It is not like I am going to continue writing what I wrote yesterday. There is a place and time for everything and that one story is less from complete. Yes, yes you probably have to read this nonsense every time you open one of my stories.
I am indeed preparing myself for one bigger and better story worth at least 5 books, but I need more practice and this means at least 100 - 200 more stories like this one.
Ok there are few tips to make a proper story:
1: Make it up as you go: Yeah, sure, you can plan the entire thing from top to bottom but ... you never know what is going to happen in your own story. The point is to surprise yourself as much as you surprise the readers.
2: Eventually make up the end and how the story ends : This is important. You need to know what you want the finish to be at the end - The ENDGAME. Sure you may change things as you go but always stick to the final plan and upgrade it the more you progress on the main story. Sometimes you will be surprised by the results (
3: Foreshadowing: At first I was surprised how other writers can use unimportant stuff from 5-6 books ago to make it into a huge deal, but then I realized: That's not it. You just have to be creative and remember what you wrote. Every little detail, make your own connections and the foreshadowing will come on its own. Prepare yourself for all occasions and allow discrepancies and plot holes. Don't try hard to fill them or fix them, and just use your imagination for explain them further down the road.
4: Your characters are breathing living creatures. You should not write from your point of view but from theirs. You should change your writing style depending on who is currently alive on the tip of your pen. And then do things their way. Become them! What they would do, how they would act and react, how they would deal with others. Forget who you are when writing. Same goes for the world they live in. Writing is art and as such it has its own soul.
5: Common mistake is the constant repetition. Try to expand your vocabulary and avoid repetitions don't use the same word to explain something in fast succession. Maybe use only once per chapter? That would be the perfect choice. The point is to not make the visible in other people's eyes. They should be only focused on the story.
6: Accept criticism and try to improve. Don't close yourself in a cocoon. Be more open and accepting, even to trolls.
7: Don't give up even if no one is reading. This is one of the things I haven't mastered. I mean, I give up even when someone is reading xD
So maybe I should write now a story instead of giving guidelines.
Story : ``It is hard to name the story when you are actually trying''
The year - 1991
The place - London
The foul smell of rotten fish was carried around the air by the wind. The docks were wet and slippery, full with ships docking, loading and unloading. As the place goes, it was just another hole like any other in the world. Black did not miss New York even a bit. It was the same, it always is. If you have been in one place, you have been to all of them.
Black took out a cigarette out of the back pocket and a lighter from inside his coat. It has been a long day so he was happy to take a quick puff. Unfortunately the smell of tobacco did not chase away the stink of fish.
As he took another breath of smoke he realized that the taste and the smell somehow have mixed. Disgustedly he threw away his barely started cigarette. Without this high quality poison his tics kicked in and he started tapping his right foot.
It was taking long - too long. The informant should have been here by now, yet he was nowhere to be seen. As time progressed Black wondered why he was wasting his time in such a place.
This job - being a PI, takes a toll on you. The constant waiting, hiding and actually going against the law rather than help it. Traveling is a nice change to the old scenery of high towers and busy streets, but sea sickness is no joke.
At the end it all counts down to the ability to stay in one place for a long time. And this was Black's specialty, but in this case it was clear that no one would show up. There was a time and a place. The place? - Right here at the docks. The time? - 2 hours ago.
Black took a deep breath and started coughing. He just wanted to sigh loudly but the air irritated his already damaged lungs.
``That's it'' - He through to himself and turned around to leave just in time to collide with bunch of workers on a lunch break.
``Watch where you're going!'' - One of them angrily responded but quickly returned to walk with his co-workers.
That's just Black's luck. Things never work out the way they should be. Even in his day-to-day work. Cases go unsolved, cheating husbands sue you, cheating wives break your stuff, clients turn out to be the ones cheating and then they throw stuff at you.
One informant not showing up is not a big deal. People are unreliable, that's what you learn in this business. They always hide and lie.
As the detective left the docks the air freshened up. He tried to take another cigarette out of his back pocket but to his surprise there was a note.
He opened it up.
``The plan has changed, they are on to me. If you want the info, get 10 000$ and bring it to the Machinarium''
``What is this all about?'' - Black sighted - ``Bullshit''
He quickly tore up the paper and continued on his way...
(TBC when I am bored)