1 Reply by J. W. Nobles

(6 replies, posted in Writing Tips & Site Help)

I would like to say that any and every word is perfectly fine in order to describe someone or something, and the only things stopping you from using a certain description should be circumstance and quality. For example:

"A wealthy black is about as exotic as a shark in the Sahara."

Now, that's a good analogy, so give that sentence a point for quality. Circumstance, however, is a whole other ballgame. Since the main subject of the analogy is "a wealthy black", you might want to watch out. If you publish a work with that sentence, you are going to get hate mail saying that you are a racist. So if you don't want hate mail, you might want to delete it. But remember; that analogy is good, even is the subject of it is not.

P.S.: I'm not a racist. I just used that as an example.

Go to forum: Writing Tips & Site Help

2 Topic by J. W. Nobles

(8 replies, posted in Writing Tips & Site Help)

I covered this topic briefly in my last post, but again, only briefly. Music can help you to develop a style of writing, as well. Not only would be surprised by how much it can change things, but it might also turn out to be a style of writing that you've been working to achieve, or, even better, a style that you have never seen before (of course, you may not like it, but who cares? For the love of God, that style is original!) However, if you don't like that style, try listening to something else.

Music can also help you define characters, especially if you set aside two or three different songs for a specific one. You can always judge people by the music they listen to, and you can do the same for characters. If you can imagine Leonard listening to "What Is Love" on a daily basis, you have just developed a good piece of character for the readers (and you) to build on.

Now, as for me, I listen to a lot of rock, but I have the occasional electronica song thrown in there. Guns N' Roses, Huey Lewis and the News, AC/DC, Skrillex, Queen, Led Zeppelin, and, once in a while, Bill Withers. Not only do I like the songs that these artists put out, but they help me develop a style that I'm in love with.

Tell me if you listen to music while you write, and if you do, who and what. I'd like to see what I could do to add a little variety to my style, and to my characters. Tell me if you have any other uses for music, as well.

Go to forum: Writing Tips & Site Help

3 Topic by J. W. Nobles

(16 replies, posted in Writing Tips & Site Help)

I have been the victim of what I like to call the Alzheimer's Writer's Syndrome more than a few dozen times. I begin to write a story, but then something comes up, and then I can't write the next day, or I don't finish the day with at least the minimal amount of words in my word count. I put it off until the next day, but by then, the AWS sets in. I try to write the next day, but by then its too late.

I've lost connection with my work.

How do we prevent this?

One thing that could help would be to have a "Writing Playlist", full of songs that you like. You should play it while you are writing. This will not only affect your writing technique, but it will also help you get back in the zone if you are thrown off course during you writing session.

Tell me about other ways to help you get back in connection with your work.

Go to forum: Writing Tips & Site Help