You're The Voice: Susan on Writing (and Vampire Academy)
Whether you are writing stories, essays or blog posts like these, it can be quite hard to come up with ideas and topics. Each person, however, does have different ways of planning and various steps that they take to write.
I like to plan beforehand. I like to know what the plot is going to be, the character’s information down to a point, the setting and every detail. I need to know what I’m doing or else, knowing my disorganization, I’ll stuff up the storyline and start writing about pineapples or something. There are others who like to just have a basic outline and write as they go along, which is also pretty cool because they’ll be surprising themselves as well as readers, plus its more fun and challenging. I’ve tried writing a story this way; let me just say I never got past the first chapter.
Developing your plot and writing your characters are the fun bits in writing. It’s awesome because you created them, they’re your work and you can write anything. The only thing you need to do this is a bit of thinking and creativity.
How do you people get ideas? I remember this author saying to always ask yourself, “What if?” In every situation you find yourself in, just ask yourself “What if this happened,” and soon enough you’ll find some crazy idea to go along with, and write an awesome story out of it. You can get ideas from reading other books, analysing their writing and what elements they use and put together. You can get ideas in nature, by people watching, random thoughts, day-dreaming, making random scenarios and developing them. Or you could be a Suzanne Collins and happen to be channel surfing between a reality TV show and a film about the invasion of Iraq and think up The Hunger Games.
The important thing is to actually like what you are writing about! :)
I’ve had much fun writing for Inside a Dog and I’m truly honoured to have been part of this! :) Thank you to all you readers, Centre for Youth Lit and Jordi for making this happen. As I leave, I shall give you guys my fave series Vampire Academy in about 4 pictures, in the most irritating font and language. Good luck.
Well the series is way more deeper than this, I just drew these up for fun. I deeply recommend everyone reads it, I love it with a passion.
- Susan
Aw, thank you, Susan for being the Voice for September! You can read Susan's other posts here:
