Common Writing Tips Misunderstood

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As an aspiring writer, you have likely heard plenty of advice. My personal advice to you is to take all the feedback you can and keep learning. Some advice is better than others, and some are just plain misunderstood. Here are some common writing myths that I'm not rejecting, but want to help you better understand.

 

Plotter vs Pantser: One or the Other


These are two common writing styles. You have the plotter, who plots most of what will happen and how it happens before beginning the writing process. The contrast is the pantser, who begins writing without an outline and lets the plot shape itself. You may hear that you must be one or the other.

 

A popular plotter is J.K. Rowling. This should come as no surprise, considering the extent and intricacy of her seven Harry Potter novels. Rowling, who knew how her series would end even before the first novel was published, said, “I always have a basic outline, but I like to leave some things to be decided while I write.” https://www.goodreads.com/blog/show/549-plotters-vs-pantsers-can-you-guess-which-side-stephen-king-and-j-k-ro

 

Stephen King is a stern advocate of the pantser approach. “Outlines are the last resource of bad fiction writers who wish to God they were writing masters.” https://www.goodreads.com/blog/show/549-plotters-vs-pantsers-can-you-guess-which-side-stephen-king-and-j-k-ro

Don’t let either convince you that the other is wrong. Try out both and see what works for you. Seeing that both authors have created masterpieces is reason enough to know that when it comes to plotting or "pansting", it is either or, not one or the other.

 

 

"Show don’t tell"


I want to be as clear here, "show don’t tell" is one of the best writing principles to live by. Showing is the way to bring your story to life and immerse readers into your world. But this can be hard to understand, especially for new readers. I love the clarification that Shaelin Bishop from Reedsy shares, "describe, don't explain." This helpful phrase illustrates the often obscured meaning of "show don't tell."

 


"Write what you know"


This piece of advice once discouraged me. When I first heard it, I thought, "well, I don’t much." I haven’t been through many fascinating experiences. Am I only subjected to writing about the mundane parts of life I am familiar with? 

 

George R.R. Martin explained this concept well. It isn’t writing what you know in the sense of events, it is writing the emotional truth of your life. Martin has not seen dragons or sword fights, but he knows what it is like to lose loved ones.

 

"You have to be original"


Being original is great, but not always possible. Instead, aim for authenticity. Don’t be paralyzed by the pressure of trying to be original. The theme of your big story may have already been written before, face it. Wizards were in books before J.K. Rowling, and so were Vampires before Stephanie Meyer. Using your one-of-a-kind mind and creative ideas, you’ll be able to create and paste something that feels new and fresh. Aim for authenticity, not originality.


Aim for authenticity, not originality. Click to tweet


Conclusion 

Hopefully, you were able to sharpen your understanding of these tips. Understanding these concepts will widen your literary parameters and help you create compelling writing that is full of life. Try new things, search for tips, see what works for you, but most importantly, keep writing. 

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