25 words
After a brief blog break over the weekend, I'm back in the saddle.
It's been an interesting week so far (and only one day in!).
Currently, I'm working on the chapter-by-chapter breakdown from my new novel. I can't reveal any details yet but the honing is taking up what little free time I do have, so it means I'm behind with Wyrd Dreams. Originally, I'd planned to write out the entire thing and release it gradually. I'll still probably do the latter (once a week, perhaps) but instead of waiting until I've finished it I might post as I've written significant sections. Stay tuned for further developments.
Synopses are top of my agenda at the moment. It's a tricky business writing one as it has to convey everything that's cool and interesting about your story and characters in relatively few words. A lot of aspiring authors struggle with them; they really do. Honing your mind and being so ruthless with your words that only the most important, the most salient, make it through is a worthwhile skill to get to grips with.
One particular exercise I'd recommend in this regard is writing a short, short story. I'm talking 25 words short. Another one of my activities today was to write such a story. It's for a semi-secret project that I'll be able to reveal in the fullness of time (together with posting the actual story I penned here on my blog). Suffice it to say that it really clears your mind of the extraneous bumpf that inevitably comes with writing and enables you to almost surgically
get to the point (ironic, given that I'm talking about conciseness in this blog but hey-ho).
Personally, I found my language became more terse and direct. The words had a sharper, more intense energy that they might not have possessed otherwise. As far as an exercise in writing concisely yet conveying the maximum information is concerned, this is a good one. Every single word takes on incredibly significance and it made me pay much more attention to them. That's the thing about words, you can easily take them for granted. My advice? Don't. Treat them with care and know when your using them.
I have to admit, when I first thought about the 25 word story idea I was dubious. I've realised the error of my ways. So much so, in fact, that I'd actually like to write some more...
It's been an interesting week so far (and only one day in!).
Currently, I'm working on the chapter-by-chapter breakdown from my new novel. I can't reveal any details yet but the honing is taking up what little free time I do have, so it means I'm behind with Wyrd Dreams. Originally, I'd planned to write out the entire thing and release it gradually. I'll still probably do the latter (once a week, perhaps) but instead of waiting until I've finished it I might post as I've written significant sections. Stay tuned for further developments.
Synopses are top of my agenda at the moment. It's a tricky business writing one as it has to convey everything that's cool and interesting about your story and characters in relatively few words. A lot of aspiring authors struggle with them; they really do. Honing your mind and being so ruthless with your words that only the most important, the most salient, make it through is a worthwhile skill to get to grips with.
One particular exercise I'd recommend in this regard is writing a short, short story. I'm talking 25 words short. Another one of my activities today was to write such a story. It's for a semi-secret project that I'll be able to reveal in the fullness of time (together with posting the actual story I penned here on my blog). Suffice it to say that it really clears your mind of the extraneous bumpf that inevitably comes with writing and enables you to almost surgically
get to the point (ironic, given that I'm talking about conciseness in this blog but hey-ho).
Personally, I found my language became more terse and direct. The words had a sharper, more intense energy that they might not have possessed otherwise. As far as an exercise in writing concisely yet conveying the maximum information is concerned, this is a good one. Every single word takes on incredibly significance and it made me pay much more attention to them. That's the thing about words, you can easily take them for granted. My advice? Don't. Treat them with care and know when your using them.
I have to admit, when I first thought about the 25 word story idea I was dubious. I've realised the error of my ways. So much so, in fact, that I'd actually like to write some more...
posted by Nick Kyme at
19:51
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