Tips on Writing One Shots

Hmm, I've read this and I think you've covered everything but here's an additional idea for you to think of: what about writing style? block texting paragraphs? that sort of thing?

Just giving a suggestion to think over for what you might like to add.

Mad Hatter's Passion wrote:

02041992Beck wrote:

Hmm, I've read this and I think you've covered everything but here's an additional idea for you to think of: what about writing style? block texting paragraphs? that sort of thing?

Just giving a suggestion to think over for what you might like to add.

Giant blocks of text? I think that goes without saying that they should be avoided, paragraphs exist for a reason and make things easy to read.

Other than that writing styles can vary things up. For instance I tend to add a tilde (~) to dialogue to show a playful tone of voice.

well I used to not separate character speech from whats happening in a oneshot until someone told me that it doesn't look tidy and such like that. So I decided to try the new writing style that I am using recently cause block texting it all like I was doing was making it not easy to read.

Exactly, I started using that recently and ah so that is what that symbol is called. I used to put three of those between sections of a oneshot until I stopped using the block text styles.

If it's okay with you, could we talk of this in a private message?

Little Bird wrote:

I think that would fall under proof reading or consulting a beta-reader as well. Like Fang said, that's generally something one should avoid in general - common sense. If someone doesn't that, they obviously don't know how to double space their paragraphs.

I didn't want to admit it but that is true too; I was going to say of that, that it might go into beta reading. Yeah, and I've been doing my hardest to keep up the improvement I'm doing.

02041992Beck wrote:

Mad Hatter's Passion wrote:

Giant blocks of text? I think that goes without saying that they should be avoided, paragraphs exist for a reason and make things easy to read.

Other than that writing styles can vary things up. For instance I tend to add a tilde (~) to dialogue to show a playful tone of voice.

well I used to not separate character speech from whats happening in a oneshot until someone told me that it doesn't look tidy and such like that. So I decided to try the new writing style that I am using recently cause block texting it all like I was doing was making it not easy to read.

Exactly, I started using that recently and ah so that is what that symbol is called. I used to put three of those between sections of a oneshot until I stopped using the block text styles.

If it's okay with you, could we talk of this in a private message?

I don't understand how you can even go about block texting everything up like that. Even when I was a horrid Suethor I had enough sense to use paragraphs in the least.

Yeah, we have a bbcode for that now.

Code:

[hr]

is a great section breaker when you use it in your works on the forum now.

Why? We're having a perfectly sensible conversation here about the topic at hand.

Mad Hatter's Passion wrote:

02041992Beck wrote:

Mad Hatter's Passion wrote:

Giant blocks of text? I think that goes without saying that they should be avoided, paragraphs exist for a reason and make things easy to read.

Other than that writing styles can vary things up. For instance I tend to add a tilde (~) to dialogue to show a playful tone of voice.

well I used to not separate character speech from whats happening in a oneshot until someone told me that it doesn't look tidy and such like that. So I decided to try the new writing style that I am using recently cause block texting it all like I was doing was making it not easy to read.

Exactly, I started using that recently and ah so that is what that symbol is called. I used to put three of those between sections of a oneshot until I stopped using the block text styles.

If it's okay with you, could we talk of this in a private message?

I don't understand how you can even go about block texting everything up like that. Even when I was a horrid Suethor I had enough sense to use paragraphs in the least.

Yeah, we have a bbcode for that now.

Code:

[hr]

is a great section breaker when you use it in your works on the forum now.

Why? We're having a perfectly sensible conversation here about the topic at hand.

but I'm not using block text in my oneshots anymore. Talking to you is awkward, it really is :'( it always has been; I get scared when talking with you.

Mad Hatter's Passion wrote:

02041992Beck wrote:

Mad Hatter's Passion wrote:

Giant blocks of text? I think that goes without saying that they should be avoided, paragraphs exist for a reason and make things easy to read.

Other than that writing styles can vary things up. For instance I tend to add a tilde (~) to dialogue to show a playful tone of voice.

well I used to not separate character speech from whats happening in a oneshot until someone told me that it doesn't look tidy and such like that. So I decided to try the new writing style that I am using recently cause block texting it all like I was doing was making it not easy to read.

Exactly, I started using that recently and ah so that is what that symbol is called. I used to put three of those between sections of a oneshot until I stopped using the block text styles.

If it's okay with you, could we talk of this in a private message?

I don't understand how you can even go about block texting everything up like that. Even when I was a horrid Suethor I had enough sense to use paragraphs in the least.

Yeah, we have a bbcode for that now.

Code:

[hr]

is a great section breaker when you use it in your works on the forum now.

Why? We're having a perfectly sensible conversation here about the topic at hand.

I just find private messaging a lot easier for solving things in discussions is all  there's no problem with liking a certain way of talking to a person is there?

Mad Hatter's Passion wrote:

02041992Beck wrote:

Mad Hatter's Passion wrote:

I don't understand how you can even go about block texting everything up like that. Even when I was a horrid Suethor I had enough sense to use paragraphs in the least.

Yeah, we have a bbcode for that now.

Code:

[hr]

is a great section breaker when you use it in your works on the forum now.

Why? We're having a perfectly sensible conversation here about the topic at hand.

but I'm not using block text in my oneshots anymore. Talking to you is awkward, it really is :'( it always has been; I get scared when talking with you.

The page breaker is used for more than just those who don't break up their paragraphs. They can indicate a change in scene or a passage of time being skipped over. In that way it gives the reader an indication that something is changing and separates the last section from the new one. It's less jarring that way.

If I'm so scary than wouldn't you rather continue talking to me out in the open? Makes more sense to me that way because if I were to lash out it'd be in a place where everyone can see it rather than in PMs.

I would like to show an example of what my writing style in oneshots is like recently...although I'm nervous to even show to you... I just don't feel like I can... I want to but...oh...damn it all why do I always have to shake when trying to answer you?

Mad Hatter's Passion wrote:

02041992Beck wrote:

I would like to show an example of what my writing style in oneshots is like recently...although I'm nervous to even show to you... I just don't feel like I can... I want to but...oh...damn it all why do I always have to shake when trying to answer you?

Now, see, we're trailing into territory that you always use to keep a conversation going and then don't even listen.

If you want a beta reader you have to open up yourself to critique and you can't just ignore it. If you want to improve you have to get a thick skin and not take things personally.

why you not even caring for how I'm feeling? I'm feeling like giving up on my writing...I really do. All I said was that I would like to show an example of what my oneshot writing is like now, and you say that to me? :'(

Mad Hatter's Passion wrote:

02041992Beck wrote:

why you not even caring for how I'm feeling? I'm feeling like giving up on my writing...I really do. All I said was that I would like to show an example of what my oneshot writing is like now, and you say that to me? :'(

Lady, don't guilt manipulate me. I know exactly how it feels to think your work is lower than dirt. Either you open yourself up to constructive criticism from others, take it and improve with the advice given or you don't and forever remain at the skill level you are now. Me considering your feelings on the matter has nothing to do with any of that.

I'm not, I'm not well and when not well I can't be stay calm like I normally can. I can take advice on board, you can ask Oki that too; it's just I'm not well, I'm sorry. But my writing style has changed recently thanks to someone helping me by over on emailing. It's just when I have a flu or not well that my mental side of me goes loopy.

I'm not wanting to go professional with my story writing, it's just an hobby I have and enjoy doing. It's nothing serious and professional as in wanting to be an author. No but why be so cold?

can I show a example of what I do in oneshots of lately?

but Oki, the way it was before was a bit heavy for readers to read and what I'm using now is definitely an improvement. I'll take advice still but at the end of the day, it is mine.

And Miyu said in a message reply to me this at one point recently: I saw and I think you've improved a bit. It's nice to see that nothing was in script form or the such as we've had those pop up before.

Little Bird wrote:

02041992Beck wrote:

can I show a example of what I do in oneshots of lately?

but Oki, what you told me recently in our messages about my story writing, you told me that I had improved; you said something along those lines, if need be look at page 36 of the one-on-one yugioh roleplay where I started using that new writing style instead of using block text.

No, what I told you was you could improve. I never said that you had.

If you want someone to look at any of your one shots and critique them, post them. I'm not doing it through messages and don't send messages to my staff bothering them as well.

I've read the Yu-Gi-Oh roleplay and no, I saw no improvement there. I'm sorry, there is none. It's the same writing that you've claimed you've improved on. It's still clumsy and it's hard to read and understand.

Okay, I'm giving an example of what shivering here; it's from a word file I have saved on my computer.

But is it in the yugioh one-on-one roleplay that you say that my OCs are like that?

here's the example:
 
Doctor’s pov-

Opening the door to the tardis and stepping out onto a patio of light green nicely trimmed grass, I looked around seeing a house and this was a back garden and what a fine back garden it was too. The owner even had a swimming pool the size of a tennis court plus a water fountain. This person who lived here had to be quite posh to have a lifestyle such as this one, hearing Rose Tyler from behind me; she was in awe, I could tell by the sound she was making. I turned slowly round smiling at her for I could also tell that she knew where we were.

“This is Edinburgh, Doctor~” Rose paused, growing a tad suspicious and impatient with me, seeing as I was grinning now.

“Ah, well, when I said we were going to be going to Edinburgh I did not say precisely where in Edinburgh. I thought to leave that up to you to guess where,” I said, teasing her.

“Well, it is not like I could guess where. Especially when the Tardis malfunctions,” Rose said, rolling her eyes.

 “There is nothing wrong with the Tardis. This is the destination I set for us; it has all gone well and good. Lets go inside, shall we,” I said, going to the back door instead of the front door.

Getting the electronic screwdriver out of my coat and getting an alarming surprise seeing it go up off the scale. What ever that is inside this house was bad, bad news and seeing as this is the house of a well-known author. I was now worried for the author’s daughter, I was detecting a female, a young female presence as well as something else.

Ram's Desire wrote:

02041992Beck wrote:

Okay, I'm giving an example of what shivering here; it's from a word file I have saved on my computer.

But is it in the yugioh one-on-one roleplay that you say that my OCs are like that?

here's the example:
 
Doctor’s pov-

Opening the door to the tardis and stepping out onto a patio of light green nicely trimmed grass, I looked around seeing a house and this was a back garden and what a fine back garden it was too. The owner even had a swimming pool the size of a tennis court plus a water fountain. This person who lived here had to be quite posh to have a lifestyle such as this one, hearing Rose Tyler from behind me; she was in awe, I could tell by the sound she was making. I turned slowly round smiling at her for I could also tell that she knew where we were.

“This is Edinburgh, Doctor~” Rose paused, growing a tad suspicious and impatient with me, seeing as I was grinning now.

“Ah, well, when I said we were going to be going to Edinburgh I did not say precisely where in Edinburgh. I thought to leave that up to you to guess where,” I said, teasing her.

“Well, it is not like I could guess where. Especially when the Tardis malfunctions,” Rose said, rolling her eyes.

 “There is nothing wrong with the Tardis. This is the destination I set for us; it has all gone well and good. Lets go inside, shall we,” I said, going to the back door instead of the front door.

Getting the electronic screwdriver out of my coat and getting an alarming surprise seeing it go up off the scale. What ever that is inside this house was bad, bad news and seeing as this is the house of a well-known author. I was now worried for the author’s daughter, I was detecting a female, a young female presence as well as something else.

Two things here:

One: Neither of us here knows about Doctor Who and thus can't give an objective critique of it.
Two: This is not the topic for beta reading or examples. The topic for that is here or here.

thank you but that isn't much help sorry, if someone asks for help as creators of the website it should be that the help is given and not have to wait for it someplace else on another link.

Like i said, that was an example as to what I do, I wanted to show proof of what I do, nothing more than that.

Ram's Desire wrote:

02041992Beck wrote:

thank you but that isn't much help sorry, if someone asks for help as creators of the website it should be that the help is given and not have to wait for it someplace else on another link.

Like i said, that was an example as to what I do, I wanted to show proof of what I do, nothing more than that.

Not the case. We have rules to be followed. If a comment does not adhere to the post that was originally made than it has all rights to be deleted by staff. We have sections set up exactly for the purpose of asking for beta-reading help as you are hoping for now. Use them.

If you fail to adhere to this your comment will be deleted and a mark put on your account. Garner three marks or act out badly enough against staff members and you can be banned for an indefinite amount of time from the site. Your call.

P.S. Don't go whining to another staff member about my call. They will only agree with the decision made as you are breaking rules.

What? just for asking for help? you might as well just ban me from the website then if you think I'm not good enough for it. I work my hardest and try to do better. And I thought youall liked me being on here and at least I haven't given up on the website. I am hopefully to be getting beta-reading help from someone sometime anyway on another website. It's just the shock of what I've heard from Oki, I trusted her.. I still do in a way...

It seems to me that you just want to kick me off the website for good. I've not sworn or snapped, and if it seems that way I'm sorry cause I have been reasoning and nothing more. :(

This isn't a call though, it's a message... Why do you call it a call?