| Writing Murder, She Wrote Fan Fictions |
| Are you one of those Murder, She Wrote fans who thinks that you couldn't write an entire story to save your life? I created this page to show you how easy it is to create a work of fiction! |
| 1.) Read, read, read!-- That's not so hard, is it? Anyway, the first rule of writing anything is to READ like a maniac. Because no matter how old you are, or how big your vocabulary already is, there's always room for more knowledge and the ability to use bigger, better words. Reading helps improve your vocabulary, your critical thinking and your imagination. |
| 3.) Write, Write, Write! I can hear you all groaning, now. Not to worry. Just because you write doesn't mean you have to keep it (although I strongly suggest you log it away somewhere, it could come in handy, later). Or, if you keep it, you don't have to keep it in the same PLACE(or in the same story). Some people write stories backwards. They start with the ending, because they know how they want the story to end, and then they write the beginning and fill in from there. Personally, I like writing straight through. Then I develop the story as I write it. But no one style or formula works for everyone. The trick to writing is developing a system that works for you. When you've got that accomplished, everything else falls into place. Some people like to PLAN out every detail before they write. Some people don't plan at all. They simply plop in front of their computers with their fingers ready to fly across the keys. It's up to you. |
| 2.) Imagine the possibilities!- Yes, I know what you're thinking, "But I'm not creative enough to write a whole story!" I've got a memo for you: Yes you are! When I write, I don't make up EVERYTHING in the story. I use names that I know. I use PEOPLE that I know (sometimes I change their names, sometimes I don't). I use situations that I've been through. And then sometimes I just let myself be over-dramatic and dream up something fantastic! That's the great thing about writing---YOU get to manipulate it. YOU decide what happens in your own little universe. For control freaks, it's the best thing since sliced bread. Try to get to know the characters you're writing, and let the CHARACTERS lead your story (because character-driven stories beat the plot-driven ones ANY day). Don't say, "Oh, she'd never do that!"--just write it. If it's terribly out of character, you can take it out later. However, that one out-of-character action or piece of dialouge, could be what inspires you to REALLY know the character and create dramatic events for your story. |
| 4.) Don't delete! Never EVER delete ANYTHING you write! That sounds as though it will take up a DREADFUL amount of space, but, computers have large memory capacites for a reason. Even if a certain scene is not right for ONE story, save it (perhaps even in a different file). Sometimes those reject scenes are scenes to inspire new stories, or even a scene for a story you're stuck on. |
| Misc. Basically, what you want to remember is that NO ONE is going to have a perfect run the first time out. If you're really concerned about it, have someone read it who you trust to give you an honest, yet easy to swallow opinion. I'll gladly do it! I love reading, and I love even more helping people to realize that they ARE marvelous writers, they just need help in channeling their strengths and working their weaknesses, which I also love to help them do. Something to remember... You CAN do it. And about writer's block... I'm not a big believer in writer's block, myself. Well, I am, but I'm not. tee-hee! I think that writer's block is...the author is distracted. You may just need to leave a project for a period of time and work out things that are going on in your life. Then again, you may just have that cloud of self-doubt hanging over your shoulder, and that's why you're distracted. Don't let that cloud rain on your parade (I love using Bob Merrill lyrics!). Don't write for people... One of the things that I really love about Stephen Sondheim and his work is that he doesn't write FOR anyone. He writes music and lyrics because it's something that he feels deeply about doing, and something that he enjoys. For instance, the first musical he wrote both music and lyrics for was a lovely little flop entitled Anyone Can Whistle. Anyone Can Whistle is insanity. Well, that is to say---it's all about insanity. It closed after 9 performances. Prettybelle (Jule Styne/Bob Merrill) never made it out of Boston. Dear World (Jerry Herman) also closed early in it's run. Don't write because people will READ. Write because it's fun. Write because it releases things from your soul that have been locked down longer than you could ever know. You don't even necessarily have to SHOW your writing to anyone. Just do it because you have to. If I didn't write, I'm not sure what I'd do. I absolutely love it! And it lets me get out so many emotions and work out so many problems. Once, I wrote a novella (I guess you'd call it that), about a young girl who commited suicide. Although, the big suicide thing was my ending, so, really, it was boring until then. Anyway, I've shown it to my friends, but no one else. I've never posted it anywhere. Until now, I've never even TALKED about it anywhere else. I wrote that because that's what I was feeling at the time. That was my life (although, of course, with a different ending). And I'm sure that's one of the reasons why I'm here, plugging away at an Angela Lansbury web-site and currently working on one script and two or three stories (not to mention the amount of stories that I've written SINCE then...two short stories, 4 of my 8 Facts of Life fan fictions, three Murder, She Wrote fan fictions and collaborated on two others). |
| And to think...I almost gave up writing after my first two scripts in 6th grade. |
| Big thanks to Mrs. Danner for not letting me. |
| 5.) Edit, Edit, Edit! There's a reason I'm saying most of this three times. DO IT, three times. Editing my own stories---my least favourite part of writing. For one thing, I tend to LOOK at it and say, "It's crap!". However, you give that same story to one of my friends to read, and they'll say, "I loved it!". Get someone else to edit once for you, then YOU go back through and edit. Send it to someone else. Then, YOU go back through and edit. Sometimes, when you've gone on inspiration through an entire story, one scene in the beginning becomes no longer relevant to the story. Also, sometimes you are incapable of looking at it objectively. It's not your fault. The story is your baby. |
| The most important thing, though, I want everyone who reads this page to remember: Just TRY it. More than once. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. If at first you don't succeed, try, try again! It could become your new favourite activity. Or maybe not. I just don't want people to miss out on an incredibly rewarding, exciting and fabulous part of life. |
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