Writing Tips, Authors post your tips here Options

[Timekeeper]

in my epic,the adventures of takura,i end every chapter in suspense,leaving readers wondering why is kopaka bleedin







p.s.please repply to my topic's review,somebody!
-tl

[Jak]

My tip is this:

Start writing a topic that you have ideas for and that you feel wanting to write.
Sometimes you have to take time to think about what happens.
-KOoI-

[Mulligan Toa]

Well, for my stories, (mainly epics) I like to leave the main character in a state of danger, or something that will keep a reader hooked. (take The Travels of Takalu for example. I must have done something to hook kotawa!) Darn! Takua legends! You said what I was gonna say first. Grr... Deep Breaths, come on, Okay, I'm fine now. Sorry for losing my temper!

[T-Hybrid]

Ending a chapter on a cliffhanger isn't exactly always a good thing. Too much of that could lead to your story getting predictable.

Try instead to end a chapter on a logical note. For example, if a chapter focuses on preparing for a battle, try ending the chapter after the planning is complete. Not "Tahu charged into battle..."

Or if a chapter focuses on a legend, end the chapter at the end of a legend or tale.

[MataNuiHero]

Besides all the other important stuff, play with your bionicle figures, it's very good inspiration, even if you feel silly doing it. It really works, but play out something, then write it out, it works great.

To see examples of my hint in action, check out my fic. The Element of Ice. The Link is in my sig.

[Is a self advertising idiot- ]

[Kappa]

Okay here is a good story outline that we all should follow up to:
1.Expostion.
- background info of the setting and character
2.Rising Action.
- tension builds and actions lead up to the climax
3.Climax.
- highest point of interest for the reader
4.Falling Action.
- tension decreases leading to the resolution
5.Resolution.
- how the conflict is resovled
--conflict - the problem
All thanks go to my English teacher!!!

[Obi-Wan Kanohi]

1. try to post a link in your sig.
2. daydream. (not in school)
3.try a little bit of houmor.
4.long chapters. hop they help!

[I.R. Weird]

u can use your MoCs in an epic,like me and TFL did for our epics

When writing, don't force yourself to write. Let your body write, just let your writing flow into a nice composition. Often things that you force yourself to write will not be good. If you write it with effort, but not force, I think your writing will be good.

[HauNuva]

Don't use MOCs in epics, because you focus then too much on your character's physical characteristics and abilities. Character is more interesting, personality traits and the like, and unfortunately MOCs don't have that because they're not alive. Create characters and make MOCs of them afterwards.

[Minaku Yama Ulti...]

Something i like to do is put a little bit of myself in each new character and in those already in the story line, like for Tahu i made his control over his anger stronger. If you picture yourself for new characters you'll have a great one in no tiem if you work at it.

[@kaku kopaka nuv...]

Everybody should know one thing:new writers must be encouraged to write more and better.This is all that i've got new besides to what SK and GG said


I'M A TOA!!!!!!!!!!

This post has been edited by @kaku kopaka nuva: Feb 22 2003, 12:24 PM

[Mulligan Toa]

T-Hybrid, I agree with you about cliffhangers. What I meant to say was more along the lines of, keeping the reader guessing why he would do that, or what happened to him, and try to mix it up.

Try to use elaborate words and good description.

[Spyke]

i have a.d.h.d. so i don't have much trouble with creativeness<-----------(like this new word i just invented),but i like to think about the character's name and imagine what they would be like.that helps alot with me.

This post has been edited by Turaga Linaku: Feb 24 2003, 04:30 PM

[Evil Bob]

Okay, Heres a writeing tip i have found useful severaltimes. Be crative and original- but base it on some story. For example, My MOL series.

Another tip: Just write. This works best for comidys, But it also works quite well for epics.

Last tip: If you run out of Ideas, ask your fans for help. You dont have to nessisaraly use there idea, but often it sparks an idea in your head.

Thats all. Hope you find it useful.

[Gahlok XA]

It doesn't hurt to get a lil' philosophical, you know? <Everbody turns to leave at the mention of a long word.> Every story here is him, him and him fight it, because it's evil to downtrodden masses. It has things, and things attack him, him and him, but are defeaten because of some amazing magical artifact/power/tuna sandwich and the story reaches it's climax when him, him and him reach final battle with it. It will be winning, then him, him and him realize some deep moral point/discover some brilliant power and destroy it!
They never stop to consider it's motivation, contemplate life, reflect on their innermost thoughts...

I'll give an example of what i'd like to see:

Their new armour shining in the afternoon sun, the Toa emerged from the devastated cave triumphant. Pohatu smiled.
"That's the last of them!"he chuckled, the pressures of the past months released from his shoulders. Gali looked unsure, she seemed to still bear troubles. She turned back to Pohatu, frowning.
<OK, this is the bit I'm going for!>
"I suppose you're right, but one thing troubles me. The Bahrag seemed so determined... Maybe they didn't realize they were doing wrong... maybe they truly believed in what they were doing... Perhaps violence isn't the way..." She stared at the ground, deep in thought.
"Oh forget it!" Pohatu cried, still smiling. "They were monsters, and we killed them. The world keeps turning Gali!"

See? See the descriptiveness, see the way that section of story was interesting, without them even doing anything? Also notice the little bit of character devlopment, with Pohatu and his simple, black and white view of the world, compared with Gali's non-violent way of thinking. Why isn't there any of this in today's stories? (Trust me, I got 100% on my Creative Writing piece for GCSE!)

[Huriko Larelath]

Another tip: Don't do a tournament, they don't belong in Epics, or any place in the Library.

_-H12-_

Well,you could hardly call me an author but I can give you some tips:1 use intresting words.
2 use good descriptions.
3 in a comedy,put in a LOT of humour not just a bit.
4 unless its in the 'short story' area,make the story nice and long.

~My name (the man with the name you will never know!)~

[K-Volt]

don't do all action alot of emotion makes a great epic you can put in a batle but expres the caracter's feeling after the fight and when working with the normal toa try getting their caracter in the story and base apart (a huge part) of your story on that and try guest stars becaus if a person guest stars he will be intrested in your story and maybe tell some friend's

This post has been edited by toa volla: Mar 5 2003, 05:51 PM

[Tavanaka]

I know that writing like :
Tahu: Hello
Lewa: Goodbye
is fun, but I find that I get a better picture when the author writes like:
He raised his sword,"Prepare to die,Makuta!" Tahu yelled
Just my opinion.

a good tip is to read fantasy books like lord of the rings and the riftwar saga (Raymond E. Fiest) while reading look at the sentence structure carefully, trust me it helps.
also with fights get it right or people wont know whats going on, eg Tahu lept into the frey and dispached two bohrok while Kopaka ran another through with his blade

[SwampFox]

it's good to have loose ends in the beginning of the story, especially if there is some mystery in it. you can tie it into the story at the end or in the middle. I usually have my added characters appear a bit before hand. when I add a new toa, I add clues that they were there. if it's ice or water, then I put a soft blue glow in the bushes. things like that. it make the story more interesting to readers.

ok, if u've read my other posts, u kno that i write a lot in mky spare time and here are some hints i've found useful:
1) be descriptive, instead of saying "Tahu got mad" say "Tahu became enraged" or somewhere along those lines.
2) remember that even though u kno ur story inside and out, the reader doesn't. make sure to keep the reader in sync with the events of ur story by describing them as much as u can.
3) DON'T USE INTERNET SLANG IN UR STORIES. instead of going "u" say "you". some people don't understand that kind of slang.
4) Don't make ur chapters (if it's an epic) short. readers like fulfilling chapters.
5) In comedies, don't make it too slapstick. if that's ur style, it's fine with me.
there u have it! that's my advice, use it as u like.

[Sukura]

My advice is...

If you don't, know how to do some thing, then don't do it. I have no idea how to bring love into written form, so I don't

[Dark Hunter]

This is good place to me. Because, my stories are bad. No one read them expect Deadly Kanohi Master. Go to Thunder Bohrok's epic library and there you can find how bad my stroies are.

Iam very sad. And i try to make the good epic with the Deadly Kanohi Master. It's: Thunder Bohrok.

My library and Thunder Bohrok's story link can found in my sig.

Thanks to make this topic SK.

This post has been edited by Thunder Bohrok: Mar 13 2003, 11:15 AM

Here's one:
Have fun! Don't push yourself to wright and wright and wright like, twelve chapters in one week, go with you're own speed. Trust me, it works.

[Kadaj]

I usually write to post on review at the bottemwhen im done a part thats what i suggest for those who dont want post comments on their epic

[Koyana The Angel]

I have a question.How do I put in links?I would put in teasers featuring a good part.It will be in the 3rd chap.
Use nice spelling.
Add punctuation.
Have fun!

This post has been edited by KoyanaNuva: Mar 21 2003, 09:47 AM

[Darkstar]

Use a lot of detail, it grips the reader. Also, try not to lose any sleep over it: the more stressed you are, the worse it gets. Use twists and keep the reader in suspense so they keep reading, most importantly: enjoy it.

[MOX]

I'll tell you right now, you cannot, and will not become a good writer if you don't read alot of different writing styles. I suggest you read The Lord of the Rings, Holes, Hachet and it's sequels, and maybe something like Ender's game, and you'll have plenty of experience with writing styles, so you can choose how you want to be. Include adjectives, and don't rush it. Write at your own speed like someone else said, and write something you like. And uh, for fanfiction, don't put in to much extra stuff and get too far away from the storyline. Making it integral makes it really cool. I might offend someone when I say this; but for the love of all good hamsters, don't make something stupid happen like Ta-Koro blowing up or (now I'm gonna die) make a new Toa. Six is enough.

This post has been edited by KatanaWielder: Apr 19 2003, 06:08 PM

[Gailsad Wizard o...]

And one from me(and I'm not that good a writer):

End your chapters with suspense. No happily riding off into a sunset , even if it was beautifully described

[NeonNick]

I have a tip that will apply to everyone...

Be yourself. Don't copy someone else's work just because you think it's better than what you could come up with. Try to be creative, and don't go overboard in any case.

That's all I have to say. I'll see yall later.

[Heir of the Chro...]

my tip: past hence, like "Then, with final resolve, Thekua leapt over the barrier" is a better writing form then "thekua jumps over the barrier." or
Thekua: "im resolved" and jumps over the barrier.

always look at what your writing. keep away from fancy words, and long explanations, like Mark Twain said.

"they took the animal apart on a rock, and ate the choicest peices. only gurkfang stayed away in total disgust." turns into " they ate the raw meat."

always be ready to change things. dont say: well, i would like this new plot, but that means i would have to change the last page to put it in.
change the last page or whatever. an interesting plot is more valuble then three seconds while you delete or edit the old writing.

try to make your characters come alive. doing like this "Scooter! i think something is sturring in the bushs." is not a very exiting character action. this is more like it:

" Henry jerked out of his thoughts into the real world. Something stirred in the bush opposite of him. it was probably just a rabbit, or another furry night creature, he thought to himself. for that matter, he could have imagined it. but it stirred again. Henry got slowly to his aching feet. Scooter was still beside him, sound asleep. Henry reached down, and prodded Scooters shoulder. "Scooter," he said, in a faint hiss. " Wake up. There is devilment here, that i know."" -is a far more interesting line.

One way to get characters to come alive is by giving them moods-dark moods, angry moods, good moods, sad moods, etc.

Try to fill your world with surroundings that are not too boring or long, but gives and atmosphere to the story. such as:
"Thekua walked into the clearing. the air was stuffy and humid, and a trickle of sweat ran down his smask. the grass was tall around his feet. the trees over head went up like a large dome, letting only a bit of light through. all around him, even the way he had come, looked to be solid scrub brush and the like."
that give some feel to a story, dont you think?

Those are my tips for now. hope htey are of help.

Tukua

[Jaguar]

Actually... you must be sure of beuty, light, good, ugly, darkness, evil, but it can get othere ways, like aragorn in LOTR. Food time!!!

[Osenda]

Here's my tip: In writing an Epic, Don't put you're reader to sleep. Make Some type bigger than the rest. For example: If there's a big explosian, don't just write BOOM!, write BOOM! Also have some comedy in it. For example: Le Koro is being destroyed by the Borak, and Lewa is flying in to save the day, he sees a Matoran in trouble, looks down, and in that split second, he hits a tree.

This post has been edited by Osenda: Mar 25 2003, 04:05 PM

[Cahdok the Bitor]

Here's advise for making a saga of epics:

If you can, try to get as much of the story, and sometimes even details of events, that happen before you start, that way, you know what to write because you have complete knowledge of what happens in the near or distant future. That's what I'm doing. I've only started on my first Epic in a six Epic saga and already have the plot, details, and storyline for all six epics.

But then again, don't be too dependent on that fixed story. If an interesting idea that you haven't thought of comes to mind...then go ahead and either save the idea or...use it! Just be a little careful that it doesn't alter your whole storyline too much. And feel free to change things far in the future


This post has been edited by Cahdok the Bitor: Mar 26 2003, 12:03 AM

[IQKid42]

I also have a tip. If you want someone to really enjoy your story and you want them to see a vision of it in their mind, write it with detail. Picture it in your mind and think of words and sentences to describe them so that the reader will get the same picture. Draw a picture with words. When you learn this, you're almost sure to be able to write well. The other thing that goes with this is to have a good story and plot. Think of what you like, then think what other people like, then write!


Danny

[Toa Enigma]

Yes, exactly. I agree, Janus. I have done that, but I listened to the wrong kind of music. But now I have smartened up!

[Saithe]

This'll sound stupid, but we do it in english class, and it works mostly.
If you're stuck on a few details of your story eg. a battle or a journey, write really quickly without stopping or thinking. It sounds daft, but a whole load of stuff comes out that you can't think of by just planning a story. Then all you have to do is fine tune it.