Advice for an aspiring writer from writers. What should an aspiring writer know? Practical advice. It’s better to write in small portions

The profession of a writer seems amazing: a person creates a world, publishes books, and if they seem interesting, then he gets good money. Domestic practice shows that literary creativity- This is more a calling than a profession. In this article we will figure out how to become a writer.

Who is a writer really?

Writer is a person who creates works intended for public consumption. For this type of activity he receives remuneration. Another form of this activity is recognition of a person by the writing community, critics, or receiving other expert assessment.

Is it a hobby or profession

The writer must be:

beautiful speeches

A person who has talent can become a writer. Relevant skills can be developed, a sense of style can be instilled. However, teaching a person to beautifully transfer an idea from his head to paper is very difficult. But probably.

Is it possible to make money from this?

Typically, publishers pay 10% of the cost of a copy, and retailers make a 100% markup. The author receives approximately 5% of the price of the book on the shelf. Beginning writers publish works in the amount of 2-4 thousand copies. If the fee per unit is 10 rubles, then from this amount you can get 40 thousand rubles. You can also sell books via the Internet, setting the price yourself. All profits received will belong entirely to the author. The circulation will depend on the popularity of the work.

How to start a writing career

Writing, like any art form, is built on clear rules. To become a writer and make a living from this activity, you will have to push yourself within the framework of deadlines and topics. But first there is a lot of work to be done. 1. Choose a genre and your style The right genre is a 100% hit target audience. Many authors feel that narrowing their work to one genre will deprive them of potential readers. This thesis does not apply to novice authors. If the latter does not want to define the genre, then he confuses the potential reader, that is, the buyer. The reader wants to purchase a certain product. If in a matter of seconds the author cannot explain what kind of book he created, then the reader will leave without buying. 2. Make at least 10 attempts Both beginners and successful writers often face the problem of maintaining their “unique” view of the world. Before reaching the writing Olympus, you need to study what humanity has already chosen. Then the author’s view will become truly original. In trying to ignore the culture of humanity, a writer risks being left alone with his vision. One must constantly write. A lot about everything, try to choose the right words. Trying to keep a fresh perspective on literature. The best way to do this is to use wit. In order not to get lost halfway, you need to believe in yourself and your strengths, write as sincerely and well as possible. 3. Analyze the result Try to keep a fresh perspective on literature. This will determine whether the reader wants to study your book and tell others about it. To do this, you need to compare your work with the essay. famous author. This move worked well in communication with the editor. If a person at the first meeting says that he writes in the spirit of Saltykov-Shchedrin, then it becomes clear to publishers that this is an author who seeks to create artistic and political satire. Finding style icons is important not only for comparison, but also for further learning.

4. Listen to the opinions of others Submit your work for study not only to the editor, but also to your loved ones. If they offer constructive criticism. Then you should listen to her. Unless you have contacted an all-knowing “hater”. You need to be able to distinguish the opinions of amateurs from people with professional and life experience and listen to the latter. Then work on the mistakes, that is, on editing the style and accessibility of the presentation. The editor's advice is very useful. Most often he receives a raw product with big amount errors. His task is to correct shortcomings and create a stylistically competent and lightweight text. Sometimes it can be quite sharp and harsh. Because the final success of the book largely depends on the results of his work. 5. Listen to yourself – is it yours or not? The success of an essay depends on the author’s ability to bring the reader into the center of events. People don't care about the difficulties you experienced as a child. If you can make the reader feel what is happening and learn a lesson, then the book will be successful. Another question is whether you can do this affordably as an author. You need to listen to your inner voice. 6. Continue writing no matter what Popularity is the result painstaking work over mistakes. Becoming a writer is very difficult. Not everything depends on hard work and “training”. You can sit at least 6 hours with a laptop and a voice recorder, but the result will be a dull piece of work. The desire to write does not always coincide with a person’s talent. If you put in the effort, improve your skills, read a lot, write even more and try yourself in different styles, then the chance of achieving success increases significantly. 7. Come up with a pseudonym Author with beautiful name easier to remember. How to come up with a nickname:

beautiful nicknames

8. Try to publish your creations Publishing a book costs a lot of money. Even after undergoing a strict selection of works and adjusting the style, no one can provide a guarantee of cost recovery. In addition, the works of newcomers are published in small editions. Therefore, editors advise starting with social networks and special online platforms. Electronic publication relieves the author of several stages of stumbling: he can reach out to his own circle of readers and test various literary works. JK Rowling received 8 rejections before publishing her manuscript about Harry Potter, and the Austrian publishing house found E. L. James's work "Fifty Shades of Grey" on a fan fiction forum.

9. Hold a literary evening of your works Another way to find your reader and listen to the opinions of critics is to participate in literary evening works. First, you should attend an event of a famous author, get acquainted with the “literary elite”, listen to current topics. The evening follows two scenarios: either fans read the author’s favorite works, or the “idol” himself reads out new works. Meetings are also practiced at which authors writing in different directions. At such events, aspiring creators share their sketches and listen to the opinions of professionals, including literary critics. To become a writer you need great talent and self-discipline. You need to clearly understand what kind of prose you want to get, have an example before your eyes and follow it. The most difficult thing for a writer is to bring the work to the end. This cannot be done without patience. Everything is real good books are striking in their plausibility. It’s as if the reader experiences all the events and emotions himself. Only good writer

can give all this to people.

It is not necessary to describe events in

. A writer is a creator! First you can come up with the ending, and then the story itself. The Russian language is very rich. Try to use unexpected metaphors and comparisons when creating works. It is very difficult to keep more than three characters in your head. Therefore it is better to create

each of them. Names should be chosen that are different from each other, but at the same time characterize the characters. Works with unexpected endings are strongly etched in the memory and evoke a lot of emotions. The finished work should be given to someone to read. If it is not possible to use the services of proofreaders, it is better to give the work to friends and acquaintances, but do it anonymously in order to receive an objective assessment. This is how Stephen King creates his works. The author needs to have two copies of his work: a draft and a finished version. The first one must be created without any help for closed door . It will take time to transform all the expressed thoughts into a work. At that time, the writer advises to completely change the type of activity or go on vacation. The book must rest for at least six weeks in a closed box. After the specified time, the first text corrections are made: all typos and inconsistencies are corrected. re-reading the work - to understand whether the text is completely connected. The formula for the second copy of the manuscript = First version - 10%. Only after reaching this proportion does the book reach the proofreader's desk.

How to quickly want to write if your muse has left you

Inspiration can leave anyone. What to do in this case:

Are you worried about some burning question? Try to understand it yourself and help others do the same. Stephen King recommends writing for one ideal reader. It is no coincidence that the books that have come down to us since ancient times are a letter to one person (“To Himself” M. Aurelius). There are no bad sketches. The writer's task is to polish the text well. The source can be anything. Trust your intuition. Inspiration can strike at any moment. Try to grab onto it and use it to the maximum, and then work with the result. One more nuance: inspiration comes while working. Work at 110%. Write about what interests you personally. Then other people will find something familiar in what is written.

Always develop your literary talent

The author's job is not to create ideas, but to recognize them. There is no Idea Vault or Best Seller Island. Good ideas literally come out of nowhere. The author’s task is to recognize them. When a poet writes, he creates an essay for himself, when he corrects it, he creates it for readers. At this moment it is important to remove everything unnecessary. Then the work will become interesting for other readers. The writer must develop his lexicon. But by reading. It is better to put the spelling dictionary on the shelf with tools. Stephen King believes that any work can be ruined if you add a bunch of long words to it. The author should express his thoughts quickly and directly. A good description is the key to success. This is an acquired skill that can only be learned by reading and writing a lot. Description is a visualization of an object, characters, objects, which begins with the words of the author and should end in the reader’s imagination.

How to become a good children's writer

Creating books for children is a fashionable but difficult activity. A child's perception is not the same as an adult's. They do not need fashionable books, but interesting ones. The poet of children's books bears a great responsibility. There should be no violence, cruelty, or bullying. Children's psyches have not yet been formed, so it is difficult for them to understand irony and sarcasm. Children's author must clearly know the audience. The younger she is, the simpler the stories should be and brighter characters. Children perceive fairy tales well, and older children perceive intricate stories.

I want to become a famous writer, how to achieve this

short stories

real heroes

The Writer's Digest website published interesting and very useful material for aspiring authors, which we decided to translate and adapt for those who are interested in creating literary works. The material, dedicated to 15 things that aspiring authors should never do, is based on interviews with authors , conferences, editorial opinions and writing experience.

Don't look for the only method

Don't think that there is a strictly defined path or method that a writer must follow. Simply put, look for what works for you. Listen to yourself and trust yourself.

There are many articles and textbooks dedicated to literary process and the methods set forth in them often contradict each other. The writing path is not a yellow brick road that you have to strictly follow, and at different stages of your writing career you will probably use several different techniques, or even invent new ones that suit you.
Don't imitate your idols

Don't try to imitate your idols. Be yourself. We remember and love authors for their originality, vivid stories and individual language. Imitation - best form flattery, but if you imitate someone all the time, you will be remembered as a copy machine and not as a writer. No one in the world has your experience, your personality, or your voice. Therefore, try to express your ideas in a manner that is natural to you. Of course, no one forbids you to learn from the masters, read the works of your favorite authors or write fan fiction, but remember - every writer should have one. own voice. Otherwise, he will not be a writer, but a photocopier.

Don't get bogged down in theory

Don't get stuck in discussions about what and how to write. It can be useful to get other people's points of view about whether to write a synopsis before the text, how carefully the work should be planned, how much the author's own experience should penetrate into the text, whether it is necessary to edit the text during the writing process or is it better to do this after finishing. But such thoughts should not force you into a framework and occupy you. most of your time. Creation literary work What’s attractive is the feeling of freedom and the opportunity to do what you want and what you think is right. Don't get stuck within the boundaries set by someone else.

Don't fixate on the publication

Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Publishing a book is a long process. The novel "Pride and Prejudice" was rejected by publishers and waited 15 years for publication. You can't predict in advance what fate awaits your work, so always have a couple of ideas in mind that you can start working on as soon as you finish one story. Finding a publishing house is an important stage in your career, but it should not consume you entirely and interfere with your creativity.

Think about the image

Pay attention to your image in the industry. The writing business may seem like a huge undertaking, but it involves a number of people collaborating, talking, and exchanging ideas with each other. Therefore, inappropriate behavior, insult or rudeness that you make towards one of the industry representatives may be scattered among literary agencies, publishing houses and influence the publisher’s decision to work with you. Therefore, no matter how offensive the refusal may be or no matter how unpleasant the proposals to revise the text may be for you, try to think that the unpleasant situation will sooner or later be resolved, and your image will remain with you forever.

Don't explode in response to criticism

Learn not to react violently to negative reviews. There are no favorite works by everyone. Every masterpiece of world culture has people who don’t like it or don’t understand it. Beta readers, editors, and literary agents - all those who read your essay will have their own, individual opinions about it. And it's useful! Try to select the comments that you find fair, those that you are willing to pay attention to, and discard the rest (unless, of course, making the editor's suggestions is a clause in your contract - then you will have to live with it). Learn to take criticism - it will make you better.

Do not feed the trolls

But know how to separate criticism from trolling. Sometimes people try to get rid of some own problems by creating problems for others. And if your writing becomes a target for such outpourings, the only thing you can do is ignore the trolls' feedback. Any response you give them will be an invitation to conversation, so don't engage in conversations with trolls, don't take them as personal attacks, and don't try to find logic in them.

Language is your working tool

Don't forget the basics. Any writer works with language. We use written words to convey our thoughts, images, and ideas to the reader. Spelling, syntax, grammar - these are all your working tools, and they need to be sharpened. Have respect for your reader and don't force him to wade through inconsistent endings, sentences that lose their meaning due to missing commas, and mistakes that change the meaning of words. Reading a book requires thought, and as an author, you want the reader to think about the ideas in your book and empathize with the characters, rather than trying to figure out what the phrase "chopped meadow" means.

Don't break yourself for the sake of a trend

Don't write something that everyone likes but is contrary to your interests. There are trends, popular topics or genres on the market, but if they are not close or interesting to you, there is no need to force yourself to write, hoping to make quick money. Writing a book, editing it and then publishing it is a long process. And, most likely, by the time your book is published, the trend will have already changed and love stories between young girls and hundred-year-old vampires will have already lost their former popularity. Why translate the paper? Write what interests you - probably among the entire population globe there will be someone who is interested in the same things.

Don't badmouth someone else's success

Try to be kind to the successes of other authors. Even if their works offend your literary taste. No matter how terrible the book may seem to you and no matter what it tells you about the author’s mental health - remember, the author wrote this book, found a publishing house and has already walked the path that you are taking. It could be incredibly easy or terribly difficult, but one way or another - this was his path and his efforts were rewarded. Let the successes of other writers be an inspiration to you, instead of thinking: “what hellish nonsense is published, there is no point in writing something good if the public likes such hell,” think: “if this author was published, then what am I Waiting? I need to write and work! One writer's success does not mean another writer's failure; it is not a tennis match.

Don't think it's easy

Don't think that becoming a writer is easy. Yes, we've all heard dozens of stories about how someone wrote a book and suddenly woke up famous. But at the same time, we know that Stephen King received more than 30 refusals from publishers. The Chronicles of Narnia were published almost by accident, after many publishers rejected the book. Sometimes the text has to go through a very thorny path to the reader’s heart, and it can be very difficult to maintain the inner conviction that someone needs your work. Most likely you will have difficulties. But whether you can overcome them and remain faithful to your calling depends on you.

Don't forget about reality

Don't forget about real life. There are few things that can compare to the wonder of immersing yourself in an imaginary world that you yourself have created. But there is life beyond the boundaries of your desktop, and it is often the main source of inspiration.

Be sure to read

Read. You can't become a writer without reading. Reading is your school of excellence and your inspiration. You need to know the classics to understand which works have stood the test of time and why. You need to know modern literature to understand what works are being published now and what interests readers in this moment. If the language you write is your work tool, then the books you read are your bus ticket to get to work.

Don't fight the text any more than necessary

Learn to give up... in small things. The book consists of dozens of chapters, and a chapter consists of dozens of sentences. And if you feel that something is not working, that this sentence, word or plot twist don't fit your story - don't be afraid to reject them. After all, you can always come back to them later and refine them to the desired level.

Do not give up

But never give up completely. A writer is someone who writes. Someone who has an inner need to write. If you feel this need within yourself, it would be a crime not to fulfill it. You will have moments when it seems that everything is over, you have no more strength and you want to give up. But there will definitely be others - when someone reads your text and says “this is great! I really liked it!” The writer's spark is very difficult to extinguish - even if you firmly decide to give up creativity, after a while you still run the risk of finding yourself in front of a monitor, typing words. But the precious time you could have spent becoming best writer, but instead spent it on regretting their failed writing career, no one will make up for you. Therefore, write. Not for the sake of rave reviews, not for the sake of money, but for the sake of that amazing moment when tiny elements, letters and words, add up to fascinating story, which comes to life on paper.

Ask an experienced person for advice. Good teacher native language– this is a great source of inspiration!
If you travel, you can meet many people on the plane and gain inspiration from them. For example, a man with a beard can become the hero of your book.
There must be a mystery in the book that the characters in the book will try to solve! It doesn't have to be mysterious story, but you can make it so that the characters in the book don't know what's going on, and so that even the readers don't know.
Find a secluded and quiet place to find new ideas and concentrate.
If you see a sad person on the street, ask yourself what could have happened to him and write a story about him. You might see two girls giggling or girls laughing at someone. You can also easily describe this in your book. You don't have to know these people; just pretend you know the circumstances!
Even if you are young and love writing, you should try to stand out from the competition so that you have a better chance of winning. If you don't win, that's okay. All of us different opinions! But you should review your work and edit it to avoid repeating mistakes.
Once you've finished your book, copy it onto your computer to simplify the editing and publishing process.
Make a list of characters and ideas, and carry a NOTEBOOK with you at all times so you can write down new ideas!
When drafting, try to use the "heart, star, dot" format if it is short story. The heart is yours main idea, the stars are important details, and the dots are examples from the text that support the details.
If you ask friends for advice, be careful. Your friend will either say that you wrote an “excellent” book out of loyalty and fear of hurting your feelings, or he will say that it is terrible and will be merciless towards your feelings. If your friend says the book is good, ask him why he liked it, what he liked best and what he didn't like. If a friend says a book is terrible, ask him why he thinks so, and if he doesn't make a good argument, ignore his comment. If a friend gives a detailed answer, think about what they told you, because chances are other readers will think so too. Reader feedback is very important!
If you're having trouble describing the characters, ask yourself if the characters have pets, secrets, or what favorite dish and occupation. Get to know them like your best friends!
Don't worry if you make a mistake because no one is perfect. Try asking your parents or teachers to check your work.
Drink more water and consume healthy food necessary for concentration. Try to consume sweets and chocolate for energy.
Show your book to a professional editor, and if you want to add illustrations, show it to an illustrator.
Always keep a pen or pencil and a notepad with you.
You must be a good typist.
Once you finish the book, dedicate it dear person. For example, “To my friend, Christina.”

politicsslashletters.live

Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech that you often see on paper.
Never use a long one where you can get by with a short one.
If you can throw away a word, always get rid of it.
Never use passive voice, if you can use active.
Never use borrowed words, scientific or professional terms if they can be replaced with vocabulary from everyday language.
It's better to break any of these rules than to write something downright barbaric.

devorbacutine.eu

Make the most of your time stranger so that it does not seem to him wasted.
Give the reader at least one hero for whom you want to root for.
Every character should want something, even if it's just a glass of water.
Each sentence should serve one of two purposes: to reveal the character or to move events forward.
Start as close to the end as possible.
Be a sadist. No matter how sweet and innocent your main characters are, treat them horribly; the reader needs to see what they are made of.
Write to please only one person. If you open the window and make love to the world, so to speak, your story will catch pneumonia.

Modern British writer, very popular among fantasy fans. Moorcock's key work is the multi-volume series about Elric of Melnibone.

I borrowed my first rule from Terence Hanbury White, author of The Sword in the Stone and other works about King Arthur. It was like this: read. Read everything you can get your hands on. I always advise people who want to write fantasy, or science, or romance novels, stop reading these genres and pick up everything else: from John Bunyan to Antonia Byatt.
Find an author you admire (mine was Conrad) and copy his plots and characters for your own story. Be an artist who imitates a master to learn how to draw.
If you're writing plot-driven prose, introduce the main characters and major themes in the first third. You can call it an introduction.
Develop themes and characters in the second third - the development of the work.
Complete themes, reveal secrets, etc. in the final third - the denouement.
Whenever possible, accompany the introductions to the characters and their philosophizing with various activities. This helps maintain dramatic tension.
Carrot and Stick: Heroes must be haunted (by obsession or villain) and pursue (ideas, objects, personalities, secrets).

flavorwire.com

American writer of the 20th century. He became famous for such scandalous works for his time as “Tropic of Cancer”, “Tropic of Capricorn” and “Black Spring”.

Work on one thing at a time until you finish.
Do not be nervous. Work calmly and joyfully in whatever you do.
Act according to plan, not according to your mood. Stop at the appointed time.
When, work.
Cement a little each day instead of adding more fertilizer.
Stay human! Meet people, go places, have drinks if you want.
Don't become a draft horse! Work only with pleasure.
Depart from the plan if you need to, but return to it the next day. Focus. Be specific. Eliminate.
Forget about the books you want to write. Think only about what you are writing.
Write quickly and always. Drawing, music, friends, cinema - all this after work.

www.paperbackparis.com

One of famous science fiction writers our time. From his pen came such works as “American Gods” and “Stardust.” However, they filmed it.

Write.
Add word by word. Find the right word and write it down.
Finish what you are writing. Whatever it costs you, finish what you start.
Put your notes aside. Read them as if you were doing it for the first time. Show the work to friends who like something similar and whose opinion you respect.
Remember: when people say something is wrong or doesn't work, they are almost always right. When they explain what exactly is wrong and how to fix it, they are almost always wrong.
Correct the mistakes. Remember: you have to let go of the job before it's perfect and start the next one. - this is a pursuit of the horizon. Move on.
Laugh at your own jokes.
The cardinal rule of writing is that if you create with enough self-confidence, you can do anything. This can also be a rule throughout life. But for writing it is best suited.

moiarussia.ru

Master short prose and a classic of Russian literature that hardly needs any introduction.

It is assumed that the writer, in addition to ordinary mental abilities, must have experience behind him. The highest fees are received by people who have gone through fire, water and copper pipes, while the lowest - by untouched and unspoiled natures.
Becoming a writer is very easy. There is no freak who has not found a mate, and there is no nonsense that has not found a suitable reader. Therefore, do not be timid... Place the paper in front of you, pick up a pen and, irritating the captive thought, write.
Becoming a writer who is published and read is very difficult. For this: be and have a talent at least the size of a lentil grain. Due to the lack of great talents, small ones are expensive.
If you want to write, then do so. Choose a topic first. Here you are given complete freedom. You can use arbitrariness and even arbitrariness. But, so as not to discover America a second time and not to invent gunpowder a second time, avoid topics that have long been worn out.
Giving free rein to your imagination, hold your hand. Don't let her chase the number of lines. The shorter and less often you write, the more and more often you are published. Brevity does not spoil matters at all. A stretched eraser erases a pencil no better than an unstretched one.

www.reduxpictures.com

If you are still a child, make sure that. Spend more time on this than on anything else.
If you are an adult, try to read your work as a stranger would. Or better yet, how your enemy would read them.
Don't exalt your "calling". You can either write good sentences or you can't. There is no such thing as a “writer’s lifestyle.” The only thing that matters is what you leave on the page.
Take significant breaks between writing and editing.
Write on a computer that is not connected to the Internet.
Protect work time and space. Even from the people who matter most to you.
Don't confuse honors and achievements.

We have selected recommendations from world-famous writers regarding the organization of work on the text, as well as advice on creating a world work of art, those in which they study creative methods and techniques. These are tips that will be useful to absolutely all authors, regardless of their style, artistic concepts and genre of presentation.

About writing as work

Advice from Ray Bradbury (based on the book “Zen in the Art of Writing”):

1. Start writing as soon as an interesting thought appears, and don’t stop until every last word has been said.

2. Make lists of nouns, from which a story may later emerge. Look through lists and make up stories using words chosen at random.

3. Write every day, without having a weekend, since Bradbury is convinced: “over time, quantity turns into quality,” that is, the more the author trains in creating literary texts, the better his writing skills.

4. Write one story a week. So, by the year the author will have forty to fifty stories ready. And some of them are sure to be successful: according to Ray Bradbury, “it’s impossible to create 52 bad stories in a row.”

Advice from Ernest Hemingway (based on the book “Ernest Hemingway. Selected Letters” and based on the texts of the interview):

1. If the author does not know how to start working on the text, stalls and feels insecure, he “ just need write one true sentence. Write the most truthful thing you can,” Hemingway told himself during bouts of creative apathy in Paris. “Eventually I would write down one truthful phrase and move on from there. - he says. - And it was already easy, because there was always one truthful phrase that you knew, or saw, or heard from someone. If I began to write intricately, or to lead to something, or to demonstrate something, it turned out that these curlicues or decorations could be cut off and thrown away and start with the first truthful, simple affirmative sentence ».

2. Start working on the text at dawn, immediately after waking up, as early as possible. At this time, the author can be alone and fully concentrate on work.

3. Study grammar and punctuation.

4.Be able to stop in time while working on a text in order to avoid writer's block . Hemingway says: “Always stop while you are still writing, and then don’t think about work or worry until you start writing again the next day.” That is, you should finish working on the text until the thought is fully expressed. Stop knowing what will happen next so that you can easily continue the story the next morning.

Tips from Chuck Polannik (based on an essay on literary excellence Polannik published on his official fan site):

1. Surprise yourself and the reader, allow yourself to experiment, fantasize and think outside the box - this is what Polanikka believes he expects from a novel modern reader, spoiled by cinema.

2. If the thought runs out, reread previous episodes , return to the characters who appeared at the beginning of the story, pay attention to detail. “When finishing Fight Club, I had no idea what to do with the skyscraper. But when I re-read the first scene, I came across a fragment in which we're talking about about mixing nitrate with paraffin, they say, this is an unreliable method of preparing explosives. This little retreat became an excellent “buried gun.”

3. Use kitchen timer method when you don't feel like writing. The Palahniuk method involves setting a kitchen timer for one hour and writing until the timer goes off. As a result, the author, spurred on by the expiring time, must become passionate about writing and continue working on the text when time runs out.

4. Make writing a social occasion., namely, to attend a variety of near- and not only literary parties.

5. Take a photo for the cover of your book now, while I'm young.

About creativity

Previous tips from famous writers are more concerned with issues of organizing the work process: knowledge, whatever you say, is useful, but no less valuable is information about what the text itself should be. From all the diversity of opinions, we chose two sets of rules that seemed to us the most relevant. Important point: The position of the king of suspense Stephen King, outlined below, contradicts some of the previous advice of Ray Bradbury. But this is the beauty of exposure to different points of view on writing: the polyphony of opinions allows us to find our own truth.

1. Tackle big prose straight away, that is, for a novel, since short stories are difficult to sell to a publishing house.

2. Don't care about the plot: according to King, books write themselves, or, as he put it, they write themselves, the main thing is that the premise is catchy. In fact, all of his books began with the message: “what if.” For example, “what if provincial town will be cut off from the rest of the world by a gigantic impenetrable dome of unknown origin,” etc.

3. Don't care about the idea: King believes that the story is important, not the idea; people read popular literature for the sake of stories.

4. Pay great attention to dialogues: They must be alive. The hero must speak his own language, corresponding to his social status, age, professional affiliation, etc.

5. Trying to sell the manuscript to a large publishing house without wasting time on trifles. And in parallel with negotiating with the publisher, work on a new manuscript.

Advice from Kurt Vonnegut (in the preface of the book “The Snuff Box of Bagombo: Uncollected Stories,” eight principles of writing are formulated)

1. You need to write in such a way that the reader did not consider time spent reading wasted.
2. Create at least one hero, to which the reader might get attached.
3. Every character must want something, even if it’s “just a glass of water.”
4. Each proposal must serve one of two purposes: to reveal character or continue an action.
5. " Start as close to the end as possible.".
6. " Don't be afraid to be a sadist. No matter how innocent and glorious your main characters are, let all sorts of horrors happen to them so that the reader can see what they are worth.”
7. Writing for one person's pleasure. “If you metaphorically throw open the window and make love to the whole world at once, your story runs the risk of catching pneumonia.”
8. Give readers as much information as possible – and as quickly as possible. This is necessary so that readers can get involved in the game as early as possible and become immersed in the narrative. “Don't keep them in the dark. The reader should not be left guessing. He must immediately understand what is happening, where, when and why - so that he can finish the story on his own if the cockroaches eat last pages“, - this is Vonnegut’s opinion.