So, I know this is a little random and unexpected, but a guest, Zoe Nightshade, has requested some writing tips since they want to be an author! I want to be an author, too, and I thought I'd help out anyone else who wants tips. Disclaimer: I am nowhere near a professional. These are just some tips and tricks for anyone who wants to get into writing. Enjoy!
1. Take Your Time: This one might seem tedious for some people, but it's so worth it. Writing takes time and effort. Just be patient and don't force yourself to come up with ideas immediately. Taking things slow pays off in the end!
2. Good world-building is everything!: This one is crucial! When writing, please remember to build the world well. If it's fanfiction and the world is already created for you, remember every detail! People want to read something accurate to the actual movie/book. If you are creating your own world, don't leave out little things like where the story takes place, or little details like that. Of course, if you are creating your own world, you have a little more leeway to do as you please, but just remember to build the world well!
3. Don't forget what you've previously written: I am not the best at this one, but it's so important! If you wrote something in a previous chapter, don't forget about it. For example, if there is a minor character in chapter 3, don't forget their name in chapter 7. Of course, this is just an example, but I hope you get it. I will admit that I have done stuff like this before, but I'm trying to get better at it.
4. Grammar: Please, please, please, PLEASE have correct grammar. It makes me cringe whenever I'm reading fanfiction and the grammar or spelling is wrong. It makes your writing look sloppy, and people won't understand the story as well. I know this one is pretty obvious, but please follow through with it. I use Grammarly to help me. It automatically corrects wrong grammar or spelling and saves me a lot of time when I'm revising stuff. Also, capitalize and add correct punctuation. Super important!
5. Keep your readers entertained: This one is also really important. I know it's kind of well-known, but just make sure your story doesn't get too boring. When you are writing the first line of a chapter, make it something that will invest your readers and draw them in. Don't make it something boring like, "I woke up the next day." (I will admit that I have done this before, but again, I am working on it!) Also, use cliffhangers so your readers will be anticipating the next chapter or book. Keep them invested!
6. Spice things up: This one goes hand-in-hand with Number 5. Keeping things new for your readers is crucial so they don't get bored. I always lose interest when a book has chapters that basically repeat themselves. Like, the same thing happens in every chapter. Readers will lose interest. Add new characters, plot twists, and excitement. It will add a lot of flavor to your writing. Also, it's super fun to write!
There you go! I hope you learned something from this. I encourage all of you to try writing. It's so super fun. It doesn't have to be a fanfiction. I'm working on a different story of my own right now, too! Even just writing down a short story on a piece of paper can be a lot of fun, and can get your creative juices flowing. For those who want to be authors, I hope this was helpful! Let me know if you have any questions about writing. Love you guys!