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Writing Tips from Lia's Creative Writing Seminars/Lectures Copyright Lia Scott Price  Channel:www.youtube.com/user/liascottprice What Inspires Me To Write? What are my "Methods"? How I Approach Writing: What I believe in: There is no set formula or secret to writing. Writing can be: -An outlet to vent real life issues -A way to express anger, love, fear, happiness, interests, memories, or something you have a passion for, question something or express something you feel strongly about, fictionalize a reality or experience. (Are there any real-life situations behind your stories?) -A medium in which your story can be told (Life itself is the best teacher.) -An examination of your own beliefs, fears, etc. -A situation that you want to share or that other people can learn from or relate to -About something that could happen, should happen, or did happen -A story about who affects you emotionally. When I write, I work out my own emotional crisis at the time: What I'm feeling, what I'm going through. The only way I can really write is if the feelings are raw and real---it's my way of venting, of fantasizing, of coping. -A way to share a hobby or teach what you know or have a skill for -A way to use any crisis, any experience, as a catalyst for creativity and an outlet for emotion. You can write during the most trying times of life, when things were not easy. Study real life. It is the best inspiration, and good therapy. -A parallel universe where anything can happen. -A 'what if' game you can play with anyone or anything What is my 'Process' of Writing?: Here's my advice: -Using your imagination as children do: to make up things. What if there was something strange behind that door? What if the chair someone is sitting on is really a portal to another dimension? It's a great exercise. -The Interactive Process. You can test your ideas with other people. You can be as strange or as funny as you want to be. Tell them about your story and see how they react and how you would address their questions or curiosity -Keeping a diary or writing journal or talking into a tape recorder -Interviewing people for your story (family histories, etc.) -Storyboarding or drawing or doodling instead of writing -The Jigsaw Puzzle approach: Writing notes and thoughts and putting them together later, like a puzzle. Writing does not have to be in any particular order. Just jot down your ideas as they come and do not worry about the order later. This can be done on index cards or a notebook with dividers, or a large board where you can move your notes around when you need to change the order of the story etc. Write down your thoughts and ideas no matter what they are -Everyone has a unique style of writing. Other than correct grammar, there really is no right or wrong way to tell a story. Some people use the first person format, others use second and third person. Do what feels right for you. No one else knows yourself better than you. Everyone has a style and a way of writing, and an emotion that influences them or motivates them. Develop your own voice It's your own voice, and no one else's.It's your story. You can also study how other authors write: Do they keep you in suspense throughout the storyline? Do they have a sarcastic tone or sense of humor? Do they like to keep a reader hanging? Do they write long chapters or short ones? Are they very descriptive? Write in the style that is most comfortable to you. If you like to read short dialogue, then write how you prefer to read. -Play a game with yourself. When you write a story. Ask yourself What if? What if this character had strange powers, or did a certain thing, etc? Use your imagination. Writing is like a parallel universe. Anything can happen. You can think that nothing is normal. The world in your story is as you see it in any way you want How can you take an ordinary situation and make it strange, unusual or out of the ordinary? -People are sometimes not what they seem. They have secret, hidden lives, feelings, fantasies, hobbies, ambitions. Do you really know what really goes on in their lives behind closed doors? There is a dark side or a lighter side to everything Write something out of the ordinary. -Remember that writing is based on real life. Real-life dramas or situations or feelings. Writing is a way to express, teach, or share. -I use "The Screenplay" approach to writing a novel: Elements include: A big opening, an opening that begins in the middle of the story which includes something exciting or catchy in the first three pages. Like a movie, a novel needs to grab an audience's attention in the first few pages. How do I come up with dialogue?: -Dialogue for me has to be interactive. Here are some tips: -Test your dialogue with an acting group or people who can act out the scenes, or with other people in general to see if the dialogue makes sense or flows, or if that is the way people would normally talk or react with different emotions -Listen to how people speak. Think about how people you know would say certain things -Think about how you would describe an object or event to someone. Think about how someone would describe an accident or a movie or their day to you -Go to a public place and listen to how people interact or converse with each other -Listen to people. How would someone talk if they were angry? Sad? Happy? Excited? Scared? What is their tone of voice? Choice of language? Would they cuss? Say very little? Talk rapidly? Describe how they say certain things. For example: She talked rapidly about her horrible day. He screamed angrily at her about the broken vase. How I Build a Character, Setting, Atmosphere, and Storyline: My Tips: What is the nature of your story?: Comedy? Drama? Fantasy? Horror? Science Fiction? Love Story? Biography? Other? Character development: What are your character's: Values? Emotions? Motives? Morals (Questionable, corrupt, etc.)? Influences (Bad, good, questionable etc.)? Likes and Dislikes? Quirks? Personality Type? Astrological Sign? Economic Status? Race/Ethnicity? Gender? Philosophy in Life? Physical Traits? Age? Type of Dress? Hygiene? Physical Condition? Religious Beliefs? Political Beliefs? Occupation? Family History or Geneology? Favorite Color? Color of Eyes? Color of Hair? Height? Etc. Sample descriptions: Brave, suspicious, angry, jealous, unkempt, hysterical, paranoid, anal. Do you know anyone who exhibits any of these traits? What would make you act like your character? What do you feel? How would you react? How would you react to someone who acted like your character? How would others react to your character's traits? For instance, how would someone with a nervous disposition act? Storyline Development: What is the twist in the story? The element of surprise? Is it predictable? Unpredictable? You don't always have to give people what they expect. For instance, in a love story, people expect a happy ending. You can give them a cliffhanger or an unexpected tragic ending for emotional impact. Create your "Atmosphere": City, Time of Day, Time of Night, Season, Weather (Samples: Gloomy, freezing, humid, sunny, clear, calm), Event: Wedding, football game, dinner etc., Background: What happened the day before, the year before etc., Create Drama, Conflicts: What will happen if my character does some of the following: doesn't do as another character says? What is the consequence? Needs a certain thing now? What is the consequence of a character doing or not doing a certain thing? What would a character do in a certain situation? Needs to talk to this person now? Hates someone but has to work with them? Loves someone but has to turn them in to the police? Fails every time they try something? Does something risky? Won't take a risk? Does something unpredictable? Put your characters in situations they are not normally in and explore what happens. -When you call your best friend on the phone and tell them a story, write as if you are talking to that person. You have a certain way of telling people things, like if you like to build up suspense. Can you make up things such as:'I met an alien today?' and make it believable, or unbelievable? -Do you like describing things in detail or in very little detail but to the point? Take a vase, for instance, and write about it as much as you can. Just write, don't worry about getting it perfect. Practice on people and everyday objects. After a while, take the same objects and exaggerate them -Make a person different than who they really are. Start building pictures in your mind. If your brother is tall and lean, then make him a hunchback. -Explore. Compliment someone in person who you've never complimented before and see how they react. Go into the waiting room of a local hospital and observe people waiting and describe it in writing down to the least obvious detail. Then go home and turn them into something else that you would not expect them to be. For instance, a little old lady turns out to be an FBI agent, or a serial killer who targets other old ladies with cats. Writing Exercises: Getting Started, Getting Organized, Developing a Writing Plan: -Keep a notebook and call it your creative writing journal -Keep a diary and write random thoughts. -Make time for it writing, even if it is just five minutes a day -Read, read, and read your favorite authors. You will soon learn to develop your own voice and style -Write in the basic format of Who, What, Why, Where, When, and How -Network with good mentors who you can learn from, motivate and teach you, and who respect you and who you respect, and who will actually be willing to teach you things to help you achieve your goals. -Practice pitching your story. If someone asks you what you wrote, you should be able to sum it up in one sentence, or in something that will make that person relate to the story: 'I'm writing about a boy who rescues stray animals and how he started the first humane society in his hometown.' Practice summarizing. It will help keep you on track and help organize your story. -Read newspapers and magazines to see different writing styles and what appeals to you. Do you like writing in a journalistic/news reporting style? Read travel magazines. They have very good descriptions of places. -With your notebook, go to a place, a zoo, a museum, a park, your garage, anywhere. Write about a place---what you see, what you feel, what you know about it. Write as much as you can in any style, in any description. Colors. Objects. Sounds. Then turn that place into something it actually isn't. For instance, your garage becomes a hiding place for reindeer who ran away from the North Pole. -Try remembering your dreams and keep a notebook by your bed. Sometimes the silliest dreams make for the most creative writing. -Write about the following: Your goals and life expectations, what you want to accomplish in life; The most memorable event in your life or the things that have made a difference in your life; Your creative ideas, skills and hobbies or what people often ask you about your knowledge of. Lastly, start becoming goal-oriented: List down the following: What do I want to achieve in a week? What do I want to achieve in a month? What do I want to achieve in a year? I write my books like screenplays. I see the picture moving in my head. I examine the world around me and translate it on paper. I write quick and to the point. That's my style. If anyone puts in the effort and the persistence, they can fulfill their creative dreams. Dont'ever let any naysayers tell you that you accomplish anything. Just do it. Create your own success. I star in my own films and I make a name for myself, because I love what I'm doing and it's a creative challenge for me. It is possible to achieve and be a success on your own terms. Believe in your work, believe in yourself. Besides, why wait for someone to do it for you? You can become your own agent, promoter, publishing company, etc. The only thing you can do is start working towards your goal, do the best you can do, be the best you can be, and believe in who you are and what you can do. But you have to take the initiative to start. Go out and do something for yourself.  4733 Torrance Blvd. #866, Torrance, CA 90503 310-940-1282 liascottprice@yahoo.com |