I’ve always been a creative person. I enjoy making up stories and coming up with new ideas for products. But I didn’t always know how to translate my ideas into actual text. That is, until I learned how to write. Now, I find myself regularly taking notes during meetings and conferences, devising narratives for documentaries, and even composing a few songs here and there. So it only makes sense that I would turn my attention to sharing my creative processes in writing with you.
1. Reread the Script Every Day
One of the most important things you can do as a writer is to constantly reread your script. This will help you identify any mistakes you may have made along the way and give you a clearer idea of what the story is actually about. Rewarding yourself by reading your work aloud is an important part of the process, as well. The more you read it, the more you’ll understand it, and the easier it will become to spot any problems you may have missed before you actually start writing. Plus, having a fresh pair of eyes on your work can help make it more creatively productive.
2. Brainstorm Different Perspectives
As a creative person, you may have already considered the various perspectives you could explore in your narrative. But, as a writer, you must always be aware of how others could view your story. This could include considering the different characters’ points of view, their relationship to the story, and even the structure and style of the piece itself. It is not easy to write something that will engage an audience and stay true to your creative vision, while also respecting the point of view of the people you’re trying to convince to read your work. So, as a writer, you must be willing to consider other angles and give each one their due importance in the creation of your story. Moreover, you can use your imagination and come up with unique ways for your characters to view the world, which can add an additional layer of creativity to your work.
3. Put Yourself In The Story
As a writer, you don’t always have to rely on other people to let you know what is going on in your story. Sometimes, you can put yourself in the story and come up with details that will make the narrative more realistic. This, of course, will depend on your imagination, but it can still be a useful tool in coming up with the “backstory” for your story. For example, if you’re writing about a historical figure, you could research their life and times, as well as the era in which they lived and the society they came from. This will not only help you make the narrative more historically accurate, but it can also add additional depth to your story. Moreover, you can use details from your “backstory” to create unique situations and dialogue that will keep readers interested and engaged throughout the piece. Putting yourself in the story is a great way to imagine how a certain scene or event may play out and can help you find the right words to express it.
4. Use Dialogue To Develop Character
Creating realistic dialogue is a great way to develop your characters, allowing the reader to get a sense of who they are, how they speak, and what they’re saying. It can be tricky to write realistic dialogue, especially if you’re not used to it, so take some time to read up on how to do it effectively. Moreover, it can help elevate your story to a whole other level if you manage to pull it off. In my opinion, one of the best ways to do this is by using different accents and an informal language. You should not be afraid to use slang or even speak in a poetic way. After all, poetry is not just a way of speaking, but it can also be used to paint a picture with words, which is what prose is supposed to do. There are many tools, such as Doyleguides.com, which can help you find the right words and even give you ideas for lines of dialogue. Moreover, having a conversation with yourself as you write can also be very helpful, especially if you’re stuck for words. You can even add some humor to it by pretending you’re talking to a child or an imaginary friend. Thus, when the dialogue is well-written and sounds natural, it will add an extra layer of realism to your story and engage the reader more effectively.
5. Take Your Time
Writing a novel is not simply a matter of jumping into it and pressing “publish.” It can take a long time to complete a full-length novel, and it’s important to take this into consideration. Before you start writing, it is important to take the time to brainstorm and consider all the aspects that could make the narrative more interesting and unique. Moreover, don’t rush into completing it. Take your time and enjoy the process. You’ll be glad you did when the novel is finally complete and ready to be published.
6. Use Technical Terms
When you’re writing a literary work, it can be helpful to use technical terms. However, this should not be mistaken for trying to be “cool” or using “nerd” words. Instead, it can be a good idea to look up these terms in an English-English dictionary and familiarize yourself with them. Thus, when you use them in your piece, you will not sound like a stranger to the language and you’ll give the impression the story is more authentic. Moreover, using technical terms can also elevate your story to a whole other level, as these are the same terms used by professionals in their field. So, by using these terms while also being familiar with them, you can actually make your writing more “literary.”
7. Use Multiple Characters
This is especially important if you’re writing a novel about several characters. It can be tricky to keep the focus on all of them, especially when you’re only using a single perspective. Thus, using multiple characters can help you avoid this problem and give the narrative more depth. Moreover, by having several viewpoints among the characters, you can present the reader with a variety of viewpoints, which can make the story more interesting. As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words, and a novel is, in my opinion, even more effective because it is a written picture. Thus, presenting the reader with several characters, each with their unique perspective, can help add a touch of realism to your story and engage them more effectively.
8. Use Varying Tenses
In literary works, you should always be striving for a sense of realism and verisimilitude. For this reason, it can be helpful to use varying tenses to describe the same event or conversation, making it sound more natural. For example, there are moments in a conversation, when, all of a sudden, the other person will change the subject or walk away. At these moments, it can be helpful to use the past tense to describe what happened earlier in the conversation, using the present tense to refer to what is currently happening. Moreover, you can use the present tense to express an action that is taking place as you talk, while the past tense can be used to reference a completed action or an event that happened in the past. Thus, by using varying tenses, you can keep the sense of realism intact and give the narrative a more natural flow. This will make it easier for the reader to get into the story and identify with the characters, as well.
9. Consider The Ending
After you write the first draft of your novel, you’ll have a better idea of how it is going to end. However, this is not the same as having the ending planned out. As a writer, it is important to stay open to possibilities and come up with different endings to your story. If you are attached to how your story is going to end, you will limit yourself, as there are usually numerous ways a story can end, and you may miss out on one of them. Moreover, if you do have an ending in mind, but it isn’t working out the way you’d like it to, consider rewriting it until you find the right fit. Sometimes, a scene that was supposed to end with a certain line or action, can be better suited to the end of a different scene. Thus, by regularly rereading your work and considering different endings, you can ensure you don’t miss out on any ideas that could elevate your story to a whole new level.