I’ve written over seven novel length stories and I’m sixteen. I’ve never tried to get them published but I put them on Fictionpress. Good reviews. Grammar is something I’m currently trying to get better at, but it’s not horrible. My tone and mood is what I get the most compliments for. Also, I tend to be VERY detailed in imagery and so on. When I write, I want people to see exactly what I see. My stories are not forced. They are more like ideas that won’t go away until I tell them. I have some weak spots, obviously. Being a writer is a dream, but I have few questions on getting a really well thought out novel put out there.
How far should I plan ahead? How much background does a character need? What is a good pace for the beginning? How can I make a subplot that won’t over throw the main plot? What is TOO much for a reader to handle? A good way to keep a character IN character?

Thank you! I just want to get better. That’s why I put so many questions. Answer what you can!
What I meant by a good pace for the beginning is what is too fast or too slow before the main plot starts to flow. Does that make sense?
- Rosaline

The first thing I want to impart on you is about the very nature of “fantasy”. It implies an act of creative imagination. That is great for you as a writer. You are writing a story and building a world. And it is your world. Absolutely anything applies! Write anything you want to write. Don’t be boxed in by traditional rules of fantasy. You are in control of everything and nobody can tell you otherwise. Let loose and just see where you imagination takes you.

And this doesn’t just apply to the characters, world and story. This also applies to the rules of writing. Want to write your whole novel in a new language that only one-eyed centaurs speak? Go with it and see where it takes you. Want your story to jump around in time –spanning ten thousand years? Cool! How about writing it in epic poem style or from varying points of view? This is your world. Write it any way you want to. Don’t be afraid to explore the mechanics of writing in new ways. If you have this nagging feeling that you should be writing a certain way then why aren’t you?

Here are some tips and ideas on what you can tinker with in your novel to make it more creative and different

Time – This is one of my favorite things to tinker with. Time doesn’t have to plod along at the usual pace. And If you have been writing for a while you have become a bit sensitive to time, nd you probably already tinker with it. Does a two minute sword fight take two minutes to read? Nope. The basic rules of time need not apply to your writing. Want to write your whole novel in the one minute life span of some type of fantasy creature? I think it would be fun and challenging.

Perspective – Is your main character human? That’s perfectly fine but wouldn’t it be a challenge and a lot of fun to use some kind of other creature as your narrator? How would a strange fantasy creature think? An easy way of looking at this would be from the perspective of a dragon that lives for thousands of years. Wouldn’t that dragon have a whole different outlook on the world – based on an accumulated wisdom.

Creation of systems and beings – This is where you can have a lot of fun yet still impart something special to your readers. Aren’t there already enough ogres, elves, and dwarves tromping around the pages of fantasy novels? Couldn’t you come up with something new? Draw some sketches and write down outlandish ideas. How about a whale sized creature that floats through the air eating microscopic bacteria? Or a race or elf-like creatures that fire electric eels from their bows? As far as systems go wouldn’t it be different to have your adventurer stay in one place and have all the adventures come to him? Rather than tromping around the world maybe the world would come to his front door. How about a world where every single living creature falls asleep for the duration of the full moon? It would be fun to find out what happens when they all wake up.

Some cautions for your new imaginative writing

Just because you are writing something new and creative doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have any discipline. You are still writing for people. And people have expectations. That means there has to be a certain logic and sense in your world. You have to lay out rules in a way that the reader will understand and accept as natural.

So don’t find yourself falling into the trap of just coming up with something to solve a situation or crisis. One of the worse things you can do is just all of a sudden grant your main character the ability to cast a spell that solves a problem. Don’t bend your rules to make your story work. Layout your rules then work within them.

With a little bit of imagination you can come up with a world and a story that is totally different, yet totally rewarding for your readers. Let yourself loose, try different things, and see where they lead. You are the creator of a totally new world and just about anything goes. Just make sure you temper it with some discipline so it makes sense.


- Will Kalif

Do you find yourself suddenly tiring of writing articles tirelessly? Are you running out of ideas all of a sudden? If writing is suddenly becoming more of a burden than a joy, you are experiencing a very common problem among writers. It is known as Writers Block!

In order to do justice to your article marketing, you need to write and submit great articles, which will create a solid impact in the minds of your readers. The more the well written and informative they are, the better they will be received by the masses.

Sometimes, though, you just feel burdened by it all and find that you simply cannot write well. If this is the case with you, we suggest you do the following exercises to get rid of your infamous writers block!



Plan an article topic and open up the word processor on your PC.

Start typing on the keyboard and continue to do so without correcting syntax or spelling errors.

Once done, read through the article and earmark the good portions. Make a note of it, as you can apply this style of writing to your new article.

The minute you start with your next article, you will see your creativity returning and you will quite naturally take pleasure in your work. You will also find your block vanishing faster than you ever imagined possible!

Use this new pace and enthusiasm to write to also correct your errors and mistakes. You will find to your utter surprise that this too becomes part of the pleasurable process! This newfound joy automatically translates into one of your best works. And believe us, this works like magic each and every time!

Repeat this technique each time you feel bogged down by your work. It is never any fun to write when you feel low.

Take a break once in a way, indulge yourself in some way, take a walk outside, relish the fresh air, enjoy some time away from work and then come back to it when you feel more refreshed.

It helps to draw out a methodical schedule for yourself and follow that timetable. Decide to finish a said number of articles each day and stick to the deadline. This will help keep you inspired throughout.

System also helps you get serious about your work. Article marketing takes a lot of effort and you need to be relaxed mentally in order to do your best.

Try to work in a silent place, as far as possible. Noise and loud music can easily distract the mind, which may end up running out of ideas! Of course, this advice is not for some people who work most efficiently with loud music on!



Writers Block, though a very common problem, can be solved easily. Take care of the above and you will feel the creative energy getting back to you just as quickly as you lost it! Just stop thinking and keep writing – that is the best way to cure your block each and every time!


- Aspasia

Every writer at one time or another suffers from writer’s block. It’s that painful inability to get your thoughts down on paper and it comes after all different kinds of writers. Unlike other ailments, writer’s block is not cured by taking two aspirins and going to bed. On the contrary, that approach can often only aggravate the condition, since pressure mounts and panic increases as the task is delayed.

 

Because different writers experience different creative blocks, different treatments are often advisable. But many writers will find the following course of treatment does the trick.

 

1. Figure Out Exactly What You Want to Say

Frequently you can’t get the ideas to come out because you haven’t decided what it is that you want to say in the piece you’re writing. Figuring your real message out as you write may seem efficient, but this approach can actually counterproductive. In the end, your thinking will be muddled and you won’t communicate clearly. Instead of jumping in without a plan, don’t start writing until you come up with a statement of what you hope to produce and how you aim to achieve it.

 

2. Acknowledge that Good Work doesn’t Always Come Easy

Next, recognize that writing anything is hard work. You’re going to struggle to find the right words at times, and the first thoughts that come into your mind won’t always be the best. Although preparation will help, no amount of forethought and planning will eliminate the tedium of putting your thoughts down on the page. Even writers with years of experience sometimes grope for their thoughts like they’re lost in the dark.

 

3. Turn Off Your Inner Critic

Another sure-fire way to slow down your writing pace is to obsess over what you think others will think of you. Again, careful preparation and doing your research will decrease any chance that your writing will fall short of your own and other’s expectations. And others are generally not nearly as critical as you might imagine. Most of the time, people quickly read your writing and give you the benefit of the doubt about what you say and how you say it. 

 

4. Resist the Temptation to Edit as You Write Your Draft

Another way to get bogged down and overwhelmed is editing as you compose. Going back over the same sentence or paragraph time and time again will only help you to lose the train of thought that could result in a great work. All the professionals suggest that you write the first draft all the way through and then go back and make necessary changes. Make sure that you can separate the writing phase from the editing phase of your work. When drafting the message, write the whole thing out in full with no interruptions. The goal at first should be to get your ideas down before they escape.   

 

End Writer’s Block for Good

Writer’s block can happen to any writer. And one major key to beating it is to not let it stop you. Use these tips to manage your creative challenges, and you’ll be able to beat writer’s block every time it strikes.

 


- Melinda Copp