Some good sites:
http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Nook/9082/writersresources.html
http://www.braintique.com/barticles/writing/what/TOC.shtml
http://www.languageisavirus.com/index.html
http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/catalogue.html
The last one is more for nonfiction but still has some good tips.
Also, I just finished reading an excellent book: The Art of Dramatic Writing by Lajos Egri.
For years I've told people in workshops that it's easy to write but it's hard to write well. Unfortunately, it will take time. You won't learn it in a semester, and you won't learn it from a book. The best advice I can give you is to start writing and keep writing. Also, read as much as you can and pay attention to how different authors handle characterization, atmosphere, plot, dialogue, sentence structure, and everything else. Finally, realize that you'll never stop learning to write--unless you choose to.
Writting Tutorials
A few more points.
Writing fiction and writing nonfiction have a lot in common. You have to know the nuts and bolts of writing (spelling, grammar, style, etc.). It helps to know how to develop an argument logically as well as emotionally, to give clear descriptions, to use the right word at the right time. So don't pass up advice on writing just because it's intended for nonfiction.
And remember that "advice" is just that. If you only study Stephen King's book, you're going to wind up writing like ... Stephen King. Not that he doesn't have good advice, but don't be afraid to ignore advice. You have to find your own style.
And remember that you'll never enjoy writing if you don't write for yourself first. If you feel forced to write for someone else's benefit, your writing will seem forced, and it's likely nobody will enjoy it.
Writing fiction and writing nonfiction have a lot in common. You have to know the nuts and bolts of writing (spelling, grammar, style, etc.). It helps to know how to develop an argument logically as well as emotionally, to give clear descriptions, to use the right word at the right time. So don't pass up advice on writing just because it's intended for nonfiction.
And remember that "advice" is just that. If you only study Stephen King's book, you're going to wind up writing like ... Stephen King. Not that he doesn't have good advice, but don't be afraid to ignore advice. You have to find your own style.
And remember that you'll never enjoy writing if you don't write for yourself first. If you feel forced to write for someone else's benefit, your writing will seem forced, and it's likely nobody will enjoy it.
I found some good books at my library. They seem good, and are all from one set. Fiction Writting Essentials. The series seems good. I also plan to try and write soom each day.
Read. Read. Read.
Seriously - you can't be a writer in any way, shape or form unless you read widely. That means all sorts of books, fiction and non-fiction, of many genres, as well as newspapers and magazines. It's far and away the best means of knowing what you can and can't do when you're writing. Use writing guides as a back-up, and refer to them whenever necessary - but read, read, read.
I used to edit a small newspaper, and had a work experience (or intern)come in for a while. She said she really wanted to be a journalist. I asked her which papers and magazines she read. She replied that she didn't really read any. And it showed. She had no feeling for journalistic writing whatsoever.
Read. Read a lot. It'll help.
Seriously - you can't be a writer in any way, shape or form unless you read widely. That means all sorts of books, fiction and non-fiction, of many genres, as well as newspapers and magazines. It's far and away the best means of knowing what you can and can't do when you're writing. Use writing guides as a back-up, and refer to them whenever necessary - but read, read, read.
I used to edit a small newspaper, and had a work experience (or intern)come in for a while. She said she really wanted to be a journalist. I asked her which papers and magazines she read. She replied that she didn't really read any. And it showed. She had no feeling for journalistic writing whatsoever.
Read. Read a lot. It'll help.
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