Writing Development Tips!
Hello hello! In this article, I’ll share a couple of writing development tips I have to help you improve your writing. This focuses primarily on fictional writing, though it could possibly be applied to nonfiction.
Tip #1: Think About What Your Main Character Wants, Fears, and is Willing to Do
This is probably really important. When I was obsessed with writing in 6th grade, I had a really hard time moving my plot due to my characters not really having a goal. This is pretty ironic since the characters were based on real people.
Tip #2: Figure out how the story is gonna end, then think about how they got there
This isn’t something you need to do, but it will help with outlining and getting a general idea with your story. Paired with Tips 1 and 3, this can really help you format your writing outline.
Tip #3: Use SWBST
Someone wanted _ but _ so they _ and then _.
This is a really good way to summarize your story. It's also a way to write character arcs! It also gives you Tip 1 and 2, since it summarizes your story in a sentence. Pretty crazy how helpful English class can be!
Tip #4 What If!
Asking the question can help you come up with really good combinations of wacky scenarios.
Tip #5 Combine a Usual Scenario with a Twist
For this tip, the twist could be a contradicting genre! This is especially useful for dystopias- oftentimes the society is fooled into thinking it's a utopia through harsh tactics. Regardless of genre, the twist could be anything- what if you became a time traveller but it was a contemporary fiction? Or, what if you fail a test that determines whether or not you live? The weirder it is, more likely it’s interesting to your audience (in fact, some podcasts suggest making scenarios very exaggerated and weird in order to remember, so all in all your story would be easier to remember)!
Tip #6 Ask Who What When Where Why and How
Although these may be basic questions, they’re easy to forget when you're in the midst of worldbuilding! These can help you get out of that ‘stuck’ feeling when you seem to hit a wall.
For example:
Time traveller in a contemporary fiction
Who: Maurie
Where: small city in Connecticut
How: Finds an amulet in the attic
Tip #7 Use Your Own Experiences
See, if one can write a whole book about their big transition (or similar) you can too!Tip #8 Use Your Anxiety to Your Advantage
Are you diagnosed with general anxiety? Do you go into loops of what if and what then? Similar to the what ifs, your anxiety can help you make bizarre stories! Think of it like this: are you scared you’re gonna bomb that math test (i’m not sure what bomb means anymore, it’s up to your interpretation)? Write a story based on what you worry will happen if you do.
Tip #9 Don’t Be Afraid to Use the Impossible, Illogical, and Crazy
Do you think Einstein sat around worrying whether or not his experiment would be perfect? I don't think so! Try the same with your stories- don’t be afraid to experiment! It's not the end of the world if you mess up, you don’t even have to share your story to begin with! Messing up and finding alternatives is a good part of the writing process.
Tip #10 Retell a Fairy Tale with a Twist
What if little red riding hood was travelling through time? Ideas like these can make new ones.
Tip #11 Use the tips together!
These tips don’t need to be used in isolation. When used together, they can really help with worldbuilding!
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See ya soon! Bye!
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