writingmagic

Writing Magic: Creating Stories That Fly | Gail Carson Levine

Found this little book hidden behind some others on the shelf one day at work. I know it's written to a younger crowd but I wanted to see what I could learn from it. So today I'm perusing while I eat my lunch. 😊

#writingmagic #writingbook #writer

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GingerAntics

Writing Magic: Creating Stories That Fly | Gail Carson Levine

pick

This book is obviously written for kids. I think Apple Books marked it as 3rd grade. It‘s still a great, straightforward book about writing that doesn‘t try to impose any ideas on you. It‘s encouraging and the whole point is to get you writing. It doesn‘t matter how old you are, if you don‘t have fun with this book you need to check your pulse because you might be dead.
#creativewriting #gailcarsonlevine #writingmagic

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GingerAntics

Writing Magic: Creating Stories That Fly | Gail Carson Levine

No idea why I resist using “said.” I guess I do think it‘s boring. I keep meaning to pay attention to what my favourite authors use, but I always forget. I tend to put movement information there that also identifies the speaker. Maybe I need to take “said” for a spin.
#creativewriting #writingmagic #gailcarsonlevine #nanowrimo #litsynano #writersoflitsy #speechtags

wanderinglynn, twohectobooks, Texreader, CocoReads, CrowCAH, JazzFeathers, jmofo, Adriannagab

jmofo When writing dialogue, I have a tendency to use words that describe HOW something is said or what the person is doing when they say things. This is an interesting observation, though. I will definitely think about it and pay attention. 6y

CrowCAH I use said or an action verb to show movement of the character, adds dimension to what they “said”. 6y

Adriannagab It‘s an interesting point of view. I agree with @jmofo I often use facial expressions or movements instead, like “she peered over”, “she scrutinized”, “she raised an eyebrow” etc. and then add the dialogue (edited) 6y

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GingerAntics @jmofo @CrowCAH @Adriannagab i basically do a combination of what you guys do. If I use anything specific to speaking, I‘ll say something was whispered, screamed, cried, etc. I prefer the facial expression or the movement of the characters. I‘m glad I‘m not the only one. 6y

twohectobooks I‘m a big proponent of “said” with rare exceptions for the volume of the statement (screamed, whispered) or comic effect. 6y

twohectobooks I also need to pay closer attention to what my favourite authors do, though. I suspect that if I haven‘t noticed, it‘s because they‘re using “said” more often than not, but [citation needed]. 6y

GingerAntics @twohectobooks comic effect? I want to hear more about this. Do you ever feel like it‘s boxing you in or forcing you to use words that end in “-ly” which is supposed to be a no-no? I‘ve had that same thought about my favourite authors, but I‘ve never paid attention, either. (edited) 6y

twohectobooks I just flipped through some of my Terry Pratchett books because I‘m sure he did it sometimes but didn‘t find any examples. No luck! Also checked the Gormenghast trilogy and no luck there either. I think what I mean is the use of inherently funny words like “bloviated” or “expostulated” or “spluttered.” But they should only be deployed on occasion! 6y

twohectobooks Also I personally tend to use lots of adverbs but I gave up beating myself up about it after reading From Here to Eternity, which is conservatively at least 20% adverbs. If James Jones could get away with that, I‘m doing ok.

From Here to Eternity: The Restored Edition

GingerAntics @twohectobooks I‘ve always heard adverbs are no-no words and to cut them all, but then I see them in books all the time. Oh okay, I do use words like that on occasion, usually more for a specific character that‘s a goof or something. 6y

GingerAntics @twohectobooks I‘m going to have to check out From Here to Eternity now. It sounds interesting. 6y

twohectobooks I didn‘t like it at all but it was a huge hit when it was released, so I may be in the minority! 6y

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GingerAntics

Writing Magic: Creating Stories That Fly | Gail Carson Levine

Sometimes you just need to skim over something that is less important to get to something that‘s important to the narrative.
#creativewriting #gailcarsonlevine #writingmagic #tell #show #both #writersoflitsy #litsynano #nanowrimo

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GingerAntics

Writing Magic: Creating Stories That Fly | Gail Carson Levine

I feel like this was written just for me. I know this exact person, I never shower her my writing again, and I‘m still writing today (after a bit of a hiatus because what did I know as a kid, I did actually believe her for a while).
#creativewriting #writingmagic #gailcarsonlevine

CocoReads I took a 20+ year hiatus, mostly because I was busy raising kids but also partly for the same reason. 6y

GingerAntics @CocoReads my hiatus was almost that long. It‘s amazing the power the words of one critic can have. 6y

CocoReads It‘s true. Words can hurt. They can also heal-but it‘s easier to hurt than to heal. 😕 which reminds me-I‘m trying out the goal tracker on the nano site. I‘m trying for 100 words a day before nov. yesterday, I did 300 but today I haven‘t gotten any in yet. I did study for an hour so that‘s something necessary, but much less fun. 6y

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GingerAntics @CocoReads I‘m enjoying the goal tracker as well. I got myself into the habit of writing a little every day and it seems that the amount I write every day is getting longer and longer, although some days are shorter for various reasons. You got this!!! 6y

CocoReads @GingerAntics I just started yesterday, I‘m planning on getting some in today, possibly after dinner. I‘m not sure how it‘ll go once the workeeek starts tomorrow but that‘s why I wanted to start building the habit now-I was only working part time last year, this year I‘m full time 6y

GingerAntics @CocoReads I worried about writing on busy work days, too. Luckily, (knock on wood) it hasn‘t been a problem yet. 6y

RavenLovelyReads We‘ve all encountered that person. She‘s miserable! I‘m glad to hear you are writing again! 🤓 6y

GingerAntics @RavenLovelyReads who are these horrible, candle-snuffling people? 6y

RavenLovelyReads Right?!? 😂😂 whenever I meet “her” again I‘m gonna tell her “back off my candle!” 😂😂 6y

GingerAntics @RavenLovelyReads YES!!! I doubt I‘ll ever meet mine again, but I will gladly tell her that...right after I make sure she‘s incredibly clear on the fact that I have a masters now so her claim that I was stupid and wasn‘t cut out for college was total BS (because obviously everyone can tell that about 4th graders). 🙄 6y

CrowCAH Such a great quote! I needed to hear that as a writer myself. Thanks for following me! I might need to pick your brain, since my novel is set during the Golden Age of Piracy ☠️ and that falls in your 18th century expertise! (edited) 6y

GingerAntics @CrowCAH honestly, I don‘t know nearly as much about piracy as I‘d like, so it might be a good excuse to read more. I know the basics, but nothing detailed. Lord knows it was rampant at that point. 6y

CrowCAH @GingerAntics lol very true! Even I don‘t know too much, but I‘m learning fact from fiction with every book I read! 6y

GingerAntics @CrowCAH there is a lot of legend out there. I think that‘s what draws people in, but then the facts tend to turn out to be even more interesting. 6y

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GingerAntics

Writing Magic: Creating Stories That Fly | Gail Carson Levine

My writing philosophy, summed up for me.
#creativewriting #writingmagic #gailcarsonlevine #nanowrimo #alwayslearning #alwayswriting #writersoflitsy #litsynano #practicemakesprogress

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GingerAntics

Writing Magic: Creating Stories That Fly | Gail Carson Levine

Perfectionists beware!!!
Almost curious to know how many writers are perfectionists. I‘ve heard a lot of my favourite authors say they‘re perfectionists, so I‘m wondering if this is a common trait among writers.
#writingmagic #gailcarsonlevine #creativewriting #perfectionist #nosuchthingasperfect
I think I‘ve tagged all of my #writersoflitsy friends. Let me know if I‘ve missed anyone. #litsynano #nanowrimo #writeon

wanderinglynn, Texreader, CocoReads, jmofo

CocoReads I‘m not a perfectionist per se, but I also hate to let anyone see my writing. That‘s more of an insecurity thing for me though. @CrowCAH writes too! 6y

GingerAntics @CocoReads I actually started writing at the encouragement of an amazing teacher and then passed them around for the whole class to read. It was the weirdest team sport ever. lol Then a bad teacher turned me off writing for years, and now I don‘t like showing my work to anyone anymore. I‘m with you on that one. 6y

CrowCAH @CocoReads @GingerAntics yup I‘m a writer and recently became an author, with some short works in an anthology; tagged. I am a bit of a perfectionist, but really it‘s more about getting the story right.

Sterling Script: A Local Author Collection

GingerAntics @CrowCAH wow you‘ve been published? Cool. 6y

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GingerAntics

Writing Magic: Creating Stories That Fly | Gail Carson Levine

I absolutely HATE writing in third person omniscient. It's ridiculous. Who the hell does this willingly? It's madness. Just because I have ADHD doesn't mean my story has to.
#creativewriting #gailcarsonlevine #writingmagic #nanowrimo #litsynano #writersoflitsy #pov

twohectobooks Third person omniscient can be good when done well but is very difficult to deal with when done poorly. I think I still prefer it over first person present tense, however! 6y

Adriannagab My creative writing prof says it creates more “dramatic tension”🤷🏽‍♀️ but agreed it‘s kind of awkward 😂 6y

GingerAntics @Adriannagab it's just weird. It's all over the place. @twohectobooks I prefer limited third person over first person (accept in very limited, character development writing exercise situations). Third person omniscient is just too all over the place for me. It's not happening. I'm glad I gave it a go, just for the experience, but I am never using it in a story. 6y

Texreader Ditto what @twohectobooks said. First person present tense always reads as if it‘s for youngest end of YA 6y

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GingerAntics

Writing Magic: Creating Stories That Fly | Gail Carson Levine

Maybe this is my problem...I‘m just too nice to people...I can be evil to my characters.
Yeah, but I love them.
#writer #writingproblems #nanowrimo #nano2018 #writersoflitsy #litsynano #gailcarsonlevine #writingmagic #itson

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GingerAntics

Writing Magic: Creating Stories That Fly | Gail Carson Levine

Interesting. Author‘s get to explore their inner evil.
#writer #nanowrimo #nano2018 #writingmagic #gailcarsonlevine #litsynano #writersoflitsy

jmofo I don‘t know, there‘s a difference between cruelty and pragmatism in writing. 6y

GingerAntics @jmofo I think so, too. I think this book is possibly meant for younger writers who probably don‘t know the word pragmatism or wouldn‘t see the difference. I like this book because it‘s all about the writing. It talks about something briefly and then gives a writing exercises. Every exercise can basically be tweaked to fit whatever you‘re working on at the time. (edited) 6y

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