[x]

Punctuation Basics

Writing is like math. If you don’t follow the right formula, you end up in a state of mass confusion. Synonymously, punctuation is like following a map. If you miss the street signs, you’ll end up completely lost. The following is a list of common English punctuation marks and their most basic functions. Contrary to popular belief, there are no exceptions to these rules. Breaking them has never been in style.

The most common English punctuation marks include the following:

. = period
? = question mark
! = exclamation point
, = comma
“” = quotation mark

Character Design Help GuideCharacter Creator Help

Right, I know that sometimes creating good characters can be a little hard. So, I’ve designed this little writer’s resource in order to make it a touch easier. I’ll give you a list of details to fill in, and then some tips on how to fill ’um. * means that if this is your first time reading the Character Creator, you should DEFINITELY check out the tips for that heading before filling it out. ^ means that this heading is optional. @ means that this information doesn’t have to be entirely accurate. I hope this’ll help people who’re having a little trouble with character making.

NOTE: T

Character FlawsCharacter Flaws
(How Perfect is Too Perfect?)

Character flaws are an integral part of making your character likeable to your readers. Believe me when I say, the more perfect your character is, the more your readers are going to be turned off by him or her and the more likely they will be to drop the book and never read it or another one by you again.

The reason is they won't be able to identify with the character. No one in this world is perfect. If you make a perfect character, your readers are going to feel inferior to that character and hate him/her. They're not going to like the fact that s/he is always right, always wins, always knows

Writing Tips - Dialogue

If you’re writing fiction, the dialogue is arguably one of the most important parts. And it’s the bit that’s the easiest to mess up, if we’re strictly honest. And why not? There’s so much going on in that single sentence that any number of them can go wrong; voice, character, tone, point of view, punctuation. We’ll start with punctuation, because I’ve already written that bit.

Punctuating Dialogue

Go here. I was originally going to copy and paste that part of the lesson into this lesson, but then the thing wound up being ten pages long. So, read that, and then come back to this if you feel you might need h

Tips for Writing Writers 1

1. How to Make Great Characters
How do you create great characters? Well you have to make us sympathize with them; give us a reason to care when they are in danger. There are many ways of doing this, but here is just a few:

Help them stand out:
No they do not need to be a super hero or have the weirdest clothes, but it is good to have something that makes them...well...them! For an example you could have a cheerleader who practises kickboxing, a guy bad tough cop with poor people skills who has a kitten, or maybe the girl who is forced to be perfect by her parents has a secret comic book collection under her floorboards.

Habits are anothe

Writing Tips - Language

Accents, Foreign Languages, and Regional Dialects

There are times when your story may have one or more character speaking a different language, or with a different accent than the rest. There are many different ways a writer can go about presenting this to the reader, and before we go any further, I will concede that some of it is a matter of personal taste, and on this particular matter, you won’t be able to please everybody. So, consider this bit not so much a lesson, but rather a series of guidelines.

Accents

Everyone has one. Even if you think that you don’t, there’s someone, somewhere in the world who would disagree wit

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Writing thing pt. 2by ~avaunt

Resources & Stock Images / Tutorials / Writing

Part 2~! Hope this helps even more.
If you have any questions or additional topics you want me to cover, just ask.

Part 1:[link]
Part 3:
[link]

*AliceSacco Mar 7, 2011

Intewresting. But i find easier to write plot driven stories than character driven stories, for this now i'm praticin at writing character driven stories (and usually i like character driven stories)

~avaunt Mar 21, 2011

Well, everyone has a different method. I prefer characters because they can drive the plot on their own. You have to know the basics of both before you can write a full story, but you'll be able to better construct your plot if you have an accurate understanding of your characters.

~Objectionized Jul 23, 2010 Hobbyist General Artist

_{rawr! the part about writing scenes according to your mood is super-helpful, indeed! as simple as it sounds, i never really thought of it like that before :0
thanks again! <3<3<3}

~hylian-maiden Sep 15, 2009 Hobbyist Digital Artist

I like this!!

I'm working on an original comic book/manga and reading this helps me get on a straight road. Some of the advise you suggested, like write what your mood dictates, or your inspirations from part 1 (mainly #1 and #4) I actually do, for real, while the rest I agree with.

~avaunt Oct 4, 2009

Thanks.

I'm glad you liked it.

~japan-air Nov 15, 2008 Hobbyist Digital Artist

Okay, now I really want to read that story you kept using as an example.

Tell me it's been written down somewhere.

Oh yeah, and this was pretty helpful. In the "I probably already knew this, but it's easier to use seeing it written down" sort of way. Thanks.

~avaunt Nov 17, 2008

xD I haven't written it down anywhere. Maybe some time in the future. I don't know. I'm able to invent random ideas off the top of my head, this one didn't appeal to me as much, since I'm more into fantasy/psychological stuff. Some time in the future I might sit down and develop it, but I currently have about 5 that I'm working on separately that are in different stages of development and that I like better.

Of course.

I'm glad it was helpful!

~eatmyshorts111 Dec 2, 2007

Great job! I'm trying to complete my Original Writing coursework -^_^-

~avaunt Dec 17, 2007

OMG
I'M SO SORRY
I've been so behind on comments. xD;
Actually I always am.
;o;

Um yeah.

I'm so happy that it helped you.

Especially with your class - if you want me to help you out with things, don't be afraid to ask!
Probably note me, though. xD I don't answer comments fast. xDD ;o;

~Hana-Keijou Nov 23, 2007 Hobbyist Digital Artist

awsome tips!

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