and keep it in the bathroom - at least that's what I did. Both improved no end over 6 months.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Read crits of other people's and then try to do your own crit of it. See what you missed.

Read some good grammar books.

Keep asking for crits, particularly for grammar.

Remember all of us had to write a lot of words to learn how to - no one is born magnificent at it!

And, sorry - it takes ages. It's taken me five years to get in any way reasonable, and I was pretty quick off the blocks, apparently. There aren't really any shortcuts.

 

[Kerrybuchanan]

That's a tough one. I am on a steep learning curve too and finding the ageing brain cells aren't as quick or as flexible as they once were. Not much use to you, I know, but maybe look at it as moral support.

I recently did a novel writing class through our local university's open learning scheme and found it really helped me iron out some of my grammar kinks. Having said that the Toolbox on here is as good as or better than almost anything else out there, but it depends on how you learn. I liked the human contact of a tutor who I could ask to explain certain things, like semi colons, instead of relying on my own reading skills, but everyone's different.

 

[HareBrain]

Like Kerry, I'd suggest some kind of creative writing course, if you can find one in your area. It doesn't matter if it doesn't seem tailored to your particular tastes; the rate of learning will be far greater face-to-face than back-and-forth online.

Also, yes, read books on writing, and grammar. Look on the basics of writing as a craft that you take pride in doing well, not an inconvenient set of rules to bluff your way through with as little effort as possible. (Not saying you do this, but some people seem to.)

 

[goldhawk]

In addition to the above, find a critiquing site that gives honest feedback. And by honest, I mean painful. You learn more from your mistakes than successes, provided you get accurate feedback. If nobody is willing to tell you that you messed up, then you won't learn much.

 

[Brian G Turner]

After writing for several years now, I am not sure if I ever will be a good writer,

My personal experience - so far - is that learning to write is like doing a basic degree, then a masters degree, then a PhD - all volunteered in your spare time. So it's not something to succeed at quickly.

Secondly, to learn better, I would personally recommend:

1. Reading lots of books on writing - there are a few lists in the Writing Resources section. These will help you understand the technical tools you actually intend to employ, rather than hoping your subconscious can accurately deal with the nuances of everything.

2. Read lots of books - especially ones in the subgenre you're aiming at - but also books from outside of your genre. Using what you learn from 1., you'll get a better idea of how these books have been constructed.

3. Keep writing - keep getting feedback - rinse and repeat.

4. Cross your fingers.

EDIT:
Check out the Writing Resources section:
http://www.sffchronicles.com/forum/writing-resources/

And watch ALL of the Brandon Sanderson writing course videos:
http://www.sffchronicles.com/threads/537094/

 

[J Riff]

Sure, read some older books, like Frankenstein and SFF classics and see how they do it. Makes it even more fun, stopping every page or two and looking stuff up in the grammar text. Fun!

 

[Mouse]

Not everybody learns from reading "how to" books. I don't. Never read one, wouldn't ever read one. I learn by doing. You might be the same. Read lots. Write lots.

If something you do doesn't work - you can always re-write! But don't be afraid to give up on something you've written and move on to the next thing. I've got tons of half-finished crap that I'll never go back to, but have learnt something from everything I've written so really, nothing's wasted.

 

[Phyrebrat]

The way to start is to start.

Don't put a timescale on things. It is a journey, not a destination. In an interview, Stephen King said he is still learning his craft. You won't succeed if you rush, because you won't enjoy what you're doing, so take time to enjoy the learning process. Remember we learn by our mistakes and failures; the only thing you learn from your success is that 'it' worked that time.

And in reference to rushing or the time it takes, you'll find that you improve much quicker than you may realise. Yes, improve your grammar, but telling characters' stories in an interesting and original way is far more important. Grammar can be edited; creativity can't.

(Tao moment) Accept the frustrations and try to let the process take as long as it will.

pH

 

[Rolynd]

I think the most important thing is to read a lot. Just read lots of books from a variety of genres. I have never taken a creative writing course and I make no claims as to the overall quality of my writing, but my grammar has always been a strength. Not in a particularly technical way - I couldn't tell you what a gerund actually is for example - but I can read a sentence and know if it feels right or not. If it doesn't, I can shimmy around with it till it does.

I can only put this down to the fact that I have been reading, constantly, since before I can remember.

 

[chrispenycate]

Was it my attack on your piece for critique that brought this on? I hope not - I'm supposed to be helping, not shaking your confidence.

But others here will tell you, I'm slightly excessive with my grammar, plus being old fashioned, back to a time when we were shouted at for errors. And I don't always explain the whys of the correction - should you not understand why I think something is wrong, don't hesitate to ask (and, should you know something is a draft, say at the beginning of the piece you're not worried about grammar, and I'll leave it alone).

But even I accept that getting the grammar right is a secondary function; getting the POV and plot right is much more important (I will not accept that skimping on the world building is a good idea, but that's just me.

Write lots and try to understand the corrections people suggest, don't merely change them.

 

[Toby Frost]

There are lots of pointers and pieces of advice, but generally speaking, the quickest way to get better is to read, practice and get good critique. I joined a writing group and was horrified at the stuff they said at first, but soon I improved. After a while, you may find that you either choose not to follow some advice or do something entirely different to what's been suggested - but that's a sign of confidence. There's a difficult balancing act here between being honest when you're not writing well and being discouraged. You can get better and will, but it's not easy, like learning any craft.

Also, read good books - both in the areas in which you want to write and in general, and read the classics of the genre as well as recent novels. If you want to write a noir crime story, you need to read some Chandler, Hammett and Ellroy, even if to decide why you don't like them. What you can't do is use second-hand ideas (not that you necessarily do, but a lot of new writers seem to). A noir crime story isn't about men in coats who smoke a lot - they may be in it, but it's much more than that, and to get that level of understanding, it's necessary to go to the root of the genre. Films and comics work differently to books (and don't even start me on computer games!).

Books-wise, I'd recommend Danse Macabre and On Writing by Stephen King and How to Write Horror, Science Fiction and Fantasy, edited by JN Williamson (published pre-internet, so the chapters on getting published are rather inaccurate). But there are many others, too. Good luck, and keep going!

 

[Ray McCarthy]

A noir crime story isn't about men in coats who smoke a lot - they may be in it, but it's much more than that

So true!