thewritingjourney

[thewritingjourney]

The Road to Publication

If you are a first-time writer, then knowing your options for getting your work published is crucial. The first option is to go the traditional publishing route. This would require you to send your work to publishers with the help of an agent. Your writing will be able to get professionally edited, marketed, and distributed. However, this can take a long time and there is no guarantee that your work will get published as it is very competitive. Visit https://janefriedman.com/start-here-how-to-get-your-book-published/, for more information about traditional publishing. The second option is to self-publish. Self-publishing will give you greater control and faster time to market your book. However, you will have to manage your book's production and promotion by yourself. Apps such as TikTok and Instagram are good for marketing books. This website, https://www.findbookpublisher.com/?Cat=PPC&LS=Search+Engine&SRC=Google&KW=Generic+Search&GKW=How+To+Publish&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=CPC&utm_content=How+To+Publish&utm_campaign=Generic+Search&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw_sq2BhCUARIsAIVqmQsY9toF6TtibY7ahDuxmt89CVJWXB_Z56RwkqMcO9sDfNI4stoL6EaAiiqEALw_wcB, will help you self publish based on what type of genre you write in. If you still are confused as to what is the best fit for you, visit https://www.editage.com/book-editing-services-articles/traditional-publishing-vs-self-publishing-pros-and-cons, for the pros and cons of each option. Remember to choose the route that best aligns with what you want for your writing. I hope these blogs have helped you learn more about the writing world!

Thank you for reading!

[thewritingjourney]

Revise and Refine

Now it's time to transform your rough draft into a piece of polished work. The first step is to take a break from your writing and then re-read your draft with fresh eyes. First, find areas that need more details and fix pieces in the story that are hard to understand. Ensure that the character's actions and motivations make sense. Visit https://www.grammarly.com/blog/revise/, to learn more. When I'm writing a scene with a character it makes sense in that moment. Then, when I re-read the entire story, it seemed like the character made that decision out of nowhere because I didn't include enough buildup. Make sure your story flows at a steady pace and that some areas aren't too rushed or too slow. For more information on how to revise a story, visit https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-revise-a-novel-or-short-story. Look out for repetitive phrases or sections and cut out other areas that don't work. This is also when you should ask for feedback. Finally, make sure your grammar is correct and your dialogue follows proper punctuation. Use https://www.trentu.ca/academicskills/how-guides/how-edit-your-writing/strategies-revision-and-proofreading/editing-clarity-and-grammar#:~:text=Use%20a%20grammar%20checker%20and,to%20yourself%20as%20you%20read., to learn how to add clarity to your writing. This will finally polish your work and seeing the end result from just an idea in your head will be extremely rewarding!

Thanks for reading! Stay tuned for the final blog of the writing journey!

[thewritingjourney]

The Power of Feedback

Feedback is essential in the writing process as it helps get your writing to the best it can be. This is also why connecting with other writers is so important. If you're a student, like me, getting help from English teachers is extremely helpful. You can also check to see if your school has a writing club where you can meet like-minded people. If your school doesn't then this website, https://www.thecreativepenn.com/2017/05/03/author-friends/, has many resources to help you find writer friends! Having a community will also encourage you to keep pursuing your writing goals. Receiving feedback is just as important as giving feedback. When giving feedback, focus on being constructive by highlighting the strengths and weaknesses. Offer specific suggestions to give the writer the best piece of advice possible. Use this video, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyghpEvisVI, to learn how to deliver proper constructive criticism. When receiving feedback, keep an open mind. Although you don't have to use every suggestion, take each different perspective into consideration. Use this opportunity to sharpen your writing and fix any potential gaps in your story. This article, https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/getting-feedback/, will teach you who to ask for feedback and how to ask it.

Thanks for reading! Stay tuned for the next blog about the writing journey!

[thewritingjourney]

Crafting Characters

Memorable characters are essential for a good story. My favorite books consist of relatable characters. To create real characters, give them their own personalities, backgrounds, and motivations. Use this website, https://www.dabblewriter.com/articles/character-archetypes, to refer to a list of different character archetypes. Remember to also not only focus on your character's strengths but also on weaknesses and flaws to make them more human. Dialogue is also very important when revealing your character's personality. Consider the way they interact with other people and how they react to certain situations, especially conflicts. Authentic conversations reveal character traits. Visit https://www.jenniferellis.ca/revealing-character-through-dialogue#:~:text=All%20characters%20should%20have%20their,lie%2C%20and%20leave%20things%20unsaid, for more information about how to write a character's dialogue. A character's journey is also very important. Show character growth and how experiences have impacted your character. The main thing is to create a believable character. Don't try to create a perfect person because it's unrealistic. Create characters that resonate with readers and that are memorable even after the story is over. To find out more about how to create a character that is loved by readers visit, https://blog.reedsy.com/character-development/.

Thanks for reading! Stay tuned for the next blog about the writing journey!

[thewritingjourney]

Setting The Scene

When writing a story, creating a setting is crucial to make the reader enjoy the story. The setting is what immerses readers and makes them feel as if they are in the book experiencing what the characters are experiencing. This website, https://selfpublishing.com/setting-of-astory/#:~:text=The%20setting%20of%20a%20story%20is%20important%20because%20it%20provides,plot%2C%20mood%2C%20and%20characters, will help you figure out what type of setting will fit the story you are trying to write. To achieve a good setting, you need to use vivid details and sensory words. Instead of “He walked in and smelt baked cookies,” try “As he walked in, the aroma of chocolate and vanilla danced through the air, belonging to freshly baked cookies.” Using more description not only made the scene more visual but was also more interesting to read. This article https://lsa.umich.edu/sweetland/undergraduates/writing-guides/how-can-i-write-more-descriptively.html, will teach you how to write with more description to appeal to the five senses. Also, think about your character's moods in the story. If your character is sad then include a darker and more depressing setting so the reader knows how the character is feeling. To find out how to do this visit, https://blog.critiquematch.com/2020/03/matching-characters-mood-to-setting.html.

Thanks for reading! Stay tuned for more blogs about the writing journey!

[thewritingjourney]

Overcoming Writer's Block

So you choose what you want to write about. You're in the middle of writing and you've hit a roadblock. Don't worry because you're probably experiencing Writer's Block. It can be frustrating but there are many ways to overcome it. My first tip is to take a break. Writing while you're tired or dejected will never produce your best work. This video, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTjZTEiHpII, goes more in-depth about this. My second tip is to read. Reading can help you come up with more ideas but also reset your mind. This article, https://evanswensen.medium.com/from-reader-to-writer-overcoming-writers-block-through-reading-e1b3cd474fc4, will show you what steps to take if you try this method. Finally, my last tip is to schedule writing times. Whenever I experience writer's block, I'm always busy with many other things going on. Setting aside time for writing when you're free will help you be less stressed and get your mind focused solely on whatever you're writing about. This article, https://www.writinginstitute.pitt.edu/writingroutine#:~:text=Schedule%20writing%20time%20on%20your,Make%20it%20happen!, personally helped me figure out how to schedule writing times with a busy schedule.

Thank you for reading! Stay tuned for the next blog about the writing journey!

[thewritingjourney]

Finding Your Voice : How To Start Writing?

Most of us begin our writing journey at school, where we are forced to write about a boring topic. However, writing can be fun when you find a style that resonates with you. For me, this was when I started to read fantasy books. Being transported to a different world just by reading words on a page encouraged me to write fantasy stories. However, stories are not the only thing you can write. There are poems, novels, essays, and more. To explore these options, visit https://www.masterclass.com/articles/a-beginners-guide-to-writing. Reading can also help you understand different techniques. The first time I read Edgar Allen Poe, I loved his writing style and experimented with Gothic writing. It was not the best fit for me, but I still loved to experiment with it. At the end of the day, find your own unique writing style that works for you. To learn how to do this visit, https://www.wordtune.com/blog/tips-for-developing-your-writing-style. Finally, find the topics that you want to write about. Writing will be the best when you write about something you are passionate about or something that interests you. For me, this stemmed from a simple conversation with my friend about a book we both enjoyed. We talked about how we didn't like the ending and this encouraged me to start writing a story similar to the book, but change the ending. This then turned into writing a completely different story but I still found an interest that made me be able to start in the first place. If you're having trouble figuring out a topic visit, https://medium.com/@MyChaiTea/difficulty-finding-topics-to-write-about-these-steps-might-help-3c11d6b59393.

Thanks for reading! Stay tuned for more posts about the writing journey!