My point is that this advice, in one form or another, has probably been being said by experienced writers to teenage writers as protagonists or more directly as long as the medium has existed. Presumably the issue was more pressing when not too many people survived to their good writing years too; this may be the reason that so many people were needed to write Homer.
Still, generation after generation, it presumably needs to be re-said in a medium that teenagers are likely to access, for all our sakes. Given that I was already a professional author and editor, this was very frustrating.
I was paid through an adult intermediary because of child labor laws as a technical proofreader for Chemical Abstracts knowing an o from an omicron AND knowing the molecule in question was a key. I was a teenager, to be sure: thirteen to sixteen. Some of my writing sucked. But some was seriously antisucular. My analysis at the time was that this was mostly stylistic censorship. The verse they ran tended to be imitation e e cummings, and other experimental and unstructured stuff.
I was submitting sonnets, villanelles, sestinas, and the like. I was a formalist in a den of antiformalism. Nobody told me that my writing sucked. Rejection slips do that well enough. Rejection, and learning how to cope with it, are good for the artistic temperment.
Once I started teaching on and off from through the present I found myself reading great volumes of writing by teenagers.
Most of it sucked. But most of the writers were nice, and I tried hard to make it clear that a rejection is NOT a personal attack, but merely a chance to find another submission venue. Some of what my students gave me — a very small fraction — was a pleasure to read. This is a useful thread. I cited it to a high school English Language Arts teacher today. Well, it is true for most of us that writing well is VERY hard work.
But, like all other human activities, it gets easier, or at least faster and less painful, with practice. Millions of words of practice. Ray Bradbury says that he got lucky with his first sale, and had to throw away the next , words. Thanks for taking the time to read my spontaneous comment. Thanks for the tip, RAH! In conclusion I thank you for your articles as I have found them helpful amusing and a joy to read. Sincerely Nusi.
To be honest, i appreciated your bluntness and i think we all need it. And a lot of them were helpful and i do hope to maybe see about getting my story published in the future. I really like these two articles. These articles are encouraging because now I know actively plowing through a long break-in period. Proove them wrong! Anyways I know my writing sucks, and I also know that like you said as long as I practice it will improve.
You bring up some very good points. I think my writing is good, but only on the level of being a teenager. My friends and family keep telling me I should try to get published. Also, I have a question. Do you think that writing fanfiction is a good practice for writing? I happen to have an account on fanfiction dot net and post there frequently.
Now, as long as the person still writes their own original stuff, would this be okay and good practice? Fanfiction was how I started out, and I know of several published authors who started with it as well. Same goes for story setting. And having the framework already in your head will allow you to focus more on plotting and pacing. I recommend branching out from ff dot net and using a blogging site to network with other fanfic authors.
LiveJournal dot com and its clones are extremely popular for fandom. Take the time to seek out other fan writers. You can learn a lot from their writing successes and mistakes, and the community atmosphere is wonderful.
In most cases especially among writers with a modicum of talent , the only things that tie a fan story to the original are its characters, backstory and universe.
The style and voice are completely different, and often the plot goes in a wildly different direction than the original author intended. I have seen this happen in fanfic authors who later got published largely because of their unique voices. The other teen writers who flare up without even bothering to read the whole story — as Dr.
Careful, people. Just something to think about. I still am having issues with plot, for I am constantly raking my brains out with a fork attempting to be thoughtful, organized, and logical. This is difficult for me, and if anyone has any tips, I would be more than happy to set my fork on the table and read them. We will be great writers — in about fifteen years. You really need to make it clear the difference between article writing and book writing. Are you serious about that autographed book?
Oh, they say they want to, but they have no idea what that entails. I just want to put it out there that not all teens are terrible writers. Time to head back over to Library Thing and update my bibliography…. Firt of all let me say here: I may be wrong. I as a teen felt high;y discoraged by point three. To me again feel free to correct me it felt like you are saying there is no good teen writers. Just my opinion. Megan, first off, your comment post is full of typos and grammatical errors, so I think you need to be very open to feedback at this point in your writing career.
Second off, I can tell you from vast experience, you will learn almost nothing in life from positive feedback and encouragement. You will learn mountains from criticism. About point 3: Most people suck at writing, even adults, professionals, doctors, scientists, etc.
I know. I edit their work. Do something else. There is nothing wrong with being told your writing sucks. I started when I was twelve years old, and looking back on my old work-my writing really did suck! But I had to learn. I studied writing and the publishing industry. Still not published but on my way there. I starting a magazine this year and have decided to focus on that for the time being.
No writer is perfect. Adult writers can suck just as bad as a teenager. No matter what type of career you choose-the truth is…you are going to suck at it for a bit. Pratice makes perfect! Good article, but I stopped reading at get yourself published now. I have been published twice, in some small-ass community arts paper. And yah, my grammer sucks, though I blame that on the fact I mostly write poetry. Either way; if I am legitimately encouraged, I believe I could write prose or essay easily enough.
Most published poets have lovely grammar, and those who break the rules of grammar do it in a purposeful manner, which suggests that they know what the rules are so they can break them effectively. As for a duel, well, see. Your lack of grammar disqualifies you from my weight class. Come back when you have that nailed down. I think this article is sending the right message, we do suck. Write about what interests you—and interests you deeply—and your readers will catch fire at your words.
Sadly my recent stories have all involved sex. So I accept it, my writing sucks, sure I got published a few times in a local paper, even that is a feat in NYC. So thank you Mr. Scalzi your article has certainly helped me. As for your reasons why, well, did you actually bother to read the article to which this comment thread is attached?
English teachers seem to have very low standards and expectations when it comes to marking creative writing in my school as i often got very high marks, if not full marks, on my pieces of work. But when i read over them now, i cannot figure out how on earth i managed to get such a mark with sentence structures that leave a lot to be disired and plots that seem non-existant.
I would like to say though, that i understand the views of Monty as the quality of writing for a teenager may not be equal to that of an adults and sometimes it can be difficult for an adult to get into the mind-set of a teenager. However, i do find it possible for some adults to be able to see, or read, through the eyes of a teenager better than others, which is most likely where these pointers came from and i think that all teenage writers that read them should at least consider them when writing.
I have to say John, this trend is becoming more and more ppopular. If you ever lurk around YouTube, you possibly begin to read comments form time to time for various reasons. The sad truth is that this site has only made me hate my writing more and more. Yes i already knew my writing sucked, thanks, and thats exactly why I came to this site. I thought the point of tips was to HELP us make our sucky writing better. As a teenager, we have two perspectives: that of a young child, who sees almost everyone as a hell of a lot older with not much distinction, and that of a teenager with all the distortion that puberty brings.
When you reach adulthood, you get a third perspective with all that experiential wisdom that people have mentioned. I know my writing sucks, for a number of reasons. However I think that putting some of my work out there in this anthology will net me some valuable criticism. Organising this project has taught me a lot about working with people, especially our prickly creative egos, and about my own writing style, which seems to be incredibly complex and confused.
Hey, just like a teenager. The point of all this is to let us know that we need time to develop. There are plenty of writing tips out there, but not many articles like this. Most likely it does suck. I know mine does. I was a loser. And each piece I write gets a little better each time. Thankyou for this wonderful article. The way you harp on the word suck is really amusing. I liked how you pointed out the truth in a blunt, in-your face manner.
Maybe we all really need that. In reference to the emo article My mom should be pleased. Pingback: Grrrr… Argh…. And no matter what age you are the more you write and read the better you will get no matter what age you are. As for exprience, yes having exprience is extremely helpful and while your writing will greatly improve from it, you can do without it depending on how much you read and write and understand. Depending on your situation, of course, in some cases you will need to have more exprience.
Because thier minds have more time to roam the world of imagination who knows what kind of amazing storys they could create! So all in all while some teenage writing may suck… all teenage writing in general does not suck ,maybe to an older writer who only reads older books.
All of this mostly depends on thier intended audience. When I was a teenager I considered myself a very good writer — and by teenager standards, I was. But to the extent I can get my hands on things that I wrote back in high school now, reading it makes me cringe….
Even in college — a time at which I considered myself a pretty outstanding writer and had the grades to prove it — I was, in retrospect, way too verbose, had a tendency to repeat myself, would write repetitively, and used too many words to express one idea, thought, or concept. Interestingly enough, I probably have less confidence in my writing ability now, even though I am far better than when I was younger and more confident. Maybe the benefit of perspective has enlightened me to the fact that writing is never perfect and can always improve, and that it is constructive to focus on those aspects in need of improvement — so I keep my ego in check accordingly.
Good relative to other kids, sure. First off, let me say that I enjoyed both this article and your other article on teenage writing. I was actually Googling information on young writers when this came up and caught my attention. In fact, I agree with you completely. At the time, I thought it was incredible. Reading it now, I laugh. I should probably mention what type of writing interests me.
I love writing realistic fiction novels for young adults. At any rate, I was wondering if you think writing drafts of a book is a good idea? However, I love the story. I think that the new version at least now, at 20, words , which is going to end up probably being a series, is much, much better, though I know that if I were writing it in ten years it would be a hell of a lot improved.
Okay, a question for Jon here. I get that the fanfiction stuff helps. That makes sense to me. But I started thinking about all the things you said more often, and wondered, how much of the stuff that I do day-to-day helps?
The zany plane letters written for friends involving impossible stunts and situations? My writing sucks. I know it does. Just had to say that.
I went there. I feel the same way. I can tell even when I read books by teens. A very, very long way to go. I do agree with some of the posts here on fanfiction that fanfic net and fictionpress are both great websites for improving writting. Of course, you also need to pay attention to reviews as they often contain good advice for improvements — especially when you obtain more readers.
However, though reading fanfic is good in that sense, you need to read some real, published fiction. You can always learn a lot just by reading. Scalzi: I have to say, I am deeply thankful for this article. I am a year-old-writer and I agree wholeheartedly that teen writing sucks. It has made me physically ill on several occasions. However, I do spend the majority of my free time inventing stories.
And I know one imaginary Dr. Leonard Murphy who has been begging me to tell the world of his struggle with mental illness. So can I get this thing out of the way right now? Or is it advisable to wait until I have at least a serviceable grasp of the art of language? After Leo, his son Nick is jumping up and down waving his arms, and a young lady named Morgan who has slept with both is about to pummel her lovers in order to cut in line. I fear I may never be undistracted from my neuroscience at this rate.
Please let me know your opinions on the matter, as I would greatly value them. This is what has also persuaded me to take a gap year and travel before I go to university. The difference is that a 36 year old can hide behind their experiances and emotions while a 16 year old who has been stuck behind a school desk and had no more than a couple of boyfriends doesnt have these reserves to call on for either inspiration or insight.
Well, as a teen writer, I found this article helpful. Hopefully not! They must all feel like these articles were personal attacks on their oh-so-sophisticated writing, but that is simply part of being an insecure and insensible adolescent. To John, I must say I found myself laughing when you described, what fits almost exactly, with a description of most of the teen writing I have read including my own.
However, I am encouraged by your honesty! The fact is, that since I know that my writing sucks now, it will get better! So, perhaps, one day, I will have a voice of my own! By the way, therapeutic writing a. Journaling is supposedly a good start on writing for Teens. That makes more teenage writing so more crappy teenage writing. Not as great as what he wrote at 50 but it still was impressive. Have you ever written anything else?
I, as a teenage writer, am always looking to catch snippets of advice or words of caution from more experienced, and, forgive me fellow teenagers, talented authors. This article not only encouraged my future writing but simultaneously catalyzed some inate desire for me to constantly better myself.
Stop arguing with the man who took time out of his cramped schedule to jot down a guide meant solely to help struggling teenage authors. But you make good points. When I was younger than now I even wrote as a child-ha , my main characters were warped versions of me yet I would never write a real biography. I think understanding what it was like to be a teen depends on the adult. Sometimes, like in my current case, the parent has gone through nothing the teen has.
My mother was unsocial and studied around the clock. Knowing what I will do when what happens probably has more to do with her knowing ME than knowing what being a teenage was like. Anyway, I liked your writing. My friend April is always on MySpace, always texting, all of that. Yet she is not a good writer, and she hates writing. I am always on twitter, chats, email, etc. If you know a thing or two, go for it.
By the way, I read every comment, haha. Mostly Xopher vs Aoede and everyone assisting. I will remember the common things: my first crush, lockers, popularity, dating, my period. BUT, when I am an adult, I am confident I will know, and understand what it was like, even if my daughter is nothing like me remember, I said there are different possibilities.
And who cares if others things their writing sucks? Quite honestly, I do not see your point for the article. As I read through I kept thinking about how would you have felt had you been told this as a teenager?
I doubt, judging by your arrogant tone, that you would have reacted in a calm, understanding manner. Now how would that make you feel?
I sure fooled everybody! Go back and try again. I thought that both articles were rather accurate, and am of the firm belief that teenagers should be told that their writing sucks, if it indeed does, by those that read them. Of course, this is mostly because I personally would have loved to have been told what I was doing wrong.
Muddling through was fun and all, but it would have been great to receive some real feedback. I found this incredibly helpful as well as the first article. This was around the time when I thought I could write a Bestseller and get really famous for it within a week. I look over my writing from last year every so often, and boy, does it suck! Hey you, i am a young writer and i mean like not even a teenager yet. I do read a lot of books. I love reading. Anywho i think that your article was very inspiring.
After reading through your article, I have to say that I whole-heartedly agree with you. I started seriously writing about five years ago and the difference between my first pieces and my work today is jaw-dropping. If I can progress as much in the next five years, that would be amazing — although I understand that the jump from fourteen to nineteen is pretty major in terms of vocabulary, grammar, writing style etc.
I think the advice of writing everyday is important and getting your work out there is a must. Having people read your pieces is the best way to develop your style. A fresh eye is usually needed to see any flaws in your work.
It worked wonders for me! I think that what I am working on how is awesome, but years ago, I thought that what I was writing then was awesome.
I just recently found some pages of it in my room. They were painful to read. The characters had no personality or emotion, the plot was repetitive and was just a mishmash of all sorts of random bovine fecal matter. But I thought it was awesome. That is how teenage writers get better. I found this article to be one of the most useful and inspiring works directed at people my age. I look forward to experimenting with my writing and know that not everything I write is good, but at least I wrote it.
Now is my time to learn and to grow, and this article made that clear to me. Teenage writers have futures in writing. We have time on our side, and however unpatient we may be to be fantastic writers, we just have to deal with what we have now.
Teenagers today will be the next Stephen Kings and C. So quit whining and accept the fact that it takes time to be good. Use that information to inspire and drive you. But thanks again for your articles. Haha, I am really enjoying reading this. I have been writing since sixth grade, and I am now a sophomore. Lately I have been looking back at my writing as a seventh grader, eighth grader, and even freshman.
The thing about my writing being suckish is entirely true. Congratulations, you've made it to adulthood. You're emotionally mature, responsible, and unlikely to act out. You accept that life is hard - and do your best to keep things upbeat. This makes you the perfect girlfriend Are You a Girl or Woman? Take the Relient K quiz! You are an angelic spirit who has fallen from grace for one reason or another - possibly, you made one tragic mistake that cost you everything.
Or maybe you were blamed for a crime you didn't commit. In any case, you are faithless and joyless. You find no happiness, love, or acceptance in your love or in yourself. Most days are a burden and you wonder when the hurting will end. Sweet, beautiful and sorrowful, you paint a tragic and touching picture. You are the one that few understand. Those that do know you are likely to love you deeply and wish that they could do something to ease your pain.
You are constantly living in memories of better times and a better world. You are hard on yourself and self-critical or self-loathing. Feeling rejected and unloved, you are sensitive, caring, deep, and despite your tainted nature, your soul is breathtakingly beautiful. Image is a painting by Natalya Nesterova. Pop punk I'm not really that fond of you, but you can churn out some good stuff Old punk doesn't really like you but you couldn't care less What genre of rock are you? Mikubae Senju is the younger sister to the Senju siblings and Butsuma's only daughter.
She's spent most of her life inside her clan's compound. And although she grew up isolated, she lived loving everyone and everything. She was a magnet. No one could seem to resist her forgiving smile and soft voice.
She was a rare b Yumi was only six when the war between the Uchiha clan and Senju clan stared. Yumi Uchiha is the younger sister of Madara and Izuna Uchiha.
Madara treasures her above anything else. Today was the day Madara was going to be named clan head along with his brother but when their clan is attacked by Senju clan and Madara Itami, a blue haired girl, is the 'The Angel's Flower' in all the rogues' bingo book.
But, once she uses her jutsus, they know right away. Y-you're the A-angel's F-flower! Sasuke had gone to Orochimaru and Naruto had left Konoha to train.
Aira found herself in the possession of Orochimaru where she was the subject to his experiments. It would be three years before Naruto would return try to save his friends and three years before the Akatsuki would make their final moves. Three years b Madara is been called in his mother's room in unknown reason. He's in bad mood right now because of hard training.
The time when he open the door, is the time when his heart warms. Seeing the little girl in his father arms. Otsukijou Aira. I've seen your coats on two men before in the Land of Waves. The Okami clan, like many clans, it is destroyed leaving only one survivor, Yuki Okami. Four years after Yuki Okami's clan's death she is placed on team seven with her best friend, Naruto Uzumaki, the fangirl Sakura Haruno, and the famous Sasuke Uchiha.
Along with dealing the the conflicts of team seven, Yuki has to l She has spent the last two years and a half training nonstop. That kind of hard work doesn't come without some pay. Now she has to do what she can to save her team mate, Sasuke Uchiha. I was born from love I rose from fire and ashes My heart is stained with hate My fate is revenge Don't awaken the beast. This book IS finished- though not everything is posted -but it's going under heavy editing and rewrite so please bare with me : thank you!
I don't own Naruto or its characte I glared up at him my eyes narrowed, "Excuse me? My glare didn't falter when Parker towered over me, clenching his jaw while trapping me against his desk. But I wasn The Watty Awards. Try Premium. Log in Sign Up. They'll Never Know K 3. Completed Mature. Yuri on ice one shots Anxiety Attack Royal Blood Book I I'm Sorry! The Outsiders: Babygirl Curtis K 1. The Outsiders K 1. The Outsiders: Dally's little sister K The outsiders K Senju Girl Naruto Fanfic 1.
Sketchbook Tour 31 Yukine X reader K 3.
0コメント