All my knowledge about writing (and I will admit that is very limited) can be accumulated into four words:
Write from the heart
All the perfect grammar, impeccable spelling, plot devices, and character traits add up to nothing if it isn't genuine. If all you're doing is making up stories, forget it. It must be real.
I realized this while writing from the perspective of a young man. Being a young woman several significant years younger than this character, I realized I could never make him realistic. I have no brothers, several older cousins I'm not that close to, and no close guy friends to glean information from. This being so, I have had to step back and think about things I do know about. Girls, sisters, parents, horses, writing (duh), optometry, shooting, hiking. These are things I know about. An eighteen year old guy isn't going to be believable, but a fifteen year old girl with three sisters? Sign me up! I have first hand experience and I'm not afraid to use it!
So be real.
May your pens stay sharp!
*Evyn
Write from the heart
All the perfect grammar, impeccable spelling, plot devices, and character traits add up to nothing if it isn't genuine. If all you're doing is making up stories, forget it. It must be real.
I realized this while writing from the perspective of a young man. Being a young woman several significant years younger than this character, I realized I could never make him realistic. I have no brothers, several older cousins I'm not that close to, and no close guy friends to glean information from. This being so, I have had to step back and think about things I do know about. Girls, sisters, parents, horses, writing (duh), optometry, shooting, hiking. These are things I know about. An eighteen year old guy isn't going to be believable, but a fifteen year old girl with three sisters? Sign me up! I have first hand experience and I'm not afraid to use it!
So be real.
May your pens stay sharp!
*Evyn
