Writing Styles and My Writing Process

Ranting & Raving
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Writing Styles and My Writing Process.

 

 

 

Writing Styles

 

 

What is a writing style? It's the way you turn phrases. It's your own personal use of punctuation that might not be 'standard'. It's how you write your dialogue and decide which words to capitalize. It's how you say what you mean to say.

Now when it comes to writing, there are standards, but there's nothing wrong with stepping outside of those in order to better express yourself. Let's start with dialogue. This is what I wrote:

 

“Stop sighing so loudly,” MinJung told him in a hushed tone. “Do you want a drink?”

“No, I'm supposed to wait and get hers at the same time,” JiYong responded. Then, he tilted his head to the side and asked, “Why are you whispering?”

 

 

A different writer might change that to:

 

“Stop sighing so loudly,” MinJung told him in a hushed tone. “Do you want a drink?”

“No, I'm supposed to wait and get hers at the same time,” JiYong responded. Then, he tilted his head to the side and asked, “Why are you whispering?”

 

And someone else might write:

 

“Stop sighing so loudly,” MinJung told him in a hushed tone. “Do you want a drink?”

“No, I'm supposed to wait and get hers at the same time,” JiYong responded. Then, he tilted his head to the side and asked, “Why are you whispering?”

 

And then there are the ones that write:

 

Min Jung: Stop sighing so loudly. Do you want a drink?

JiYong: No, I'm supposed to wait and get hers at the same time. (tilts his head) And why are you whispering?”

 

Frankly, I hate this last style. It's like reading a play. The other two don't bother me too much. But do not, do not, DO NOT!! color code the conversation. This :

 

Stop sighing so loudly.

Oh, Okay

Do you want a drink?

No, I'm supposed to wait and get hers at the same time.

Hey. Why are you whispering?

 

Drives me BONKERS!! I will not read a story that is colored like a childrens' book. Nope. Will not happen.

 

 

Speech to Text

 

Another thing about writing is knowing exactly how you want to write what it is that you want to say. For me, I write the way that I speak. I know that I have excellent spoken grammar in English, so I don't deviate from that when I write. I have a large vocabulary and I know how to use it. I say and write things that sound natural to my ear. I do not run to a thesaurus to make myself sound smarter. That is a huge mistake some writers make

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Baekhyunsoul #1
Chapter 20: I can only wish more people would use beta readers, especially if you are putting all this work into something that obviously means something to you. It only makes sense, if you’re in a rush to publish and don’t have the time time put it away to reread later when you’re not so close to it, then use the fresh and objective eyes of beta reader. Thank you for putting that out there
Baekhyunsoul #2
Chapter 20: I can only wish more people would use beta readers, especially if you are putting all this work into something that obviously means something to you. It only makes sense, if you’re in a rush to publish and don’t have the time time put it away to reread later when you’re not so close to it, then use the fresh and objective eyes of beta reader. Thank you for putting that out there
meowzwrites #3
Chapter 26: Omg yes @ mpreg just please stop
meowzwrites #4
Chapter 14: Lol @ 16. I do idol fics, and I used to give characters with very little training in one area really strong twins but now I just want to punch myself and everyone who does that in the face.
haaitje #5
Your rants and ravings are so very informative. I will revisit it when I have/find the motivation to write again. I agree with most of your opinions about the stories on AFF. I have to say I like reading your stories, I like your characters and how you "build" them. I could care less if they were black, white, purple or whatever color; race or ethnicity, I like them for who they are. How they develop. And of course their background is an important part of that but I don't think their color is key. I hope that you get what I mean, it's difficult to explain without seeing your reaction ^^. You asked about angsty stories and I just read a lot of angst stories by the same author. The stories were compelling and I couldn't stop reading them but I also thought that it was a bit too much. Too much pain and heartache never any form of relieve for the characters. I felt drained after reading their stories back-to-back, no matter how interesting I found the stories. I contemplated telling the author that, how I felt about the stories but I was to chicken to actually do it. After reading your R&R I decided to tell them anyway. It's upbuilding criticism and not a bashing. Thanks again for your insights and keep writing these interesting funny and heartwarming stories. Who doesn't want to be Luna, I sure wanted to be. ^^
PrinceOfAbstraction #6
Chapter 35: A good story will have one or more of the following - good plot/interesting characters/attractive writing style/inexplicable something that makes you relate to the story at once.
NeoCaratTypo #7
Chapter 32: I’m CHOKING I’m pretty sure that chpt 31 (Consistency) was my story ? I specifically remember thinking that it was so innovative. I hated that decision too after writing two chapters because It got so tiring to write. I do still like the concept of the story so I’m thinking of revisiting it. Hopefully I don’t make the same mistake ?
milkia #8
i've honestly read this through several times and i still can't get over how good this guide is. guide/rant, anyway. i love it, thanks for posting!
MinhosAegyo #9
Chapter 41: girl i've been off this site for years (was in like middle school when i created my account) and i come back out of curiosity (now graduated from high school) and you still spilling hot fiery teaaaa. love it. now let me go catch up on your stories cause i remember them being bOMB!
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