Creative Writing Tips

    • When to Use Flashbacks

    • Flashbacks can be a great tool. They add clarity to your writing and can provide the background information that will explain your character''s motives. However, before you can provide the WHY of the story (seen in a flashback), you need to make sure people know the WHO and the WHAT. Give people a good understanding of your character before providing flashbacks or else the reader will lack any interest in the flashback''s content.
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    • Characterization - Build a Backstory

    • As you write a story, take time to build out a sketch of each of your characters. Think about what they like, what has happened in their lives, where they come from. Even if all of these details don't make it into the actual story, they might help influence how your characters act and give you a better understanding of who they are.
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    • Characterization - Spread the Details

    • People like to get characterization out of the way by bombarding the reader with all of the details at once. This strategy is just going to overwhelm the reader and cause many of the details to be lost. Sprinkle the characterization throughout the story, allowing the reader to learn more about the character when necessary.
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    • Revising - Writing Groups

    • One of the best ways to keep you writing and finishing work is when you have a deadline. If you don't ACTUALLY have a deadline, having a regularly meeting writing group is a great way to impose a deadline on your work. It also allows people to provide input and give you further insight on your writing. As such, by joining a writing group, you're able to get people to edit your work, come up with new ideas, and keep yourself on task.
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    • Elmore Leonard - Don't Write What People Don't Read

    • Elmore Leonard said "Try to leave out the part that readers tend to skip." This is an important lesson. Think about stories you read. Are there any parts you simply skip over? Identify what causes this and avoid doing it in your own writing.
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