How to Write a Novel with LUCY Ft. Sarah from the Introverted Extrovert

10:10 PM


EVERYONE IT'S HERE. A post purely on writing tips by your's truly and the spectacular SARAH from the Introverted Extrovert!!!!!!!!!!!! Down to the pure extract of this post---these are tips (I'm still learning, thus is my learning so far)
       >>>Me first<<<

Ah, a plot. The BEGINNING. the BIRTH of your novel. I'm one of those writers that is quite full of plot ideas. For me, a walk in the woods can bring ideas of fairies hiding behind trees and dwarfs nestled inside chimney stumps. However, there are couple easy ways to find a plot. 
Think of what you like, i.e, historical fiction (then to your favorite era, then to your idea of you in that century...or a character idea you've always had). When forming a plot, I sort of have my giant ball of yarn, each color in it representing another character, and I weave them all into one thick blanket. Take this character and that character, and his backstory and her backstory; making all one cake in a rich mixture of individual and extreme personalities. 



This is very important. I found myself, neck-deep into Little Women, discussing Laurie & Jo as if they were living and breathing. Making your characters A-live is a giant step...making them human. I try to give my characters human features. Like faults. Faults such as mistakes + lessons + friend/family issues = bonding and understanding the character. Super fundamental in seeing through the characters eyes for the reader.


Relationships form, they grow, they bloom. They endure storms; torrents, and are tested to the core. Book relationships should flex and feel real just like ours. Not always perfect. Sometimes turbulent. But after the storm there's a growth in relationship. And a feeling of experience. Making relationships grow, bloom, and survive is an important part in highlighting character's reactions to certain situations-showing their virtues and values, and personalities. It helps to bend my characters relationships, test them and make the reader see and feel their struggles.




>>>Sarah Now<<<

Dialogue is essential. It just is--I mean, you aren’t writing a whole book on description because without dialogue in life it would be B-O-R-I-N-G. Here are a couple tips on making your dialogue as realistic as possible:
  1. Make your people real. Because, they are. Add normal conversational things that make it sound like the reader is listening in--the reader has to understand things, yes, but if you add little things that hint to an average life it makes you believe it’s real.
  2. Don’t force it. Go with the flow and cut out later.
  3. Leave out the droll stuff. No one wants to hear the how do ya do’s and such. Keep action, and pace as even as you can.




I’m pretty bad at this--It’s really not one of my good spots like I’d have to say dialogue is. I mean, I’m too busy saying the things that have to be said to pause and describe the way someone looks or the way the breeze feels. So, here are a couple things that I need to work on myself:

  1. People gotta know what the new characters look like--they just have to.
  2. Don’t just describe the way people look straight off--anyone can have red hair and green eyes. Whatever. But they’ll care, and BELIEVE more if the character stumbles on certain words while they talk or have a certain style of speaking. Maybe they talk more, less, or maybe they use a lot of sarcasm.
  3. Don’t worry about making everyone unique. That baker in the back doesn’t have to be special. He can be, but it’s not necessary if it doesn’t play a role to the story.



It doesn’t matter if your readers ever know these. But YOU have to know. Sometimes, without you even knowing, a character may not even seem real to you. Here are some tips on how to solve that.
  1. Get a notepad and scribble out a ton of stuff about your character. Not necessarily for you to write, just for you to know. Get to know your characters.
  2. If you are writing a book with several main characters like I am, you may have to figure out several backstories. Just make sure you don’t “connect” too many things--no one likes cliche.

Sometimes, the best plot twists come to you when you are writing it in the moment. Often, planned plot twists are pretty obvious because they are obvious to YOU. Don’t worry about what others are writing--if you think they are better, or whatever. You have your own style, be you. Anyways, I’m not a great writer. I’ve only just reached the mark of my first novel and these are just a few tips I’ve picked up along the way. Thanks!



THAT'S ALL FOLKS.


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6 Sticky notes

  1. Grace AnneOctober 14, 2016 at 10:58 PM

    Lucy and writing- my two favorite things!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Julia RyanOctober 15, 2016 at 11:30 AM

    laughed so hard at this post xDDDD but still, I mean, these are all so great facts. Didn't realize I had a smart sister...and her friend. LOL jk jk jk but you know me im goofy

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    Replies
    1. Michaila | Seventy Times SevenOctober 15, 2016 at 11:52 AM

      Hahahahahaahaha Lucy's the bestest. YES YOU DO GO AND CONGRATULATE HER AND BUY HER CHOCOLATE. And it wouldn't hurt to buy me some too XD.
      -Mic

      Delete
  3. Grace (The Girl Upstairs)October 15, 2016 at 4:32 PM

    Lovely tips and post, Mic! This is so helpful. :)

    ReplyDelete

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