standbyyourmantis:

woodelf68:

endangeredslug-deactivated20170:

Congratulations! So, you’re a new writer, but you’re understandably nervous because posting anything online is pretty daunting. Should you write it?

Of course you should write it. And you are going to write the hell out of it and we are going to be in awe of you and your beautiful story and marvel at what you gave us. Most of us are really excited about new writers and fresh fic. We are always looking for more to read and I can name several people who
will flood your ask box come Tuesdays because they want more.

Because you’re going to do this thing.

I’m not sure about writing tips because I’m not a very confident writer (ask anyone who has been on the receiving end of one of my nervous rants), but what I do have going for me is an utter lack of shame and the complete willingness to jump right into something without thinking about it so I seem like I have it all under control. It’s all an illusion. I am a humbug.

Here is what I recommend:

• Be brave. Be bold. Close your eyes and jump in.
• Don’t be afraid to make mistakes or to ask for help.
• Find a beta — someone to hold your hand or hit your ass with a cattle prod in turns. When you feel discouraged, keep going anyway (this is where the beta wielding cattle prod comes in). A good beta is worth their weight in gold.
• Don’t compare yourself with other writers. It’s not a competition (except those times when it is).
• Tag it so people can find it.

And, most important:

(I have to take one of my kids to dance class right now, but if you want to talk more, then please feel free to do so. And keep an eye on this because there will be people weighing in with tips and such.)

First thing, the only way to get better at something is to do it, and keep on doing it. So you write this fic, and maybe you’ll surprise yourself, and you’ll be really pleased with the result. More likely, you’ll think ‘well, it’s okay, but it didn’t quite live up to what I had in my head’. That’s okay, too! Many artists and writers are never completely happy with their work. That’s where practice comes in – you write one fic, do your best, and then move on and write another. And your writing skill is only going to grow with each one. Plus there’s the fact, which I’ve heard other writers attest to, that the fics which prove to be most popular with readers are often the ones that writers have the most doubts about. Which goes to show you never know what is going to connect with your audience. For me, a fresh idea written by an okay writer is often more enjoyable than an idea that I’ve already read a thousand times written by someone with a much more polished style. 

I have a whole tag of writing tips! Some of it is stylistic and grammatical notes, but I’ve done some meta on the subject myself.

• Where Inspiration comes from
• Common questions I field
• The importance of outlines
• Marketing 101
• A pep talk for getting started
• Writer’s block survival

Absolutely write the fic!

Going to paraphrase the tagline from NaNo – “The World Needs Your Fic.”

Why? Because it’s yours. You have the story to tell and however you tell it, that is going to be right.

Now all the cliches. Everybody has to start from somewhere. The more you write, the more practice you have, the better you will get. You can fix a bad page, you can’t fix a blank page. Just write!

Most importantly have fun.

I’m serious about the last part because writing can be hard. It’s easy to get discouraged, to decide it’s all rubbish and that you want to quit. What keeps you going on bad days? It kinda has to be you. Write for yourself first and foremost. Write because you love writing and you have a story to tell. Write because you enjoy the journey as well as the end.

Write the fic you want to read and enjoy it. You can do this. Although I do warn you, writing is addictive, it’s impossible to just stop with one story. Once you open the floodgates yikes, the stories will just keep on spinning.

Have fun!