If you want expert advice on writing, Stephen King is at the top of the hierarchy (see how I made a pun there? I AM SO FUNNY.) I highly recommend you go out and buy his book On Writing. I like it so much I have two copies (okay, it’s also because my mum accidentally bought me it twice, with a few years in between each purchase, and I refused to let her take the second purchase back because I like the cover design better). In the second foreword (there are three altogether), King says, “This is a short book because most books about writing are filled with bullshit. Fiction writers, present company included, don’t understand very much about what they do – not why it works when it’s good, not why it doesn’t when it’s bad. I figured the shorter the book, the less the bullshit.” So, without further adieu, here are some of his top tips.
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Naturally grow your vocabulary – don’t force it.
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Use active, not passive, verbs.
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Avoid adverbs, particularly in dialogue – use “he said/she said”.
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Read a lot and write a lot. Read widely and redefine your own style as you go. It’s okay to mimic other writers as a part of your writing process.
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The first draft of a book should take no longer than three months (there’s no way in a million years I can imagine following this advice…yet).
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Write 2000 words everyday NO MATTER WHAT. If you’re starting out, 1000 words a day, with one day off a week, is okay.
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Write in complete privacy, with no distractions. Until your second draft. This one, you can open the door. The first one should not be shown to anybody, then you should take six weeks off after your first draft is finished (This is some of the best advice I’ve ever taken).
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Write anything, but tell the truth. Write what you like, but imbue it with truths from your experiences of life. Use what you know to enrich the story.
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Stories are found – you don’t need plot.
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Start with the situation (what if…), then the characters, then narration.
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Never tell the reader anything, if you can show them.
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Good fiction always begins with story and progresses to theme.
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In terms of backstory, everyone has a history and most of it isn’t interesting. Stick to the bits that are.
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When you’re thinking about manuscript length, your second draft should be your first draft, minus ten percent.
King has plenty more to say, and again, I seriously think you should buy his book. Even putting the writing advice aside, it’s an interesting and incredible memoir of the craft and his life.
Samantha Todd 