Monday 7 July 2014

I write.

So my blog has been called An Accomplished Young Lady for about two years, and when I first started blogging my aim was to put up regular posts about books, movies, cooking, sewing, etc. I still intend to do this, but a lot has changed since I was thirteen! I've become a lot busier and my tastes have changed a bit. I've met a lot of amazing bloggers ( not in person though. On my bucket list: meet them in person one day.)
Blah blah blah. To what does all this tend? Well, simply put, I need a new name for my blog. The problem is I have no idea what to change it to. Ideas please!

Anyway, I am going to write an Intelligent and Informative post today. Many of you who read this are writers. I read lots of blogs that belong to writers. If I may presume to say so, I am a writer. I've been doing a lot of writing lately, trying to improve my style. And I have a few tips for making your writing colourful and original.
~1. Use onomatopoeic words. Onomatopoeic words sound or look like they mean, e.g. crunchy, fizzle, grin. (On a side note, the word "onomatopoeic" is not strictly an onomatopoeic word because it doesn't look or sound like what it means. Got it?) Maybe "grin" doesn't look like it sounds to you, but it's really up to you to decide what words are onomatopoeic.
~2. Work out a simple main plot. But then add lots of side plots, which may or may not be connected to the main plot, like false leads in a mystery.
~3. Combine genres. To me, a fantasy-mystery-romance sounds scrumptious.
~4. End chapters with cliffhangers. I'm powerless to resist them.
~5. Try not to say "red" when you're describing something red. Say "scarlet" or crimson." They look so much richer. Same goes for other colours.
~6. Don't be afraid of killing/hurting your characters. I used to write stories that were so happy, nobody died and everybody became friends. But life isn't like that. People are sinful and bad things happen in real life. Not to say that I don't love happy endings, because I do. But don't be afraid of incomplete endings.
~7. Try to pack as much as you can into your sentences. Don't write a paragraph where one punchy sentence would do. Redraft your writing and improve it. Leave it for a month or longer and come back to it. Is it as good as you thought it was a month ago?
~8. Write all the time. Even if you don't have a story going at the moment, write something every day. A poem, a song. Keep a journal. Write descriptions of people you meet. Note their mannerisms and oddities. Keep a notebook to write in anytime you come across a new word, a phrase, a description.
~9. Good vocabulary. This is technical rather than creative, but if your grammar is bad and you don't have a big vocabulary your writing won't have the same style and effect. Write masterfully. Which leads me to the last and VERY important tip:
~10. Read. Lots. Both old authors and new. Reread old favourites and classics. Try a new book. Take note of the style and word use and what effect the authors create.

So these aren't rules for writing, but they work for me. Hope you enjoyed!

6 comments:

  1. Ooooh thanks for the writing tips Elizabethany! I really needed them :) I am writing a continuation of Sense and Sensibility.. hrmm what should you call your blog.. oooh I know you could call it "All Manner of Lovely Things"? that way you could blog about pretty much anything.. ? Just a thought :)
    ~Evie

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    1. Hey Evie! Oh cool! Thanks for the idea, I'll think about it!

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    2. Heyy! :) It's ok, I am fine if you don't use it.. anyhow this comment probably made no sense..

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  2. Hi! I'm really bad at names, but if I do think of one, I'll come back! I love your new header, it's adorable!

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  3. Wow, Beth, wow.

    The post is amazing.

    If I don't forget I plan to nominate it at Miss Dashwood's 'I'd like to share' thingy next month.

    I literally agree on everything you said---- I feel like copying this post and posting it on my blog. Heehee, don't worry, I shan't be so cruel.
    I had written a comment with agreement notes on your tips, but the computer was very cruel and swallowed it all up. I shall suffice by saying that I agree TOTALLY on everything. Bravo.

    As for blog names, I have come up with a few suggestions of my own, which of course you may ignore.

    ~ 'A la Moi'
    is one suggestion. If you don't know, it's French for 'Everything and Anything Me-like', or somethinglike that. I basically means 'Everything I like'. I thought it sounded rather elegant and sophisticated.

    ~ 'Yours Truly'
    I know it's a simple title, but it sounds warm and personal and I think it sounds rather sweet.

    ~Or you could name it after a place from a film or book, like I did. That's always nice.

    By the way, my mum has borrowed Les Mis from someone. I hope to watch it soon! I'll tell you what I thought from it when I do, I promise!

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  4. Awww thanks Naomi!! Thanks so much for the suggestions!! Hopefully I'll have decided on a title soon:)
    Watch it as soon as you possibly can!! Hope you love it as much as I do! You will bawl your eyes out!!

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