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This is Part 2 of a 3 Part Article
Step 3: Have Someone Else Read Your Story Find someone whose opinion you trust. Have them read your story and give it an honest evaluation. Your mother is probably not the best person for this task. Neither is anyone who is only interested in leaping lavish praise on your story. This will only feed your ego. It will do nothing for your story or your career as a science fiction writer. What you need is honest criticism. You need to know what works and what doesn’t work. You need to have an open mind. If you have a good reader, they will tear your story to shreds. Don’t worry this is the way it is supposed to be. It is the only way you will ever become a successful writer. It’s best to have a few different people read your story. Different people will find different problems with the story, and if they are all picking up on the same problems, then you know without a doubt, what absolutely must be fixed. A great way to get some good, honest criticism of your story is to join a workshop. There is a great online workshop called Critters that I recommend. This workshop is geared towards speculative fiction, and you will find that the members give some very helpful advice. If an online workshop is not your thing you can always try an in person workshop. Check your local library or local newspaper to find out about workshops in your area. Joining a workshop has an added benefit. Not only will you receive much needed advice on your own writing, you will also learn from reading and critiquing the fiction of others. It is an excellent way to fine tune your own writing skills. Step 4: Edit . . .again Now that your story has been ripped to shreds, it is time to reassemble it. Using the criticism you have received you will need to edit and rewrite your story. Most writers find this to be the most painful and tedious part of the writing process. If you’re not sick of the story you will be soon. If you are starting to feel a little burnt out, it’s okay to put it aside for a few days and start something fresh, but make sure you go back to your story. You should approach it with fresh energy and edit and rewrite with renewed zeal. When it is complete go back through it a few more times to proofread and edit. Go To Page: 1 2 |
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