Goodreads asked A.E. Pennymaker:

What’s your advice for aspiring writers?

A.E. Pennymaker There are a few things I have noticed as a beta reader, and learned as an English major with a bit of writing experience under my belt:

1. Plot. Even if you pants most of your scenes, sit down for a day or two and plot something. Know where you're going ahead of time, and what milestones you need to hit in your story. It will help keep your pace up and your arcs cohesive, and your readers will thank you for a story that doesn't stagnate or end with a fizzle.
2. This also applies to world building. Resist the urge to world build entirely on the fly. I have seen writers with great imaginations get bogged down in explaining this or that thing they just came up with (i.e. info-dumping), or worse still, have their concepts change as the story goes on because they didn't take the time to nail their elements down. This is especially true for fantasy and magic. Get some of the basics settled, make notes, do a little of the legwork up front. You won't be sorry you did.
3. Don't give up. If you hit a wall, try opening a window. If you're struggling to write a particular scene, find another scene that's more interesting and draft that. Half the time, working on the easier scene will kickstart something for the scene you're struggling with, and you'll find you've solved your problem. The added bonus: you're still getting work done.

flag