When I read something inspiring, I like to jot them down. The jottings end up in little notepads here and there. I think it’s a good idea to record them here so they don’t go missing. Here’s something from Tom Clancy. If I remember correctly, I got this information from the January 2001 issue of Writers Digest.
Suspense is achieved by information control. What you know, what the readers know, what the characters know : balance these properly and you get suspense.
Keep at it. The one talent indispensable to a writer is persistence. You must write the book, else there is no book. It will not finish itself. Do not try to commit art. Just tell the damned story. If it is entertaining, people will read it, and the objective of writing is to be read.
Over a year ago, I was highly addicted to watching Korean drama. As I am writing my articles, I thought, the writers of these dramas have an ability to keep an audience.
Thanks for sharing what you read.
Hi mrshbt, I’ve missed you here. I love to watch Korean dramas too but try not to get addicted. There’s one showing on 8tv now, Yu Hee the Witch, which I’ve caught now and then. Three gorgeous men chasing after one woman, wow!
Lydia, thanks for this post. It reminds me of another aspect of point of view (POV) — one can write in the third person but you can show definite shifts in POV in different passages or chapters. When I write in the POV of a character, I can show only what he/she knows or believes.
Argus, I think you’re referring to Steel Critique, right? Yeah, it’s okay to have POV shifts in different chapters or passages but not in the same para. It’s too jarring.
good point good point. I will remember that…..trying to finish up the hundreds of ‘skeleton’ books that I have in my PC. You might have to show me how to find a publisher, then. I not very good at suspense, though!
I ‘leak’ very easily when writing….only when writing.
Marsha, sure can help. Get your book written first, okay? It’s good you don’t leak in other ways.
Hi Lydia,
Like you too, I also like to jot down inspiring words and statements regardless of where I got it and most of the time ended on pages of exercise books, diaries and etc. Anything that I can just penned down and keep it with me.
Anyway, just started to write but has not yet closed to anything like suspense and novels. Just plain articles about life.
Hope you are able to help in case if I get lost somewhere with writing.
Oh yes, heard about blogging. But, any advise how do I need to start ?
Thanks in advance.
Victoria, writing ‘plain articles about life’ is a pretty good way to start. That was what I did too. Sure, send me an email when you get lost and I’ll try to help you find your way.
Blogging is very easy. Two of the most popular are WordPress and Blogger. Go to wordpress.com or blogger.com. Just follow the instructions to create a new blog and you’re on your way! Before that, think of a blog title and what you want to blog about.
Hi Lydia,
Am new here but guess we have a common interest in writing. I only discovered my love for writing late in my life, like over the last few years. When I was in college, I remembered writing some war stories thanks to the influence of my father. My language ability was never good in school throughout. So after a while, I put the hobby aside for more than 25 years. Recently, I found that writing is a great way for me to express myself and I could write really fast. My style could be plain but I got my messages across. That’s where I started toying with my baby project at Life Architects, now. I hope to write personal development stuff to enrich others. Strange how life can throws itself at you. Hope to hear from you and connect with you more.
Cheers