Writing Resources
I’ve read a lot of books and web sites about writing. My stories have been published in a variety of places and I’ve been an Aurealis Awards finalist. Here are some of the ones I’ve found more useful, as well as a few of my own thoughts.
My list of SF/F/H markets.
The most important thing for a writer: make the time to actually write.
Writing: Find the Time Or Don’t (John Scalzi on making time to write).
Attending Clarion South, a 6-week science fiction writing workshop, was one of the most useful things to improve my writing. Not just in terms of craft, but also in terms of making a peer group of others that are serious about writing science fiction. The workshop is based on the US Clarion and Clarion West workshops. The Internet Review of Science Fiction published my article about the experience. Six Weeks at Clarion South The workshop was held once every two years, but is unfortunately on hold indefinitely at the moment.
Tips For Writing Short Stories
Think of an interesting character. Start the story when they are in trouble. Give them a difficult choice to make and end the story when there is some kind of resolution.
Unless absolutely necessary, don’t change POV.
Start scenes as late as you can, and finish them as early as possible.
Most readers will respond better to a memorable character than a cool idea.
Avoid flashbacks unless absolutely necessary.
Be specific, rather than general.
Circular endings are a good way to end your story (where the ending inverts or echoes the opening).
You should know a lot more about your characters and setting than makes it onto the page.
Make sure you choose the right viewpoint character. Are they active? Do they act rather than just react?
Dream logic isn’t the same as story logic. Stories have to make sense.
What is the point of change in your story? Have you started your story there?
Tips For Revising Your Story
Find the focus of your story. What is it about?
What is the purpose of each scene in your story?
What is the purpose of each character in your story? How are they connected to other characters?
Remove elements that don’t enhance the focus of your story.
Add subtext that enhances the focus of the story.
“Argument” openings (that explain what your story is about) can usually be cut.
“Could, that, somehow, something, realise, suddenly” are your enemies and should be mercilessly purged.
Eliminate passive voice where possible.
Remove repetitive prose.
Remove repetitive prose.
Add 20% more monkeys. (Well, maybe this one is optional).
My Articles on Writing Tips
Why Your Science Has to be Better than the Science in Science Fiction TV
Using Text to Speech to Get a New Perspective on Your Writing
Useful Advice: How to Write and What Not to Write
Strange Horizons: Stories We’ve Seen Too Often
Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine: A Comprehensive and Totally Universal Listing of Every Problem a Story Has Ever Had
io9: 8 Unstoppable Rules For Writing Killer Short Stories
Reflection’s Edge: How to Sell a Story
Reflection’s Edge: On Being a Better Author
Reflection’s Edge: Confessions of a Slush Monkey
Shimmer: Confessions of a Slush Reader: Why Should I Care?
Jack McDevitt: Twelve Blunders – How Aspiring Writers Get It Wrong
Nick Mamatas: How to End a Story
Elmore Leonard: Rules for Writers
George Orwell: Politics and the English Language
David H. Hendrikson: Measuring Writing Progress
John Scalzi: Utterly Useless Writing Advice
Stephen King: Everything You Need to Know About Writing Successfully
Robert J Sawyer: Writing Advice
Richard Harland: Writing Tips
Science Fiction Writers of America: Writing Advice
Po Bronson: Advice on Writing
Sean Williams: 10.5 Writing Commandments
Wordplayer Scriptwriting advice
Publishing & Marketing Advice
Queensland Writer’s Centre Resource List
Nathan Bradford’s Writing Advice Database
Ian Irvine: The Truth about Publishing
Guide to Literary Agents: Successful Queries
Guide to LiteraryAgents: Suggested Word Counts
Fun Writing Stuff
Wordle Make your own word clouds.
Writing Related Podcasts
Newsletters
David Farland’s Daily Kick in the Pants
Books on Writing
There are gazillions of books on writing. Here are some of the more interesting and useful I’ve read (in no particular order).
How to Write Science Fiction & Fantasy
Orson Scott Card
Beginnings, Middles & Ends
Nancy Kress
Characters & Viewpoint
Orson Scott Card
The Elements of Style
William Strunk & E.B White
Description
Monica Wood
The Writer’s Guide to Creating a Science Fiction Universe
George Ochoa & , Jeffrey Osier
Telling Lies for Fun & Profit
Lawrence Block
Revising Fiction
David Madden
Story
Robert McKee
Screenplay
Syd Field
Adventures in the Screen Trade
William Goldman
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft
Stephen King
Booklife
Jeff VanderMeer
Starve Better
Nick Mamatas
The Writer’s Journey
Christopher Vogler
Writing Down the Bones
Natalie Goldberg
Zen in the Art of Writing
Ray Bradbury
Updated on Fri 14 Oct 2011 at 06:18
