Writing Help for Noobs
#1
Long story short, I had this sudden urge to write after losing my patience waiting for chapters from one of my favourite novels. I have always been a lurker but I guess its time to make my debut from my cave.
I have a few questions, namely:
1. How the hell creating blue screens work (as stupid as it sounds, I'm new)
2. Statuses, statuses and statuses. I'm planning a generic isekai novel, and generic isekai novels are not themselves without statuses. It's not like I've never tried referring to the other novels with statuses, but they're overwhelming with all their titles and boosts numbering into triple digits.
Can I have a basic template/rundown of a status? Like strength, intelligence, titles with bonus boosts, etc.
3. Handy tips for writers on RRL that every writer should know, from what readers like or what readers dislike. Even the simplest stuff like including a status for the mc at the bottom of every chapter.
Thanks! :D Cookies for those who help
I have a few questions, namely:
1. How the hell creating blue screens work (as stupid as it sounds, I'm new)
2. Statuses, statuses and statuses. I'm planning a generic isekai novel, and generic isekai novels are not themselves without statuses. It's not like I've never tried referring to the other novels with statuses, but they're overwhelming with all their titles and boosts numbering into triple digits.
Can I have a basic template/rundown of a status? Like strength, intelligence, titles with bonus boosts, etc.
3. Handy tips for writers on RRL that every writer should know, from what readers like or what readers dislike. Even the simplest stuff like including a status for the mc at the bottom of every chapter.
Thanks! :D Cookies for those who help
I make stories, stories make me.
RE: Writing Help for Noobs
#2
I can't help you with the screens (as I don't publish on this site) but I'll give you a few general tips.
Concept:
Technical writing:
If you're completely new to writing, I'd advise you to pay attention to two things:
Characters:
Concept:
- Take your time! Generally speaking, both writing up a concept and writing up a chapter simply does take some time. If you try to force it, you'll likely fail. Also, if you want to do yourself a favour, only start publishing when you've got a lead of at least a dozen chapters. You might get ill, you might run out of ideas and, very importantly, it's much easier to weave a compelling plot if you can edit chapters that haven't been released yet.
- Balancing: Most people might not be aware, but the enjoyable part of every 'Growth-Novel' is the struggle. You can write a comedic novel that focuses on your ridiculously op protagonist - sure - but the struggle, the challenge to overcome seemingly unbeatable enemies is what'll leave your readers astounded.
Also, instant gratification won't make your novel better.
The very basic idea is this: calm - conflict - exposition (the villain is too strong!) - challenge - growth - fight - gratification
As pointed out before, the gratification is a necessary part of this type of story, but novels that emphasis too heavily the feeling of how incredible their protagonist is typically fail.
Technical writing:
If you're completely new to writing, I'd advise you to pay attention to two things:
- Descriptions. As a rule, describing is preferable to stating. That being said, everything has its limits.
- Writing for effect: Your narrator's voice should be crisp, sharp, and slightly more formal than your characters' speech. Also, google filler words; lots of newer authors oversaturate their writing with adverbs.
Characters:
- Your characters need to be believable. Try to think up a compelling backstory of every primary character. Also, characters, especially recurring ones, need to have contrast. If all your characters are sombre, intellectual, and cool, you'll bore the pants off your readers.
- Try to be neutral in judging your characters. Just because your protagonist is the protagonist, he shouldn't be the smartest, cleverest, most handsome all of the time. It's just not how the world works. He needs to mess up, others need to best him.
- Try to think up realistic character relations.
- Last tip, 95% of people with brains and above the age of 13 don't like reading about protagonists who are so amazing that every girl on the street swoons OR who are stuttering, indecisive idiots.
The second one is - to be fair - a lot worse; weak protagonists usually ruin the story unless it's a plot point and temporary.
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RE: Writing Help for Noobs
#3
Where you see B i U and all the other options for editing things, there is a 'table' option when making or editing a chapter. The 'table' is the blue screen.
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RE: Writing Help for Noobs
#4
For the blue boxes. When I wrote Cold Steel Dig I ended up using the insert table function. You won’t see it here but when you go to publish it will be an icon that looks like a spreadsheet.
I highly recommend reading Self Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Browne.
I highly recommend reading Self Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Browne.