I feel as if I've reached it.

No, this I'd not a supremely arrogant statement, though that might have been a fantastic way to get Hall of Shamed.

I've reached a point in my writing in that no matter how hard I try, I can't see any damn improvements. And I'm so frustrated.

Over the course of three months, I've went from a terrible, nonengaging, grammatically unsound fucktard (wow, my iPod autocorrect just turned that from fuckface to fucktard) to someone who could possibly write something enjoyable.

I've done everything I've known to follow the habits of good writers. Shit is planned thirty chapters in advance (literally, in one case). I go over each sentence I write over and over, even if I'm writing for 500 on my iPod in the middle of the night. I can spend hours just staring at a mostly blank screen if a phrase displeases me...

I just don't know how I can get better at the rate in which I was moving previously...

So I guess this thread is the older sibling of the tips for new writers thread.

How can someone like me - able to hold plot and characters down - go from ordinary to fantastic? Goodness knows there are damn good writers on DLP :X

 

I'm not at that point yet, only having been writing for five months on and off, but I think you just keep writing and working on your style. Eventually it becomes distinguishable (and good). You can see it pretty clearly with people who've written large amounts of material over long periods of time, like Joe.

 

Read.

Read everything you can get your hands on that reflects the sort of writing you'd like to be capable of. My biggest problem with myself is that I don't have as good a working vocabulary as I'd like to have. Reading things like Lovecraft helps with vocab (and creepy writing). If I want to immerse myself in description and world building, I go read the Lord of the Rings. And so on.

 

You've only been here since July. Keep writing, even if you never post the stories. Don't force writing out, that's how bad habits form. Let it flow out, and do editing afterwards. don't get bogged down by it.

Secondly, try betaing someone else's story. See how someone else does it, and you will get another perspective to writing.

Also, stop trying to score with forum girls.

 

I've been writing for a couple of years, only in the past year do I actually think I've become better than average.

That said, each year I learned some new incite that changed the way I wrote. Whether it be from learning a turn of phrase, how to use words without raping a thesaurus to death, or even implying a character's emotion rather than blatantly saying it. I've learned about tone, about pacing with longer sentences versus short. I've found my style, per se, that I am comfortable with.

One thing that helped me was challenging myself. I know swim did this in his rewrite of CR, which I think helped him a lot.

You should try it yourself. I've not really read your stuff, so I really can't help, but try writing something in second person perspective. Tr first person. Hell, try writing a horror bit, or writing a sappy romance. Something outside your comfort zone. Trying new things may shed light on old habits.

Also what Anarchy said, not the forum chicks thing, but stop trying to force yourself. Writing is part emotion.

Reading could help also, but I think here is not a lack of inspiration. It seems more a lack of understanding on the writing process. Could be wrong.

If you want help on something post up in WBA a chapter from somewhere and ask for the appropriate help. Along the lines of what you're asking here. I'd be willing to take a look at it.

 

Thanks everyone. I'm actually going to actively follow most of the advice.

Anarchy.

 

Honestly (and this may sound douchey, but I'm cool with it) it also takes talent. There are people who have a natural flair for words - and it damn sure takes work to get to the point where your talent can kick in (god knows my first few chapters of The Other Side of the Coin are seriously horrible - it's actually why I can't bring myself to keep working on that planned trilogy).

As was mentioned, the only thing you can do is keep reading and writing. Eventually you'll either be good or not, there's no guarantee. But I know that DLP is a great resource for that. I know that for me, the feedback I've gotten has definitely helped to improve my work, and as long as you listen to the honest responses you get here, you will improve at least somewhat.

 

As a corollary to reading more: Stop reading shitty stories altogether.

The past couple years has seen me reading less and less properly published fiction, and scrounging deeper into the abyss of the internet to find new (free) things to read. This has resulted in me reading a great deal of crap in the search for gems.

I've noted that this had led to my vocabulary and skill with grammar genuinely devolving as more and more terrible writing attacks my brain.

Bad grammar practices, improper word useage, and such have a habit of seeping into one's thought processes, without due diligence.

Not that I follow my own advice, but, like I said, I've noticed my vocabulary and grammar getting worse as I let this practice continue.