[Stonk]

I love writing. Its an outlet for me to express myself, to vent, to feel joy, happiness and whatnot. However, I need to practice to get better. What apps do you guys recommend that I could use to practice? Some say Wattpad but I don't really like it. I am aiming for a thousand words per day. Both fiction and nonfiction. I'm thinking windows apps for my laptop.

Any pointers?

[Saweeep]

Is this a joke?

[flanders]

Scrivener is a very nice, no-frills writing application. It's useful for deploying e-books to the amazon marketplace since everything is basically formatted already.

I'm on Kyle Trouble's email list and he links to 30 days to X, here is a blog post by Robert from 30 Days about the app itself.

http://30daystox.com/scrivener-review-th...-an-ebook/

Other than that, just use notepad and enable wordwrap.

[chicane]

I prefer to do my writing in Google Docs, that way I can switch between my notebook and my tablet

[Repo]

That title tho.. . .

[Donfitz007]

from my experience, the best way of getting better at writing is by reading.

Secondly I the actual process of writing, I tend to use Grammarly because my grammar is atrocious.

Thirdly i keep track of how often I use the words "very" or "super" and try to replace those words with adjectives that sound classier or at least better fitting words. So a good thesaurus is vital

[chicane]

And go join Toastmasters.

[blck]

(07-22-2018 05:34 PM)Donfitz007 Wrote:  

from my experience, the best way of getting better at writing is by reading.

Secondly I the actual process of writing, I tend to use Grammarly because my grammar is atrocious.

Thirdly i keep track of how often I use the words "very" or "super" and try to replace those words with adjectives that sound classier or at least better fitting words. So a good thesaurus is vital

Where did you learn that ?

[Stonk]

@Flanders.

Thanks mate!

[Fortis]

The best way to get good at writing is to read and write. It's like game. You don't get better at game by not doing game.

The Fortis Formula

Week 1: 500 words daily
week 2: 750 words daily
week 3: 1000 words daily
week 4: 1250 words daily
week 5: 1500 words daily
week 6: 1750 words daily
week 7: 2000 words daily


You'll eventually start to hit a flow state and you'll get a kick out of it. When you can bang out 2000 words without even thinking, you're headed on the right track to being able to write.

[nomadbrah]

Reading.

And cutting down sentence length and difficulty.

[Heart Break Kid]

(07-23-2018 05:36 AM)Fortis Wrote:  

The best way to get good at writing is to read and write. It's like game. You don't get better at game by not doing game.

The Fortis Formula

Week 1: 500 words daily
week 2: 750 words daily
week 3: 1000 words daily
week 4: 1250 words daily
week 5: 1500 words daily
week 6: 1750 words daily
week 7: 2000 words daily


You'll eventually start to hit a flow state and you'll get a kick out of it. When you can bang out 2000 words without even thinking, you're headed on the right track to being able to write.

What type of stuff do you write?

[Fortis]

Everything.

I've been into writing since my early teens.

I used to run a couple of corporate blogs in the past. I've also finished up a ebook I plan to publish soon.

Currently working with an artist buddy on a little comic/manga project.

I'm no pro, but I can get my ass in the chair and show up. That is 99% of the battle. You are not a writer until you are writing daily.

I am more of a fiction, creative writer at heart.

[LowerCaseG]

(07-22-2018 08:50 AM)Stonk Wrote:  

I love writing. Its an outlet for me to express myself, to vent, to feel joy, happiness and whatnot. However, I need to practice to get better. What apps do you guys recommend that I could use to practice? Some say Wattpad but I don't really like it. I am aiming for a thousand words per day. Both fiction and nonfiction. I'm thinking windows apps for my laptop.

Any pointers?

Getting better in writing -->
Getting better at writing -->
Becoming a better writer -->
Writing better.

A sentence should be able to convey your idea in as few words as possible. Use a thesaurus so as to not overly repeat adjectives.

If you are educated in the US and under 30, your writing probably sucks.

[Donfitz007]

(07-23-2018 02:48 AM)blck Wrote:  

(07-22-2018 05:34 PM)Donfitz007 Wrote:  

from my experience, the best way of getting better at writing is by reading.

Secondly I the actual process of writing, I tend to use Grammarly because my grammar is atrocious.

Thirdly i keep track of how often I use the words "very" or "super" and try to replace those words with adjectives that sound classier or at least better fitting words. So a good thesaurus is vital

Where did you learn that ?

I know its basic information, but maybe somebody reading this forum didn't know.

[Chase]

Read “The Elements of Style” and Steven King’s “On Writing”. Both are outstanding books that teach you to become a better writer.

[ronny.mckinsly]

Only write when you feel like writing.
Otherwise, don't write at all. When you write the words should come pouring out of you onto the page/word document/whatever. It should flow like a river every time your fingers hit the damn keyboard. Writing is subjective. So if someone says "You Suck!" who the fuck are they to say that shit. Screw them, and just keep writing. One day someone will read what you put out there, and they'll think it's good, or maybe they won't, but it was never about that; you love writing. Don't write for a paycheck, or to get laid. Writing is about fucking your soul. So go fuck it some more, and stop asking how. You already know.

[blck]

(08-05-2018 09:39 PM)ronny.mckinsly Wrote:  

Only write when you feel like writing. Otherwise, don't write at all.

Worst advice read today!
You never do things when you "feel like", it's the way of the procrastinator and unachiever.
You discipline yourself and create a habit of writing everyday, at least, some bullshit on how you feel about anything, pour your soul and mind on paper, I can assure you you'll come back to it to get inspiration.

@Stonk, what are you writing right now?
Informative? Narrative? Essays or Poems ? Do you write for men or for women?
Did you ever thought about taking writing courses? Did you ever tried to write a scenario? Would you start a side career as writer?

[tewkewl]

I liked using Grammarly in school, its excellent at cleaning up your grammar and it even explains why your grammar isn't correct. It fixes it & teaches you at the same time.

[chicane]

One writing tool that I would like is a word processor that lets me do an outline, then expand or collapse sections producing a final document that does not show the outline

[2 Cool 4 U]

(07-23-2018 05:36 AM)Fortis Wrote:  

The best way to get good at writing is to read and write. It's like game. You don't get better at game by not doing game.

The Fortis Formula

Week 1: 500 words daily
week 2: 750 words daily
week 3: 1000 words daily
week 4: 1250 words daily
week 5: 1500 words daily
week 6: 1750 words daily
week 7: 2000 words daily


You'll eventually start to hit a flow state and you'll get a kick out of it. When you can bang out 2000 words without even thinking, you're headed on the right track to being able to write.

Sometimes I can crank out 2k words of writing but only a small chunk of it would be useful

[Canopus]

Search is your friend, bro. Here are two threads that will help you, worth reading in full:

Learning how to write
Some Tips on Writing

And I'll quote you two of the best insights on the forum for free.

(04-14-2013 06:10 PM)delicioustacos Wrote:  

Every morning, get up an hour before you have to. As you take your morning shit, read a book by your favorite writer. I recommend Charles Bukowski.

Then sit down, every day, and just make your fingers move on the keyboard. Just write the first shit that comes into your head. Don't worry about structure or getting jokes in there or expressing any particular idea. Write this material with the idea that NO ONE is EVER going to read it. You will have a voice in your head chiming in constantly saying OMIGOD THIS FUCKING SUCKS! YOU HAVE NO TALENT! IF ANYONE EVER SAW THIS IT'D BE LIKE EVERY GIRL IN JUNIOR HIGH SEEING YOUR NAKED DICK AFTER YOU WERE SWIMMING IN ICE WATER! You will need to get past this voice. It takes about a year.

Talk about EVERYTHING. The shit you took, what you jerked off to, the millimeter of bumpy brown nipple you saw in the cashier girl's blouse when she bent over to bag your eighty five per cent lean ground beef, how that was the highlight of your day. Everything. Your job, your mother, your porn, your stupid Xbox games. Whatever is on your mind naturally. Force nothing.

If you are being honest, you will find yourself confessing a lot of stuff. Writing a lot of horribly self-deprecating things. At first writing may simply compound your self-hatred and make you more miserable, dwelling on it so much. Doesn't matter. This is the gold, but you don't know it at first.

The trick is: shit that is painful while you're writing it is fucking hilarious a few days later. I can't believe I was that hung up on my job, my mother, my porn, my stupid Xbox games. I can't believe seeing half the fucking bag girl's tit was the best part of my fucking day. Shit that you thought was a confession you would take to the grave suddenly doesn't seem so bad, and in fact would make a fucking funny blog entry. The more it hurts when it's happening the funnier it is later.

Eventually you get used to this, and writing becomes a therapeutic tool to get you over shit. Things don't feel real until you write them down. Then they don't feel real until you share them with your audience. You will have a sense of control over the world. If something shitty happens, part of you is thinking: fuck yeah, material. Some Steven Seagal shit, turning your pain's momentum against it.

You will worry that your words aren't any good. They will get better, and come to you easier. You will worry that no one gives a shit about your banal life. Well, most people lead banal lives, and reading someone's similar story makes them feel less alone in the world. Plus the fucking bugs eating chicken bones in my trash can are engaged in epic life and death struggles to eat, fuck, and live another day. Stories are everywhere and nothing is too small. Just stay honest. Say exactly what you think and to hell with what anybody else thinks.

Also, I find it helps when you say "fuck" a lot.

(05-21-2016 08:39 PM)The Lizard of Oz Wrote:  

I sent the following comments in reply to a poster who asked me in a PM about what he could do to improve his writing style. I thought they might be of interest to other guys as well, so I reproduce them below.

****************

Here are some things I would suggest:

-- When writing, aim for two things: clarity and flow. Don't worry about style and don't worry about being witty. Concentrate on saying what you want to say in a clear and consecutive manner and on following the logic of the subject as you actually think about it in your mind.

-- Write about things that you know about and that actually interest you. This is key. Most bad writing is bad because people write about subjects that do not really interest them or that they have no feeling about. That kind of writing is dead on the page and no amount of style or wit can salvage it, any more than makeup can make a corpse look beautiful. If you write about what you know and care about -- and especially if you ever write about things you love -- you will find that the words will present themselves, as if by magic. Then all you need is to have the discipline of making what you say clear and consecutive and of letting it flow in the way that it wants to -- which brings me back to the first point above.

-- Don't reach for words. A lot of writers are bad because they reach for words that they don't naturally use, as if those words could, in themselves, add anything to their discourse. Use the words that you already know and have a feel for -- the only exception is when you are writing a technical text and simply have to use the technically correct word.

This may seem like strange advice coming from me since I occasionally use unusual or complex words in my posts -- but I think you'll agree that their use never feels strained or unnatural. I don't reach for them, they just occur to me because they're part of my natural vocabulary. If you want to have a larger vocabulary, you have to read widely, and be interested in many things. But the truth is that it's not the most important thing; words are just tools.

A writer should love his words no more than a pimp loves his whores; they have one purpose and that is to go out on the street and turn tricks and any one that gets the job done is as good as another. A pimp that falls in love with his whores is a bad pimp and a writer that falls in love with his words is a bad writer. Never strain and never overvalue words as such, just use what's near to hand.

-- Pay attention to punctuation and paragraph breaks. Good punctuation helps a sentence flow, and good paragraph breaks help the page flow. When I see a paragraph that is getting too long I figure out a good place to break it off and this often improves the text in surprising ways.

-- If you can reach a state of relaxed concentration, that is the best state to do any writing from. Real tension or anxiety strains writing -- it's part of the reason why a lot of today's literature is so bad. But real sloppiness is not ideal, either. Relaxed concentration is best in writing just as it's best in life.

-- Even if you're not writing a letter to a particular person, sometimes it helps to write your text as if you have some particular reader in mind and you want that person to understand what you're saying -- to really understand it and feel it. It concentrates the mind and makes the writing more pointed and more purposeful.

I hope you find these suggestions to be of some use.