Kricket's 7 Writing Tips

So I just started doing this blog chain thing on my lovely Absolute Write forums. Here's how it works, you get a prompt, write a blog post about it and then everyone runs around the internet reading everyone's blogs. Fun! This is my first time at it so if this post sucks and is boring, I'm sorry,

The Prompt:
The Number Seven
September used to be the seventh month of the old Roman calendar and its name literally means seventh "month," so this month is brought to you by 7. Write wherever the prompt inspires you,fiction or non-fiction, prose or poetry. Do try and keep things at a PG-13 level, though.

The Participants:
orion_mk3 - http://nonexistentbooks.wordpress.com (link to this month's post)
Ralph Pines - http://ralfast.wordpress.com/ (link to this month's post)
bmadsen - http://hospitaloflife.wordpress.com (link to this month's post)
writingismypassion - http://charityfaye.blogspot.com/ (link to this month's post)
pyrosama - http://matrix-hole.blogspot.com/ (link to this month's post)
areteus - http://lurkingmusings.wordpress.com/ (link to this month's post)
randi.lee - http://emotionalnovel.blogspot.com/ (link to this month's post)
wonderactivist - http://luciesmoker.wordpress.com/ (link to this month's post)
BBBurke - http://www.awritersprogression.com/ (link to this month's post)
meowzbark - http://erlessard.wordpress.com/ (link to this month's post)
SuzanneSeese - http://www.viewofsue.blogspot.com/ (link to this month's post)
AFord - http://writeword.blog.com/ (link to this month's post)

And here I go!
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7 Things I've Learned, so far, About Writing!

1. Read, read, read. Read everything you can get your hands on. Even explore new genres. A lot of the writing basics are the same no matter what you write but sometimes it's good to see how different situations and voices are used in other genres.

2. Research. I don't care what you're writing, if it's anything other than your own life, you'll have to research something at some point. Learn how to research properly. Don't be afraid to do interviews with real live people too. Don't assume your audience is stupid and won't catch your mistakes. Also, just because you see it in a movie doesn't mean it works that way in real life. Your average reader is smarter than your average movie goer, they'll be able to tell when you're talking out of your ass.

3. Study. Study the craft of writing. Study grammar, I know it sucks, I hate it too, but you got to learn this stuff. There are sooo many books out there on the subject of writing and all of them will tell you basically the same thing, but some have a different angle on things that might help you. You don't have to do everything those books tell you too, but it's good to try new things and see what works for you.

4. Grow a thick skin. Unless you plan on your stories never seeing the light of day you're going to have to learn how to take criticism. Face facts, not everyone is going to love and adore your work. There are Grammar Nazis out there who will tear every word to shreds and some people will hate your characters, setting, idea, etc. and you need to learn how to handle that professionally and not let it destroy your desire to write.

5. Set goals. Keep them small at first. Start with setting a daily word count goal or a time limit, but keep it manageable. It will help boost your confidence as you achieve those little goals every day.

6. Keep positive. Some days the words are going to flow like water and other days it's going to be like pulling teeth. Some days you're going to think you're a freaking genius, other days you're going to wonder why you put your self through the trouble. Just remember why you love to tell stories and sometimes, it doesn't hurt to sit back and day dream about how awesome it will be to become a famous author.

7. Write. Obvious, but as they say, practice makes perfect. Try to write everyday if you can. And yes, I count blog post and journal writing as part of my writing routines and goals. Anything to keep your brain sharp and your fingers quick.