Learning about writing
When I moved back to Perth recently, I had the joy of unpacking boxes of books I hadn't seen in six years. I also had the displeasure of deciding which of these I'd have to live without for another year or two, while I stay in a flat that just can't accommodate the library of my life. But a few of the books that did make it into my new shelves are how-to books on writing.
On the one hand, I think a writer can do too much reading about writing and not enough fingers-on-keyboard stuff; but since I haven't written fiction for years, and I've never really learnt how to do it, I decided a few evenings dedicated to reading couldn't hurt.
I started with Louise Boggess's How to Write Short Stories That Sell. In fact, these aren't really the short stories I want to write: I mean, I want them to sell, but her book focuses on really formulaic fiction that I find all too predictable and boring (so call me a snob). But I have to admit that I did need a few of the lessons I got from this book, as simple and obvious as they sound when I type them now. To summarise: in general, stories need a main character with a problem. Other characters or situations arise that both help and hinder the main character from solving the problem. The end comes either when the character solves the problem (a happy ending) or not (a not-so-happy ending). Full stop.
Next, and more my style, came Dear Writer by Carmel Bird. Lots of things appeal to me about this book (and not just because the author's Australian) - it's written as a series of letters to a would-be writer living in a remote town, and gives advice with such perfect examples that the lesson is abundantly clear yet without being beaten around the head with it. And the most important thing I've learnt (or re-learnt) here is the importance of writing "what you know" - or at least of using your past experiences as inspirations for your fiction writing, to make sure it comes to life and seems real.
With these tips in mind, I've started writing a short story. That's the first one in about four years, I think, since I got distracted (happily) by travel writing. But after just one morning the differences in the two are more than clear. I'll tell you all about it soon.
On the one hand, I think a writer can do too much reading about writing and not enough fingers-on-keyboard stuff; but since I haven't written fiction for years, and I've never really learnt how to do it, I decided a few evenings dedicated to reading couldn't hurt.
I started with Louise Boggess's How to Write Short Stories That Sell. In fact, these aren't really the short stories I want to write: I mean, I want them to sell, but her book focuses on really formulaic fiction that I find all too predictable and boring (so call me a snob). But I have to admit that I did need a few of the lessons I got from this book, as simple and obvious as they sound when I type them now. To summarise: in general, stories need a main character with a problem. Other characters or situations arise that both help and hinder the main character from solving the problem. The end comes either when the character solves the problem (a happy ending) or not (a not-so-happy ending). Full stop.
Next, and more my style, came Dear Writer by Carmel Bird. Lots of things appeal to me about this book (and not just because the author's Australian) - it's written as a series of letters to a would-be writer living in a remote town, and gives advice with such perfect examples that the lesson is abundantly clear yet without being beaten around the head with it. And the most important thing I've learnt (or re-learnt) here is the importance of writing "what you know" - or at least of using your past experiences as inspirations for your fiction writing, to make sure it comes to life and seems real.
With these tips in mind, I've started writing a short story. That's the first one in about four years, I think, since I got distracted (happily) by travel writing. But after just one morning the differences in the two are more than clear. I'll tell you all about it soon.
posted by Amanda Kendle @ 2:55 PM
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