[queenoftheshire]

Hi, I just hoped someone might have some advice to help me improve my fanfics.
Ok: How do I lengthen my story more without making it REALLY repetitive? I've always had a problem with this and all my stories end up being only like two pages or so.

I need help with descriptions. Although I'll know what I want the world and characters to be imagined as, my lack of good, medevilish type descriptive words( That probally sounded really stupid) really hurts the story beyond help

[Viv]

If you're just starting out, don't try to imitate Tolkien's style and vocabulary (especially a bunch of words that you aren't familiar with). Write what you know. If that means zapping a canon character to 21st century LA, then do it. If you put a lot of good narrative voice in the story, people will read it, regardless of the subject matter.

Even if you set your story in Middle-earth, you don't have to use archaic words. Avoid "thous" and "thines" entirely; very few people use those well.

As far as details go, decorate each conversation. What I mean is, put each conversation in a specific setting. Think of what the room looks like what it smells like. Think of where the characters are as they say each line. Imagine it like a movie or a play. When you have it visualized fully in your head, the details will almost write themselves.

I'm glad you've brought this up; I think lots of us could stand to hear the advice of other writers. Just because we're seeking input and advice doesn't mean we suck.

[Lindorien]

hi there.

a piece should be as long as it needs to be, no longer, no shorter. Start at the beginning, say what you need to say and then end it.

LOTS of verbosity out there. There's a real dearth of pithy terse works.

by the way -- no question is ridiculous. If you didn't need to know, you would not ask it.

regarding writing style. If you endeavor to just let lie the contractions in narrative and in speech, you will be amazed at the difference that will make in the tone of your story.

Lindorien

[queenoftheshire]

Thanks! Oh by the way I'm not just starting out, I've been writing for awhile. Anyway, I just was having a bit of writersblock and was trying to improve my current stories and thoough it might help to get input from people on here