Beginners guide to writing

[Topaz172]

 It occurs to me that we spend a deal of time discussing how long a paragraph should be and the right way to punctuate, without dealing with the really basic basics.

 I would encourage first time authors to consider some of the following thoughts.

 

• A story has to have a begining, a problem, a quest for a solution, an answer and an end.
  
• Try putting your story away for a week and then reading it back to yourself. Sometimes authors accidentally leave bits of the story in thier head and not on paper. You may know that Miss Scarlet hypnotized Prof Plum in the library but is it ever mentioned on paper?
• At the start you need to have a 'hook' something that will be of interest to the reader this can be either plot or character driven.
• Try to think 'cinematically' for example if your character leaves his home and goes to work a TV show would show the car departing and cut to the car arriving at its destination. If nothing relevant is going on during the journey don't write about it.
• If possible design your characters in advance and then climb into thier head. Old fashioned Role-play gamers make good authors because of this ability. AS they say in Hollywood 'what's my motivation?' Ask yourself, if Nerd-master said 'that' to Captain Football what would the stud's reaction be? Many authors will tell you 'this story didn't end up where I expected because RubberMaster wouldn't have done that to her' The character literally takes on a life of his own and drives the story...this is a GOOD thing
• Married couples are not a single character with a single inteligence. If the wife is doing something, the hursband will not automatically know what she did and why....especially if they were in different locations. This is an oportunity to use dialogue. 
• As with characters so also with High-tech stuff. Design your mind control device in advance. Range? power? size? shape? most important what are its limitations? is it breakable? can old ladies and small children resist its effect?
• Write about what you know. '...and then they went to a city' won't do. Name the city they are going to. Make it a place that you have been to. If you know an old spooky house on Elm Street with red wooden shutters USE IT as a location. If describe a real place it has more substance because in your head you 'know' that you have to dash across a busy freeway to get from the L to the Bronx zoo
• Descriptions are both vital and easy to overdo. a Classic error (Jo) is to have a character stand in front of a mirror and 'admire' thier physique in detail so that the reader knows what they look like in a single solid undigestible chunk.  The best way to do physical description is to drip feed it, mention hair colour in one paragraph, cope with her large breasts in a later paragraph.
• Get help. If you are going to write about something that you haven't tried personally there is a risk that you will miss the point. hetrosex, lesbian, gay or fetish, ask someone who HAS tried it. For example no true rubber fetishist would wear rubber without dusting up sensitive areas with talc first (to avoid friction burns)
• Having said 'get help' please don't bombard your favorite author with requests for aid. The best solution is to post here on the board...ask a specific question or ask for a volunteer to review your story. That way people with time available can help out
• Nobody is perfect, nobody writes a work of genius at the first attempt. Nobody writes perfectly punctuated prose at first attempt either.
• Under no circumstance decide to do an epic multi-parter for your first story. Writing WILL take more time than you thought it would. You might get/lose a girlfriend/boyfriend after a month of writing. suddenly other things are far more inteesting...this is where one chapter unfinished stories materialise from

[Gh]

Good points. I know you brought up some of these before Topaz.

Thanks

[Alei]

EXCELLENT post Topaz.

I agree with everything except the last comment.  I like writing epics, they were my first efforts, I'm very pleased with them, and I will go back and finish them someday. 

I think though that if you're going to write and epic you probably should expect to take a LONG time to write it.  If you try to churn one out on your first attempt, you'll probably burn out and then you're SOL. 

And I also know that there are writers that can't stand to have unfinished works out there. Thankfully for me, I'm not one.  It's actually kind of a spur to lure me back to writing them. 

I would also like to add a few rules that I think are important for writers who want to keep writing.

- Don't try to write what you think everyone else wants to hear, write what you want to hear.

-  Don't expect for the world to beat a path to your mailbox after you've posted it.  It can take time and production to get noticed. 

-  Remember if you liked your story, chances are others have as well, even if you don't hear from them. 

-  Occassionally people will not like what you've done and will tell you so.  If they have problems with your technique then listen and see if there is anything worth learning in what they say.  If they just don't like the story, then you weren't writing the story for them anyway.

-  Just because someone doesn't like something about your story doesn't mean that they're right.  Don't change what you're doing unless you see the value in it.

[Bobwhite]

I sort-of agree and sort-of disagree with a few of your points, Topaz.  For the most part, they're spot-on.

The first point flies in the face of Monty Python, but I'll let it go because I find that breaking that particular rule works much better in comedy than in erotica.

As to the last point:  The first story I wrote was ORF, an epic.  And, the original came out fairly well.  But, I did end up re-writing much of it, so I can see your point, too.

[flibinite]

Topaz said -

a Classic error (Jo) is to have a character stand in front of a mirror and 'admire' thier physique in detail. . .

That actually gave me a good laugh, Topaz, so thank you.  I mean that, btw, as I'm sure you meant it as a good-natured jab, something that I always enjoy.  You never mentioned if my good-natured jab at you in my MC Writer's Dream Team posting bothered you at all.  I hope not.  I tossed you in there for a number of reasons, but mainly because you were commenting that you hadn't made anyone's list, and I wanted to include you somehow.

You fit perfectly, by the way... 

       Jo

[Michelle]

Okay, advice that has worked for me. I cannot guarantee it will work for everyone. Frankly, I am sure my detractors don't think it is working for me either. This paragraph is just to cover me if I start sounding like I have all the answers in the viewpoints I share next. (Someone disagrees with me I will just say - First Paragraph!)

1. I think writers need to write. There are differing opinions out there on this but I firmly believe it. I think it is important to study and learn, but in the meantime still write!

I am growing and evolving all the time. If I had waited to start writing for when I was really ready   ... well, I would not have written anything yet.

I don't know that I have the passion for writing that the great writers have - but I do have a drive to do it.  And if I had waited until I was a master at punctuation I would have lost my mind.

It is like Christmas morning where you wake up bright and early and rouse your family, eager to see what Santa brought. You are rarin' to go but someone wants to put on a pot of coffee, and someone else wants breakfast first, and the adults are all bleary eyed from assisting Jolly Old Saint Nick. But you know with a certainty that if you are not allowed to tear into those packages soon that you will scream!

I want to write. I cannot wait for coffee and breakfast and perfect punctuation (which does not exist!) and when I am good enough. Call me the spiritual sister of Veruca Salt in Willy Wonka, but I want it now! That is how I know I am a writer.

I am not sure I would want to read something by someone that has the restraint to not write until they have learned enough. How dry would that be? LOL, and how dry would I be upon reading it?

2. Share at least some of what you write. Maybe not with the whole internet, but feedback is important at some point. Usually it is best at the point where you think the idea is solid, or you feel you captured a little something.

3. Accept that sometimes your goals will be a little out of reach. You know what you want to convey but you just cannot quite get it, but you keep trying. Robert Browning wrote, "Ah, but a man's reach should exceed his grasp, or what's a heaven for?" I think that is how a writer grows - by reaching for the ellusive phrase or word that makes it all come together.

The above is that makes you improve and want to learn all the rules you were too impatient to wait to learn. It is also what will make other people take you seriously when people start to get a glimmer of what you were striving to show them.

4. Read. Lots. Actual books with more words than pictures. (No offense to the comic book crowd because that can have its place also.) If you find a passage evocative or hot ask yourself why.

For the record, you don't have to read MC. I mean, there is a danger that what you feel is your oh-so-clever-and-unique plot point has been done to death, but beyond that it does not really matter.

I think the #1 handicap a writer can have is to not be a reader - or at least to have never been a reader. I know there are some professional writers that say they do not have time to read anymore but the keyword IS anymore.

5. Don't freak when you submit or share a story and nobody comments. It happens. You will only have a small percentage of people write you. After you have been writing for a while you will get retro-feedback. (I have read ALL your stuff and loved it, but I HAD to comment on this one.) Me? I am pretty pushy about asking to be read - at least with the stuff here. Which leads to the next one ...

6. Grow brass balls. Sometimes the only person that seems to believe in you is you. Sometimes you will submit a story that you love and people just seem underwhelmed. Sometimes you will submit something as a lark and people will love it. The only consistent is you and your belief in yourself.

I think I have a lot to learn. A lot. I think there are writers that are on some levels much better than I am. I look at my early stuff and cringe. Quite possibly in the future I will cringe at the stuff I am writing now. But at the end of the day I secretly think I am pretty damned good.  I know this because sometimes when one of my stories gets ignored I think, "Screw all of you! That is a Good Assed Story!" <--- exact quote! See, brass balls - whether warranted or not!

The only way you will survive and not subject us all to a tearful goodbye is if you grow a pair!

I also call this the Molly Singer Principle. In Corinna, Corinna Whoopi Goldberg tells the little girl to walk into school and say, "I'm Molly Singer and there's nobody better than me." Of course one of her schoolmates replies with, "Nobody Stupider!" Whatcha gonna do? 

7. Take some criticism from the people that are "feeling you." Not literally feeling you (well, maybe that too ... depending), but figuratively feeling you. The criticism of people that really are not attuned to you will rarely help because they do not know where you want to go. Sometimes the advice might sting, but you put it aside, think if the person is really in tune with you, and then look at it again when you are calm.

Sometimes the people you trust will still give you advice that does not match up with what you believe is right and sometimes you have to go with your instincts. Someone that really is on your side will not begrudge you that.

There are writers here that do understand me and their comments are worth their weight in gold. There are other writers that I really respect but we are different enough from me that, while I respect them, I give their words a slightly different weight. And there are a few people that I like as people but really are so different from me that their comments cannot help me. I think it is important to figure out where various people in your life fit in.

I also would not take the advice of anyone that says "great, perfect, don't change a syllable". My husband thinks everything I write is perfect, and wonderful, and makes him horny as hell. Nice. Good. He cannot be my editor. I might ignore criticism but I do still want to hear it.

How's that?    (Giving one looooong post, rather than many small ones. Tell me, Baby? Do you like my big post?)

[Topaz172]

 Just to make it clear, Jo knows I was joking.

 My last point about 'don't start out writing a massive multi-parter' ..its not that you should never do it. Just be aware of the effort that will be involved.

Personally I had an epic story waiting to be written. But I am glad that I didn't write it straight away....I like to think my writing skills have improved before I started 'the big one'

To expand on my first point about stories having a start and an end. It isn't necessary to know the ending when you start writing. It is a sign of good writing when the ending isn't quite what you expected (where a character has driven events for example).

By an Ending I don't mean that every single thing has to be tied up, especially if you want to write a sequel. But some aspect of the situation should have been resolved.

For the more experienced writer....watch out for the trap of writing the same story repeatedly. You may not even realise that that is what you are doing. Even popular authors such as Orson Scott Card and Jack Chalker fall into that trap.

For erotic writing there is also the stroke test....I willl spare the blushes..but basically you should be able to derive
er-humm 'pleasure' from your own writing.  After all, if you can't ..who can?

 

   

[Born Blitzed]

Great posts, all.  And thank you, Topaz, for starting this topic.  We sometimes allow ourselves to get so focused on what not to do, or what we don't like, that we forget that you can catch many more flies with honey than with vinegar.

And I also know that there are writers that can't stand to have unfinished works out there.

*Whistles uncomfortably. . . .*


--Mike

[sollipsist]

While I love to read, nothing inflames my self-loathing like comparing my skills. Plus, we all have a tendency to adopt, either consciously or not, the style of whoever we happen to be into at the time. So I have to make it a point not to read much when I'm in the process of writing, and save it for the times when I have no specific project in mind. However, if you haven't read much, you probably won't be much of a writer...so it's a double-edged sword...

And most difficult for me is the fact that most of my favorite writers are relatively non-traditional...it's a bit of a challenge to evaluate my writing when my head is full of Joyce, Nabokov, Burroughs, Dr. Thompson, Lem, et cetera, for whom the rules don't always apply. It's especially difficult in this genre, where experimentation usually destroys any erotic effect. So I end up with stories that seem bland to me, both in quality and style.

So my advice? Try to empty your head while writing, rather than fill it. Call me an underachiever, but I try to aim low and exceed my goals rather than shoot for the moon and end up terminally frustrated. Most of my favorites didn't even start to get good until they had put several decades of practice (published or not) behind them.

[Chase the Wind]

1. I think writers need to write. There are differing opinions out there on this but I firmly believe it. I think it is important to study and learn, but in the meantime still write!

Michelle,

I don't have a problem with writers writing. My problem is when someone writes something and then wonders why the world (or the publishers at least) aren't beating a path to their door. There seems to be this HUGE, ENORMOUS, GARGANTUAN misconception that because you can type or read that you're suddenly Hemmingway.

Writing takes practice and patience, just like anything else. I don't care who you are or what you know, your first few stories are gonna suck. Just get over that fact. Go ahead and write them, get them out of your system! Maybe with some strong editing and help from some proof-readers the first story may even be readable or even good.

People have to understand, even if it's someone's "First Story" like say, the classic, "Maryanne's First" - I can all but gaurantee that wasn't her first story EVER. Maybe her first MC story, but she obviously knew something about spinning a yarn. Whether she had good teachers in school/college, had written other stories and just not published them, had writing experience elsewhere, or was a technical writer at an IT firm, she knew her grammar. She knew her pacing, characterization and she certainly knew how to keep the story erotic.

So yes, write, write, write. But you still need to:

1. Learn.
2. Practice.
3. Refer to 1.

Chase

[Michelle]

Michelle,

I don't have a problem with writers writing. My problem is when someone writes something and then wonders why the world (or the publishers at least) aren't beating a path to their door. There seems to be this HUGE, ENORMOUS, GARGANTUAN misconception that because you can type or read that you're suddenly Hemmingway.

Writing takes practice and patience, just like anything else. I don't care who you are or what you know, your first few stories are gonna suck. Just get over that fact. Go ahead and write them, get them out of your system! Maybe with some strong editing and help from some proof-readers the first story may even be readable or even good.

People have to understand, even if it's someone's "First Story" like say, the classic, "Maryanne's First" - I can all but gaurantee that wasn't her first story EVER. Maybe her first MC story, but she obviously knew something about spinning a yarn. Whether she had good teachers in school/college, had written other stories and just not published them, had writing experience elsewhere, or was a technical writer at an IT firm, she knew her grammar. She knew her pacing, characterization and she certainly knew how to keep the story erotic.

So yes, write, write, write. But you still need to:

1. Learn.
2. Practice.
3. Refer to 1.

Chase

Whenever this topic comes up I know we are about at the same place in our views but it is that little difference I always feel I should comment on. Ok, and I just want an excuse to talk to you. 

If it is a given the first couple stories are going to suck then there is nothing wrong with writing with that basic knowledge and being possibly pleasantly surprised.

My problem is when someone writes something and then wonders why the world (or the publishers at least) aren't beating a path to their door.

This I agree with, but still I say to write. I think that to put it any other way is too discouraging.

I think there are a lot of people who want to write, but just don't know where to start. Some of them fear that they aren't good enough. I say these people need to just do it.  Who wants to learn the rules of something that they don't know if they even have the ability to do?

It is like Geraldo and Al Capone's vault! All the build-up (learning) to find out that there is really nothing there. Write and if you like it and want to continue, then you start taking it more seriously.

How many times do people come here and mention an idea they have, and someone tells them that THEY should write it? I just picture them reading the suggestion with eyes as big as saucers, slack-jawed and practically in shock! Why? It isn't rocket science! It will probably be fairly bad, but it is a start. And afterwards they will know!

If a writer has a natural story telling ability it will be there. They might be the proverbial diamond in the rough, but the talent will still be apparent is someone wants to look. Most anyone that wants to write can improve by learning the mechanics, but the story telling ability has to exist somewhere within them.

We have all seen it in the updates. There will be stories that are technically okay, but never come alive. There will be stories that have issues but you can see something there! And there will be stories that you know these people probably are completely and utterly beyond help or hope. (Sorry!) The first writer learned, the second writer intuited, and I hope the third writer got out of the experience whatever they were hoping to find. I would bet on the second writer, as long as they are willing to grow and learn, any day of the week. You can teach spelling, punctuation, and grammar. You cannot teach someone that sparkle.

As much as I talk about having brass balls and thinking I am pretty good, I am well-aware of my shortcomings. I don't let that stop me. Punctuation and grammar? Huuuuuuuuge gaps in my understanding of them. In school I was too busy with other things to learn much on these subjects. I would read the text books with the stories cover to cover, but learn how to structure a sentence?

I never spent a day in college. I was raised by a woman that did not particularly care, but probably would have felt that it inconvenienced her for me not to be around. (She stayed home and read a book while I was graduating high school.) Not one person in my life ever pressed me on the topic.

If I waited until I had the education behind me, the most many of you would hear from me was fan mail and the occasional, "Hi, I am Michelle. I lurk here. I wish I could write like you guys! I really don't know if I ever could though, but I was thinking of taking some classes. Now I am going to lurk again." I know some of you might find that a blessing - in fact, for many it might be the best stroke I ever produced!

By most people's standards I don't have any business writing. None. When I first started I had even less business writing - I was actually in the negative!  There is no way I could patiently learn rules and not write in the meanwhile though. And call me a bitch, but even at my worst I did better than some of the people that have several stories to their names.

I think Alei and I both get looked at askance for our concerns about dissuading unknown (and possibly imaginary) people from writing. I am not talking about coddling anyone, but I honestly think that if people had told me repeatedly that I made too many mistakes and needed to stop writing until I learned more, I would not be writing now.

I suppose I just come at this with a working class mentality of thinking the best way is to roll up your sleeves and do it and learn as you go. Don't be surprised when people don't overwhelm you with praise. Don't think that you will not have to learn and pay your dues. But get in there and get dirty!

Let's be clear on my history here. I came in, announced I had written some things a few years before, and proceeded to act like I had every right to be here, and every right to be taken seriously. It pissed some people off.  A lot of other people flirted with me, but really did not consider me a writer. I am still not exactly on Mt Olympus with all the MC gods and goddesses, but the only way I got what credibility I have now was to have that attitude and to write. If I had waited to write, I would have became so marginalized here that I would have been long gone, and sickened over the jealousy of other people doing what I wanted to be doing.

I had every reason to be intimidated but still went ahead. When you think about some of the great success stories many of them started that way. I had every reason to be intimidated but still went ahead. Not enough education, wrong gender, wrong color, wrong sexual preference ... the list goes on and on of things that could hold someone back if they allowed it.

That is why I say write, and if you then find that writing matters to you, get cracking on the learning!

[flibinite]

Nice post, Michelle... 

I don't even know why I started writing about four years ago.  I was reading some web stories, mainly bondage, and never remember feeling, "Hey, I can do that!"  I knew there weren't stories out there that I wish were being written, but that was no great push either, and I could write them in my head in 5-10 minutes, so it didn't bother me that they didn't exist.

But one night I was listening to a song, and it spoke to me of something -- of loneliness -- and I wrote a kind of a prose poem thing of about 1000 words.  I looked at it after and saw that it was good (God looked at it and complained about being blinded by the purple), or at the very least said what I wanted it to show.

And so I got the bug, and my second piece, about a young woman who kills herself and ends up in a seemingly self-created purgatory, was not too bad either.  I wrote that specifically for an online friend of mine, btw, something I think new writers should definitely consider.  Find a friend you think might like the ideas in your story, and write it as if you were trying to tell them what is in your heart and head... not everyone, just them.

So I'm writing now, for reasons semi-unknown, and probably will be for as long as I can, even if it's not to post.

I hope, at least, to always have friends I can write for. 

     Jo

[cj]

I hope, at least, to always have friends I can write for.

Jo,

     I'm pretty sure you'll always have plenty of those.

cj

[JulianCoreto]

I think one important thing to do is to get yourself an editor, and by "editor" I don't necessarily mean a professional wielder of a blue pencil.

Simply put, all writing improves when a second set of eyes reads it over.  There are things you miss, even if your skills are advanced.  For one thing, spell checkers make us all lazy.  How many times have you seen “on” when the author meant “one”?  It seems that many of us have a heavy finger on the “o” key.  “Loose” for “lose” is an all too common rendering at mcstories, and on other story sites.

There is also the matter of “continuity” errors. (“Continuity” is a film making term which has slowly drifted into other contexts.)  A good editor (or, as I wrote above, just another set of eyes) will catch these, sending back comments such as: “Wasn’t she Brenda in the last chapter?  Why is she Bonnie now?” or, “I thought you said she got knocked up on prom night.  She would not have given birth on Christmas eve if that was the case.”

A good editor/second set of eyes, will be much better at noun/verb/adjective agreement than you.  You are more interested in plot and mood and story when you are in your fevered fits of writing, and are not wont to take the time to be ceaselessly vigilant to such matters.  This fresh reader will point out plot holes and weakness in character motivations, etc.

For the love of all that is fine a just, I urge us all to get help, this kind of help.

Cheers,
Jules

[MagicCarpet]

I'd like to echo some things that Michelle has said in this and other threads.  Writing is not that different from most everything we do.  It gets better the more we do it.  The only way it gets better is by doing it.  So, I agree, waiting to start only delays the process of getting better. 

I would also encourage people to post their stories.  Despite the fact that we sometimes see blunt statements in these posts, you rarely see someone make nearly as blunt statements about someone's writing (at least publicly).  The internet is to beginning writers what open mikes at comedy clubs are to beginning comedians.  It's the way to hone your craft (even if it is something you do for fun and not profit).   Before the internet, there really wasn't an easy way that you could write something, put it out there and get feedback from a fairly wide audience.  You were limited to friends, family, classmates, teachers, whatever, but still a small group that you had some direct connection.  It was like [insert the name of your favorite comedian] practicing on her or his parents.  It's something s/he had to do, but s/he needed to take the next step in front of strangers.  I think the feedback you get from strangers is essential to improving. 

Here's the bad news.  The feedback stings.  I don't know about anyone else, but the more I know the feedback is "right" the more it stings.  But it helps a lot.  I know I'm not a great writer, but it's something that I enjoy and I think I improved over time. 

[~lmb2]

Good advice, thanks... I'm still too shy to try and share my work. *blush* plus, it needs much polishing.

I'll keep those points in mind - again, thanks.

~LMB2

[Michelle]

Good advice, thanks... I'm still too shy to try and share my work. *blush* plus, it needs much polishing.

I'll keep those points in mind - again, thanks.

~LMB2

Every once in a while we have a writing event where people can remain anonymous - consider one of those. 

[Ms Myrrh]

~LMB2

Despite sounding like a cranky old fart in another thread about writing, I'd be happy to look over any story you're considering posting.  Or think maybe it's getting close to being posted.  I can be gentle. 


-M

[Gh]

Great post Michelle.!!  You right what ever your shortcomings are, just plunge in.  I don't know about the diamond in the rough thing though. Maybe?  I think everyone for the most part made good points here.

It takes work and practice. Just like everything else. That's what MagicCarpet said I think.

I also think if anybody (newbie) comes in here right away and thinks their work is going to get published or get a lot of slaps on the back, their delusional. A point Chase made.

As for me it was something I thought about for years. I was shy and bashful about it.  I just got tired of wondering what if...

I would say that as new writers we do need the feedback. Not just to encourge, but to actually show where we can improve. Mostly flow and story points I think . I agree with Bank, the grammar should be on the inous of the writer to get it right before they get out for public viewing.

And not to put anybody down, but as for me, if you like a story or not tell me why, break it down.  I think if your putting a story out there you should be able to stand some heat.

Well thats my two cents. But as a new writer myself I appreciate the comments here by everybody.

[~lmb2]

Ms Myrrh and Michelle, thanks. I'll definately keep those in mind. and Ms Myrrh, I'll probably end up sending you a draft of what I have done, once I have time to type it up. *smile* thanks.

~LMB2

[Born Blitzed]

Not enough education, wrong gender, wrong color, wrong sexual preference....

Now, now, Michelle; how could bisexuality possibly be the wrong sexual preference?

After all, you've doubled your choices--where, exactly, is the downside again?  8)


--"Confirmed Het" Mike

[~lmb2]

Now, now, Michelle; how could bisexuality possibly be the wrong sexual preference?

After all, you've doubled your choices--where, exactly, is the downside again?  8)


--"Confirmed Het" Mike

rotflmao. I'm bi, so I guess I'm all clear. ^_^ Not in the wrong *does happy dance*...

Ok, I'm really tired, so I think I should hit Post before I act even stupider. ^^;
~LMB2

PS. Here in a couple days, if I post the first Chapter of my newest story in a new thread, may I get some critique from some of you??? I've been reading bits here and there, and I am highly impressed! ^_^ I hope I can (eventually) write as well as ya'll!!

[Michelle]

PS. Here in a couple days, if I post the first Chapter of my newest story in a new thread, may I get some critique from some of you???

I think you know the answer to that. 

[MagicCarpet]

4. Read. Lots. Actual books with more words than pictures. (No offense to the comic book crowd because that can have its place also.) If you find a passage evocative or hot ask yourself why.

I've always assumed that people who want to write have read lots.  Just like I assume that people that homebrew have tried lots of beers.  I'm now wondering whether my assumption is wrong. 

[Michelle]

4. Read. Lots. Actual books with more words than pictures. (No offense to the comic book crowd because that can have its place also.) If you find a passage evocative or hot ask yourself why.

I've always assumed that people who want to write have read lots.  Just like I assume that people that homebrew have tried lots of beers.  I'm now wondering whether my assumption is wrong. 

I think we do have an intelligent bunch here but when you ask people about their interest in MC a lot of it has come from comics, or tv shows. I don't think there is anything wrong with that, but in order to write well it is a good idea to be exposed to the flow of words in a story.

There are stories I have seen on the update that sound like the people are very much in a comic book mentality. This does not translate well if that is their sole reference point. They are unable to paint pictures with words because they are used to words with pictures.

Topaz does something that is really great. He does stories that work well as stories but also can be made into graphic novels. Both the stories and the graphic novels are made better by his proficiency at the other one.