Do you know what your writing strengths are? Have you had feedback from other writers? Do they consistently praise one aspect of your writing? Or if they concentrate on the areas that need to be fixed, are there areas they usually don't comment on? No news can be good news.
I've had the pleasure, and honor, to read several of my friends' writing. Pat writes the most amazing descriptions. She chooses every word with care. Jennifer writes unexpected twists--I never see them coming! Jan writes everything so well, I beg her to write a novel. Jan? Are you reading this? Write a novel.
I'm good at dialogue. I'm not so great at creative action tags. (My first drafts have lots of smiling, shrugging, and clenching of fists.) I'm good at characterization. I used to reek at conflict, but I've made massive improvement in that area. My first chapters used to be my worst chapters. They still aren't my best, but again, I'm improving. Logic and plot? There might be a few holes now and there, but nothing my critique gurus won't point out. Fixable.
What area of writing do you excel at? What area does NOT come naturally? What have you done to improve it?
Guess what? Next week is June! Summer!
Enjoy your weekend!
Showing posts with label writing strengths. Show all posts
Showing posts with label writing strengths. Show all posts
Friday, May 29, 2009
Friday, May 22, 2009
What's Your Favorite Aspect of Writing?
I've had such a fun time with this week's posts, but as I was writing them, I wondered about other writer's perceptions of the non-published phase. What keeps you glued to the seat, writing?
What's your favorite aspect of writing right now?
I have two favorites.
1. I love the actual writing. I delight in my characters, laugh out loud at my mistakes, and get a kick out of the situations I come up with. It's fun! Sure, I re-read my work and make gagging expressions at it sometimes. I've been known to write snarky comments in the margins, such as "You used that word 18 times, hello-o??" or "Boy, she's uptight!" about my heroine. I'm well aware of the flaws in my writing and actively work to overcome them, but overall, I live to write. To me it's like soaring in the air, sans airplane, parachute, or parasail but without that sick-to-my-stomach lurch.
2. I enjoy meeting other writers. They get me in a way that non-writers do not. What an incredible gift! I can cackle over my heroine's horrific first date without getting a someone-is-a-little-psycho look. And writers are generous. They'll give you tips, hold your hand when you have a set-back, congratulate you when you taste success. They understand when you look at a kit to make stepping stones and say "Gee, someone could make her own headstone with one of these." They might even offer suggestions on how to do it.
So...pony up! I want to know YOUR favorite aspect of writing!
Enjoy your weekend!
What's your favorite aspect of writing right now?
I have two favorites.
1. I love the actual writing. I delight in my characters, laugh out loud at my mistakes, and get a kick out of the situations I come up with. It's fun! Sure, I re-read my work and make gagging expressions at it sometimes. I've been known to write snarky comments in the margins, such as "You used that word 18 times, hello-o??" or "Boy, she's uptight!" about my heroine. I'm well aware of the flaws in my writing and actively work to overcome them, but overall, I live to write. To me it's like soaring in the air, sans airplane, parachute, or parasail but without that sick-to-my-stomach lurch.
2. I enjoy meeting other writers. They get me in a way that non-writers do not. What an incredible gift! I can cackle over my heroine's horrific first date without getting a someone-is-a-little-psycho look. And writers are generous. They'll give you tips, hold your hand when you have a set-back, congratulate you when you taste success. They understand when you look at a kit to make stepping stones and say "Gee, someone could make her own headstone with one of these." They might even offer suggestions on how to do it.
So...pony up! I want to know YOUR favorite aspect of writing!
Enjoy your weekend!
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