Anyone interested in some writing advice for beginners?

I've got some anecdotal tips stored up and wouldn't mind sharing if someone wants to hear them.

Comments

[Babroniedad]

Absolutely awesome! Sure, let them fly.
I would love to hear them.

[SomeWeirdGuy]

I wouldn’t mind, I always get ideas for stories but keep them in my head. I’m not a very strong writer and not well known for using advanced vocabulary and detail.

[Obsi]

5192839
have you brought something to paper yet?
To someone who is looking at their first time writing, I think the best advice I could give you is that you don't have any standards yet. Is your first sentence crappy? so be it, write the second anyway. learn to ignore that niggling voice that screams for perfection.

Your first story should be short. not more than 10 chapters, max. Ignore quality, and just try to get to the end of it. That gives you practise, gives you a sense of finishing things and you will be able to do a much better job the next time.

Many authors say 'writing is rewriting'. Many beginners take that as "I must rewrite this page until I like it!" The end result of that is usually frustration, because the newbie doesnt actually know exactly whats wrong with it, so he just keeps rewriting until he quits. A real rewriting process should look like this:
Noticing that the scene doesnt seem to do its intended job.
asking yourself why "Is it the pacing? stiff dialogue? Is there a better way to do it?" (as an example, I was writing a scene yesterday where a character starts off painting a restaurant. I decided to scrap this idea because painting a normal stinking restaurant is a poor first impression of my sci-fi space setting. im currently trying to figure out how to make it better)
Once you have a plan in mind, then, and ONLY then, rewrite.

[Obsi]

5192839
about vocabulary and detail: One important thing to note is that big words dont make the story good. you should still look them up, but nobody will be impressed because you used alot of fancy words. clear, straightforward language is the key, you dont want to force your readers to look up words after all.
Detail: Just like world-building, is on a need-to-know basis. Ask yourself what you want to convey, for example, you want to describe someone as nervous, well, they'd be fidgeting, shaking, sweating, maybe it'd show in their manner of speech or in rapidly looking from one place to the other. details fulfill a purpose. ask yourself what you need and place details accordingly.

[SomeWeirdGuy]

5192953
Thank you, you've given me a lot to think about

[Obsi]

5192961
as an example, here is the original version of Void Trials, the first thing I've ever written. (im not sure if that link works, pls tell me if it does) https://www.fimfiction.net/story/348424/an-old-plan
no standards here, that was just me trying to sprint to the finish line with my first story concept ^^

also, when you're stuck having absolutely no idea how to phrase a sentence, pick up a book you like, and see how it phrases a similar sentence. I used Harry Potter for this alot when I was starting out.

[SomeWeirdGuy]

5192970
the link doesn't work but I see your point, references are a good idea.

[erickeme]

Well, I just wrote a comment on the story saying that it has potential for sequels. Oh well, writing without passion wouldn't be a good idea. I'm glad both stories exist.